Re: Is Bentonite Clay supposed to be "radioactive"

[jgbarnes@ix.netcom.com (JAMES BARNES)]

Yes, it's radioactive (NORM).  My understanding is that it has a fairly high 
level of Uranium.  It is commonly used in well drilling as casing sealant.

Jim Barnes, CHP
RSO
Rocketdyne Division; Rockwell Aerospace
---------------------
You wrote: 
>
>Let me start by admitting that everything is supposed to have some degree of
>radioactivity.  BUT I did not expect that an incoming shipment of bentonite
>clay would be radioactive enough to set off the incoming shipment portal
>monitors at my local foundry, as it did.
>
>Have any of you encountered noticeable levels of radioactivity (>2xbkg)
>associated with bentonite clay?  I did not find bentonite clays identified as
>a mineral source of unusual radioactivity in the collection of NRCP handbooks
>on my bookshelf.
>