Re: Radioactive gems circulating in Asia?

["Theodore S Bohn"<BST@inel.gov>]

Has it been noticed if the irradiated gems return to their original color
upon decay?

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novarso@franklin.lisco.com on 11/11/97 10:50:17 PM

Please respond to radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu


To:   radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
cc:    (bcc: Theodore S Bohn/BST/LMITCO/INEEL/US)
Subject:  Re: Radioactive gems circulating in Asia?




Michael Willamson was right in saying that some gemstones might be legally
radioactive.  Here is an example of some test lots of white topaz that was
irradiated for 100 hours.     Activities in Bq/g
          Lot #          1A   2B
          Ta-182         13   71
          Mn-54           5.5 11.3
          Sc-46           2.8  8.5
          Sb-124          2.1
          Cs-134          2
The above activities were measured several months after irradiation!  In
the case of lot 2B almost one year would need to pass before the U.S.
release level of 15 Bq/g would be reached.