RADIOACTIVE MINERALS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING RADIOACTIVE MINERAL SPECIMENS ! !
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= Fluorescent Specimen
  =  Radioactive Specimen

NEW TITLE
“INTRODUCTION TO RADIOACTIVE MINERALS”, By Dr. Robert J. Lauf, 144 pages, 11” X 8 1/2”, soft cover, illustrated with 196 color, and b/w photos.  Collectors have long admired uranium and thorium minerals for their brilliant colors, the intense ultraviolet fluorescence of many of them, and their rich variety of habits and associates.  Radioactive minerals are also critically important as our source of nuclear energy. Understanding them is crucial to the safe disposal of radioactive waste.
This book provides a systematic overview of the mineralogy of uranium and thorium-bearing minerals, generously illustrated with nearly 200 color photos and electron micrographs of representative specimens.  Dr. Lauf has also included an historical discussion of the discovery of radioactive elements and the development of uranium and thorium ore deposits, a discussion of the geochemical conditions that produce significant deposits, and a description of important localities, their geological setting and history.
Major occurrences of interest to mineral collectors are arranged geographically. The minerals are arranged systematically, to emphasize how they fit into chemical groups, and for each group several minerals are selected to illustrate their formation and general characteristics.
This book is an invaluable guide for mineral collectors, particularly those specializing in collecting fluorescent minerals.  With the resurgence of interest in nuclear power, the book will also provide valuable information for nuclear scientists and engineers interested in radioactive deposits.
Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA, 2007.
ISBN: 9780764329128
Shipping weight:  3 pounds
Order Item BK0351
Price:  $29.95

MI-1413

MI-1414

MI-1415
MI-1416

MI-1417

AESCHYNITE-(Y)
Clora May Mine, Trout Creek Pass, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado
The Clora May Mine is also known as Mina Blanca or the Clara May Lode.   Several other rare earth element-bearing minerals have been identified from this locality.  For background information, see “Minerals of Colorado”, E. Eckel, P. 12 (1997).  Aeschynite-(Y) from this locality is available as pure, brownish-black masses without matrix or associated mineralization, very shiny on the fresh surfaces.  Note:  Item MI-1417 is a very large specimen – 386.90 grams = approximately 85%, or 7/8 of a pound.  The accompanying photograph was supplied by Rudy Bolona, a Colorado mineral collector.  This looks like a nice looking place to go field collecting!  Aeschynite-(Y) is (Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6.
 

ITEM
NO.
MI-

 WEIGHT
(GRAMS)

 SPECIMEN SIZE
(INCHES)

mR/hr @ 1”
CD V-700 GM
COUNTER

CPM @ 1”
CD V-700 GM
COUNTER

 SPECIMEN
PRICE

1413

3.55

1 1/8

1/2

1/8-1/4

2.5

1,660

SOLD

1414

74.22

1 7/8

1 1/4

7/8

7

5,000

$  67.00

1415

77.73

1 5/8

1 1/2

3/4

7

5,000

$  70.00

1416

88.70

2 1/2

1 1/4

5/8

7

5,000

SOLD

1417

386.90

2 3/4

1 7/8

1 1/2

10

7,500

SOLD

1418

4.50

Lot of 6 small frag-ments, +/- 1/4” to 7/8”

2.5

1,660

SOLD



          Clora May Mine
mi1058.jpg (29085 bytes) SAMARSKITE-(Y)
Oregon #3 Mine, South Platte District, Jefferson County, Colorado
Samarskite-(Y) is an uncommon radioactive, uranium and rare earth element bearing mineral with the composition (Y,Fe,U)(Nb,Ta)04. Samarskite-(Y) is very shiny brown-black on a broken surface, exhibiting conchoidal fracture, and has a dull luster on unbroken or natural surfaces. The pegmatite deposits of the South Platte District have been known since the 1920’s and worked for rare earth element bearing minerals, and other minerals of economic importance, beginning in the early 1950’s. These specimens were probably collected circa the early 1970’s. All are masses of pure, brown-black Samarskite-(Y) without matrix or associated mineralization. The accompanying photograph shows several typical examples of Samarskite-(Y), in a group photo.

MI-1058

WEIGHT
(GRAMS)

SPECIMEN SIZE
(INCHES)

mR/hr @ 1”
CD V-700 GM
COUNTER

CPM @ 1”
CD V-700 GM
COUNTER

SPECIMEN
PRICE

A.

3.83

5/8

3/8

3/8

2

1,330

SOLD

B.

10.12

1 1/4

1

1/4

3.5

2,250

SOLD

C.

10.35

1

5/8

1/2

2.5

1,660

SOLD

D.

10.62

7/8

5/8

1/2

3.5

2,350

SOLD

E.

10.70

1

5/8

1/2

3.5

2,350

SOLD

F.

11.70

7/8

5/8

5/8

3.5

2,350

SOLD

G.

13.96

1 1/4

3/4

1/2

3.75

2,400

SOLD


1510

1511

1512

1513

1514

1515

1516

1517

 URANINITE
Mi Vida Mine, 39 Miles SE of Moab, San Juan County, Utah
The ore from this famous locality consisted mainly of Uraninite, Coffinite, Montroseite, occasionally minor amounts of Pyrite and other sulfides, and various secondary Vanadium-bearing minerals, usually in a sandstone matrix.  The matrix is often banded, or layered.  The Uranium-bearing minerals were found as rich veins within the matrix, or as pods or masses composed of Uraninite, sometimes replacing fossil wood.  Specimens marked N in the SPECIMEN PREPARATION column below are in natural condition, as collected, and exhibit rich veins or masses of black Uraninite in modest amounts of matrix, or without associated rock matrix.  Specimens marked S have been sawed on one surface with a lapidary saw.  This was sometimes done by researchers working for the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1950’s to early 1960’s, as part of the process of analyzing the ore.  The samples from various mines were analyzed to calculate the richness of the Uraninite ore, and to identify the associated minerals.  Specimens marked E have varying amounts of Epoxy applied to one or more of the natural surfaces. The Epoxy provided a seal coat over the Uraninite for both safe handling of the specimens, and as part of the stabilization process which was done to prepare the specimens for sawing with a diamond saw blade.   The numbers in (  ) following the S = number of saw cuts, and the numbers in (  ) following the E = number of sides of the specimen coated with Epoxy.

The gram weights are given, as well as the sizes of the specimens in inches, plus readings with the CD V-700, to assist in determining the relative richness of the Uraninite.  Note that smaller specimens will naturally give lower readings, and larger examples will usually give higher responses, dependent upon the amount of rock matrix present.  Pricing: specimens  < 100 grams are priced at $1.25 / gram.  100 to 499 gram specimens are priced at $1.00 / gram.  Extra large specimens weighing > 500 grams are given a -20% quantity discount because of the presence of rock matrix.  The quantity discounts are already given in the specimen prices below.

HISTORY:  All of the specimens from the Mi Vida Mine are from the collection of Dr. Eugene B. Gross.  For background information on his collection of radioactive minerals, please read the notes at the top of page 1 of this section of the web site, featuring radioactive minerals. 

 

 

ITEM
NO.
MI-

WEIGHT
(GRAMS)

SPECIMEN SIZE
(INCHES)

 SPECIMEN PREPA-RATION

mR/hr @ 1”
CD V-700 GM
COUNTER

CPM @ 1”
CD V-700 GM
COUNTER

SPECIMEN
PRICE

 

1510

4.45

5/8

1/2

3/8

N, E (1)

1

750

SOLD

 

1511

4.98

1

1/2

1/4

S (2), E (1)

2

1,330

SOLD

 

1512

5.52

7/8

7/8

1/4

S (2)

3

2,000

SOLD

 

1513

5.78

3/4

1/2

1/2

N, E (2)

.5

300

SOLD

 

1514

6.50

7/8

3/4

1/2

N, E (1)

3

2,000

SOLD

 

1515

8.48

1 1/4

3/4

3/8

N, E (3)

3

2,000

SOLD

 

1516

18.44

1 1/4

1

3/4

S (1), E (2)

1

750

$ 23.00

 

1517

18.84

1 1/4

1

5/8

S (1), E (2)

2.5

1,660

SOLD

 

1518

25.47

1

1

3/4

S (1), E (3)

1

750

SOLD

 

1519

29.50

1 3/8

1

3/8

S (1), E (1)

5

3,000

SOLD

 

1520

38.38

1 5/8

1 1/8

1/2

S (2), E (3)

7

5,000

SOLD

 

1521

42.45

1 1/2

1 3/8

3/4

S (1), E (5)

2

1,330

$ 53.00

 

1522

43.55

1 3/8

1 1/8

7/8

S (1), E (4)

3.5

2,250

$ 54.50

 

1523

44.92

2

1

5/8

S (2), E (3)

7

5,000

$ 56.25

 

1524

47.64

1 7/8

1 1/4

3/8

S (1), E (4)

> 50

> 30,000

SOLD

 

1525

51.58

2

1 1/2

3/4

S (1), E (3)

> 50

> 30,000

SOLD

 

1526

61.55

1 1/4

1 1/4

3/4

S (2)

> 50

> 30,000

SOLD

 

1527

161.25

2 3/4

1 3/4

1 1/2

N

8

 6,000 $129.00

 

1528

528.20

4 1/2

3 3/8

1 1/2

N

20

13,300

$422.50

 

1529

1746.00

5 1/2

3 5/8

2 3/8

N

> 50

> 30,000

SOLD

 

1530

7.35

Lot of 7 small speci-mens, averaging  +/- 3/8” up to 1/2” in size.

Various

5

3,000

$ 9.25

/ lot

 


1518
1519
1520
1521

1522
1523
1524
1525

1526
1527
1528
1529

 

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