Mystery thorium rods - please help?

["Sara DeCair" <DecairS@state.mi.us>]

To see a digital picture of one of these mystery items: 
http://www.deq.state.mi.us/dwr/Rad/Images/FPTC_rods.jpg
These metallic rods contain thorium according to portable gamma spec and give a reading of 300 uR/hr (bkg 6 uR/hr) near contact with a five-gallon bucket full of them.  There is a total of about 65 pounds of these things, and what they are is a mystery to me and the scrap yard owner who has them.
They would be specifically exempt from NRC regs if they were welding rods, but their dimensions, 4 to 5 inches long with a circular diameter of 5/8 inch, is much shorter and thicker than today's commonly available thoriated welding rods.  If you have an idea of what they might be, please let me know.  Thanks!

Sara D. DeCair
decairs@state.mi.us


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