Artifacts of the Abomb

[Jack the collector]

July 16,1945 5:30am MST New Mexico

Here for your veiwing is what was on July 15,1945 sand.Now it is a rock called Trinitite.

[Jack the collector]

Now the shoulder patch worn by the military personell with the Manhattan Project.

[Jim O]

Cool stuff. I'm looking forward to more of your pics.

[Klaus]

This shoulder patch is especially nice. Got more of this stuff? (He asked knowingly the answer would be "yes") Looking forward to see some more pics from your collection.

[515]

Thats some really neat stuff there. There is a person who lives about 60 miles away from me who has the original camera that took the pictures of the blast. Hopefully i can see it someday.

[Jack the collector]

Klaus,

Thats the extent of what I have,except for a bunch more Trinitite.Trinitite is fairly safe.You would have to handle it daily for 2 months or eat a piece to have seriously harmful effects.I can provide numbers for the scientist among you if you want them.I do however not take any chances and keep my specimens in a lead lined box.As with so much these days there are alot of fakes out there of this material.Trinite runs $4 a gram on the market....a US one dollar bill wighes one gram to put the wieght in perspective.
I would be more worried about the radon gas it emits than possible radiation!One gram of radium emits 0.0001 ml of radon gas per day.I have several radioactive minerals or rock.Before I aquired them I did my homework.All are safely stored and checked monthly with my geiger counter for any possible leaks.If you own a radium painted gorget and have a blacklight,blacklight it.If the paint gives you a chartruse green glow,it is not good news.You will need to take some precautions if you so desire.The paint used on time pieces,gorgets,etc. is Salts of Radium and phosphor.My understanding is Salts of Radium are radioactive,but not deadly if the proper precautions are taken.If you have one of these gorgets,maybe you should check with schools or Gem and mineral club in your area to see about using a gieger counter on it.That would at least tell you where you are.Radium in its processed state is so lethal I would not take any chances!Radium is one million times more radioactive than a like amount of uranium.Radium emits alpha,beta and gamma rays,all in all a deadly element.

I am a rockhound and I aquired this material from a gent in Socorro,NM.I traded a nice 4 lb peice of red dinosaur bone for a 5 gallon bucket of Trinitite.He said he picked the stuff up himself in 1947/48.Years later I had it tested for isotope Cesium 137.This radionuclide has a halflife of 30 years.This isotope is unique to a atomic blast.There is a distinct green under color to Trinitite.

I have wandered a bit but I hope that will answer any questions the may arise about this material.

[Klaus]

Well, I never stop learning. But still: I wouldn't wanna have that stuff around me. I'd feel uncomfortable.

[vitara]

nice pics there jack got any more
best krieg