[ RadSafe ] Which is Riskier: DU Cleanup or Combat?

[Dan W McCarn]

Here are a couple of estimates for a "typical" backyard environment for
total natural uranium endowment.  What is the weight of a DU shell?

 


Estimated Natural Uranium Endowment in a Typical Backyard -  5 mg/Kg U


Soil Volume

Soil Weight

Uranium


X m

Y m

Z m

Volume m^3

Bulk Density g/cc

Tonnes

Kg

Nat. Uranium %

Total Endowment U Kg


20

20

0.25

100

1.5

150

150,000

0.0005%

0.75

 


Estimated Natural Uranium Endowment in Soils Overlying Black Shales or
Phosphorites -  125 mg/Kg - e.g. Chattanooga Shale, USA;  Kolm Shale, Sweden


Soil Volume

Soil Weight

Uranium


X m

Y m

Z m

Volume m^3

Bulk Density g/cc

Tonnes

Kg

Nat. Uranium %

Total Endowment U Kg


20

20

0.25

100

1.5

150

150,000

0.0125%

18.8

 

Dan W. McCarn, Geologist