Radioactive Minerals, Radium Antiques and Atomic Artifacts
Click on Shop to see our current inventory. No shipping until March 2025.
RadioactiveThings.com
Our History
Our Products
Our Products
We’ve been in business for over 20 years as a provider of unique items for people with an interest in radioactive things.
This photo shows a large and very active specimen of Pitchblende that belonged to Martin Klaproth and came from the location where he collected the mineral in Jáchymov, in the Czech Republic. The specimen measures ove
We’ve been in business for over 20 years as a provider of unique items for people with an interest in radioactive things.
This photo shows a large and very active specimen of Pitchblende that belonged to Martin Klaproth and came from the location where he collected the mineral in Jáchymov, in the Czech Republic. The specimen measures over 650,000 CPM on a Ludlum Model 3.
In 1898 Marie Curie discovered a new element in Pitchblende that was a part of the Uranium decay chain. She named the new element Radium and it is incredibly over 2 million times more radioactive than Uranium itself.
Fission was discovered in 1938 by Otto Hahn and explained theoretically in 1939 by Lise Meitner. U235, the raw material for fission, was in very short supply at the time as only 0.7% of natural Uranium is composed of U-235 (99% is U-238, and a trace amount is U-234).
Our Products
Our Products
Our Products
We sell high quality specimens of radioactive minerals from the world’s most famous mines that have been closed for decades. This photo shows a variety of specimens from Shinkolobwe mine in The Congo, which contains the highest grade of Uranium ore found anywhere on earth. An early photo of miners in Shinkolobwe is shown at the top of th
We sell high quality specimens of radioactive minerals from the world’s most famous mines that have been closed for decades. This photo shows a variety of specimens from Shinkolobwe mine in The Congo, which contains the highest grade of Uranium ore found anywhere on earth. An early photo of miners in Shinkolobwe is shown at the top of this page.
As Major General Nichols of the Manhattan project put it: "Our best source, the Shinkolobwe mine, represented a freak occurrence in nature. It contained a tremendously rich lode of uranium pitchblende. Nothing like it has ever again been found.” The pitchblende above ground in the Congo contains up to 65 percent Uranium, and even the waste piles of ore contained 20 percent U3O8. After the war ore containing three-tenths of 1 percent was considered a good find.
Our Services
Our Products
Our Services
We also sell radioactive collectibles from WWII, the early days of the nuclear power industry, scientific instruments such as spinthariscopes and antique Radium-based quack medical devices.
These beautiful cobalt blue glass emanators are about 100 years old, and in perfect condition. They contain a ceramic cone that is infused with Ra-226
We also sell radioactive collectibles from WWII, the early days of the nuclear power industry, scientific instruments such as spinthariscopes and antique Radium-based quack medical devices.
These beautiful cobalt blue glass emanators are about 100 years old, and in perfect condition. They contain a ceramic cone that is infused with Ra-226. The user was supposed to fill with the emanators with water and then drink several times daily. The idea was that the water would contain Radon gas (in the Radium decay chain) that was supposed to impart healthful benefits of the Radium spas that were popular then.
tips for safe handling
Type of radiation and shielding: Uranium and its decay elements emit Alpha particles, Beta particles and Gamma rays. Paper, skin and a few centimeters of air stop Alpha particles. Thin layers of plastic, metal or even a small block of wood will stop Beta particles. Nothing totally stops Gamma rays, however lead and concrete will attenuate it.
Radiation exposure: Exposure to radiation from Uranium is a function of Amount (size and radioactivity of the sample), Exposure Time, Shielding and Distance (exposure drops off by the inverse square law: if the radiation exposure is 100 mR/hr at 1 inch from a source, the exposure will be 0.01 mR/hr at 100 inches). Uranium ores emit a small amount of Radon gas. It is best to keep samples in a well-ventilated area such as in the garage, outside, or in an air-tight container.
Tips for safe handling: Minimize the time you are in contact with radioactive specimens, maximize your distance from where the samples are stored, and if you acquire a large amount, consider storing in a lead-lined box. Wear disposable gloves while handling, clean up the work area and wash hands after handling. Do not eat or drink around the samples, or otherwise ingest any dust from the samples. Keep out of the reach of children and pets. If you follow these simple rules, you can enjoy this incredible element called Uranium.
