Reuters: Brazil police seize black market uranium, thorium

[LancerGT@AOL.COM]

Not that I think this is any big deal, but I thought it was interesting 

enough to post to the list.



Best Regards,

David Lawrence





Brazil police seize black market uranium, thorium





SAO PAULO, Brazil, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Police have seized a load of black 

market uranium and thorium taken from a secret mine in the jungle in northern 

Brazil, an official said on Tuesday.



Based on a lead from an informant, federal police seized 1,320 pounds (600 

kg) of ore containing the radioactive metals in the back of a pickup truck about 

75 miles (120 km) from Macapa, capital of Amapa state, near the mouth of the 

Amazon River.



"We got a fax from the laboratory in Rio de Janeiro yesterday saying the 

cargo had significant levels of uranium and thorium," officer Luiz Carlos told 

Reuters, adding that the truck was seized last month.



Samples of the material were sent to another lab in Minas Gerais, which is 

expected to report on the concentration of the radioactive material in ore 

material, Carlos said.



The uranium was not enriched which means it would not serve as material to 

build a nuclear bomb, but pending further tests, it was unclear whether it could 

be used in a radioactive "dirty" bomb. The uranium would have various 

high-tech applications in guidance devices and shielding material.



Thorium is expected to be used as a nuclear reactor fuel in the future but is 

not widely used at the moment. It is also used in portable lamps and in 

various metal alloys.



Samples of the material were sent to another lab in Minas Gerais, which is 

expected to report on the concentration of the radioactive material in ore 

material, Carlos said.



"Based on confessions from some of those involved, we estimate that the owner 

of the cargo was expecting to get over 1 million reais ($330,000) on the 

black market for it," he said.



The investigation was still going on. A man believed to be one of those 

responsible for trafficking the illegal material fled from the truck when it was 

stopped by police.



"The location of the mine is still unknown. We believe it is in the jungle in 

the Serra de Navio region," Carlos said.



"This is the first case that we've run across in the state, and I believe in 

Brazil."



Brazil is rich in various metals including uranium, which is considered 

government property and is strictly regulated.



Natural uranium is sufficiently radioactive to expose a photographic plate in 

an hour or so. Much of the internal heat of the earth is thought to be 

attributable to the presence of uranium and thorium.



Uranium on the earth's surface, not as rare as once thought, is now 

considered to be more plentiful than mercury or silver.







08/24/04 12:19 ET