Re: Radioactive gems circulating in Asia?

[c697554@showme.missouri.edu]

Isn't that because the chemical bonds are now different than what was in
the unirradiated "parent" stone?

On Wed, 12 Nov 1997, Warren Church wrote:

> The color change appears to be permanent.
> 
> ----------
> > From: Theodore S Bohn <BST@inel.gov>
> > To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> > Subject: Re: Radioactive gems circulating in Asia?
> > Date: Wednesday, November 12, 1997 10:01 AM
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Has it been noticed if the irradiated gems return to their original color
> > upon decay?
> > 
> > &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
> > &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 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.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
>