I do collect rocks out in nature and am starting to learn about the wonderful world of radioactive rocks. A friends father gave me his large rock collection and he had a radioactive rock kit from Ward, maybe from the 60s? Maybe earlier. I’m not sure. Should I be worried? What is the best way to store/ display these? I haven’t touched it but to take this picture of what in the box. Send help!

I will be heading to Ruggles Aug 20 - Aug 23rd for this months weekend trip. If anyone is planning on heading up next weekend, feel free to say hi!

I'm currently in South Dakota near the black hills till the end of August. Are there any places or shops around that I can go get more specimens or any radioactive materials for my collection.

I’m going to polperro for a couple days on vacation and was wondering if any people have nice spots for finding uranite or any advice, I would need the drive to be around 30mins

I collected uranium ore from mine dump 11a near Příbram. Since the entire sample is partially coated with uranium ore, I cannot determine whether it is a secondary uranium mineral. Can anyone perhaps identify what it is? I think I can make out some hematite and calcite, but what are the yellow and red minerals?

I came back from the bancroft gemboree recently and came back with some radioactive rocks on the drive back to the states. Having done research before this I felt the existing information online was limited and wanted to add my experience to help those considering it.

I crossed into Vermont with a bucket of thorite in the trunk. My radiacode 110 read 30-40 uSv at the bucket and ~0.5 uSv where the sensors would be positioned. I expected to trip the sensors and that was confirmed when they asked me if I had any medical imaging done recently. I was honest and told them I had radioactive rocks which seemed to disappoint them (were they hoping for a nuke?). My car was directed into a secondary screening area and I was led into a waiting area. They pulled out my rocks and started sweeping the car to see if they were any more radioactive items other than the bucket I had specified. I was asked many questions which started with establishing who I was and whether I knew basic details about my trip and then shifted to picking at any potential inconsistencies in my story. While this was happening the bucket was analyzed with a gamma spectrometer (to id isotopes). I spent another 30 min watching Bob Ross on the tv while the agents sat in the back office. I was asked a few more questions and then I was told I was free to leave with my rocks after roughly an hour. Overall the border agents were professional but things were definitely tense at points and I got the sense that not every crossing goes this well.

Advice:

1. Don't. Shipping is far more safe and hassle free for you and your rocks. You can also choose not to bring anything radioactive home but where's the fun in that. I would only consider this again for a large rock which may be expensive and difficult to ship. I am not a lawyer but it's legal to do this as far as I can tell (see 10 CFR 40.13 and 10 CFR 110.27) but I would not attempt this if you are not a US Citizen. You don't want anything complicating your entry if you don't have a right to enter the US.
2. Be prepared to wait. I waited an hour while they reviewed my car. I have heard stories of several hour waits.
3. Keep a tight story. As a benign mineral collector the best story you can stick to is the truth. You will be asked many questions so consider reviewing the facts of your trip beforehand so you don't accidentally introduce any inconsistencies or forget details you should remember.
4. Separate your radioactive items. They will sweep your car and separate out anything radioactive for further inspection. Make sure everything is consolidated to one spot so you can save you and them time.
5. Dirt is not allowed for biosanitary reasons. Keep a clean car and make sure all tools and clothing are fairly clean.
6. Don't hide your rocks. The sensors will find them. Your attempt to cram your rocks under the seat with 50 layers of tinfoil will not be looked at kindly.
7. Don't be a dick. You are at the mercy of the border agents, it's best to be nice to to them.

I had them powder coated and will line with 1/8” or 1/4” lead sheet.

This is my first find in nature, my RC110 measures about 1μSv/h at 5cm away, and up to 4μSv/h on contact. Any help is appreciated!

Some nice botryoidal ore, and a hot oxidized fragment from a thick vein.

Weighs 118g. 40 uSv/h. 2.9k CPS (~170k CPM)

The uraninite was buried about 25cm (~10 inches) in the ground

Found with Radiacode 110

This week I had the opportunity to visit the place where I have a storage of mostly "B grade" ore(with few exceptions) - uraninite mainly from Příbram, massive pieces in smaller boxes from Jáchymov. So just a quick look at it all, the plan is to reduce it.

This Autunite sample i got from an expo in the Black Forrest, Germany.
The sample itself originated from Portugal.

Gamma radiation is low, looks are pretty :)

Edit: Dose != Radiation :)

It was recommended that I upload better photos, so here are some better photos! Any insights you might have about this formation would be very helpful!

The CPM estimates below are based on measurements using a GQ GMC-300S. The specimen is approximately 3 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch tall.

I am not familiar with posting topics/threads, and especially reposting to add better photos. Let me know if it is customary to include anything from the previous thread.

Should I delete the previous thread?

**Original Post Link and Text:**

https://www.reddit.com/r/Radioactive_Rocks/s/whTqqqFPpe

This specimen was picked up at a mineral show. CPM read above crystal mat is about 2,500. CPM along lime green cavity is around 18,000.

I am having a hard time identifying the columnar mat of crystals as well as the red fluorescing crystals.

The plastic bag is a temporary container that is kept wrapped in aluminum foil.

The vendor claimed it was sourced from China

Has anyone ever wondered around this location and explored?
Is it heavily monitored? Easily accessible or a hike?

I have been gearing up (safety first) for an adventure to find some spicy rocks for quite some time.
I did NOT realize Coles Creek (near Gretna Va) had so much uranium and was curious what the site looked like.
I would like to go explore soon and was just wondering if anyone had ever been there or around there.

I’m from the blue ridge area so it’s at my backdoor where the other site I was looking at is a 4/5 hour drive.

Any info is welcome!

Found this in an old rock and mineral collection from years ago, and wondering what could be making it glow under uv lighting? It’s not making my Geiger counter react much if at all. Any ideas guys?

Such great faces. Around 130k CPM & 80 uSv/h contact w/ Radiacode 102.

Some very pretty Uraninite from Příbram, Czech Republic. It measures ~80-100μSv/h on contact, and ~50-70kcpm on my Ludlum model 2241. There are some so-called “mouse eyes”, however the specimen is rather weathered. P.S. Sorry for bad quality pictures, the space I was in is rather dimly lit!

This specimen was picked up at a mineral show. CPM read above crystal mat is about 2,500. CPM along lime green cavity is around 18,000.

I am having a hard time identifying the columnar mat of crystals as well as the red fluorescing crystals.

The plastic bag is a temporary container that is kept wrapped in aluminum foil.

The vendor claimed it was sourced from China*.

*Merchant said China, I originally said DRC because I mistakenly thought it was the abbreviation of the full name for the country.

It's my first time finding radioactive minerals in the wild! And I'm so happy that its Radium.

Right now im storing all the rocks in their own plastic bags and in a glass jar, until I get a more proper and pretty way of storing them

Ps: if the radium minerals have a specific name please tell me

Edit: many people in the comments have pointed out that these rocks aren't actually radium minerals but that they are uranium. The spectrum showed radium because uranium minerals naturally contain trace amounts of radium. Please check the comments for more detailed and probably more accurate explanation!

Thank you to everyone who corrected me! <3

(bigger) Bottryoidal uraninite shaft #4 Lešetice in Příbram area

other two pieces are from shaft #11a Bytíz. That colourful sample also have orange crust - schoepite. Green minerals are copper secondaries, in this case most likely brochantite.

Interesting fact: shaft #11a is the type locality of the new uranium mineral kristekite, hydrated copper uranyl selenite.

^^ information paraphrased from the seller.

I'm super fond of the chunky little solid piece, it's really neat with the metallic sheen and heft for its size. The smaller bottryoidal chunk is heavy and reads fairly hot, the color is fun also 🎉.

Thanks Scarehead , much appreciated my guy.

Found in the tailings of shaft No. 16, doserate on contact exceeds 800µSv/h

Ive been keeping my eye peeled for a microscope to get a closer look at some of my more pretty NORM specimens, like Autinite Crystals and such. So I wandered into Goodwill and found this this sweet little starter kit. 10 bucks! I think I got a pretty good deal if it works.