CR-Scientific: Catalog: Mineral Specimens: Rare-Earth & Radioactive Minerals

Rare-Earth Element (REE) and Radioactive Minerals for sale - this category includes minerals containing uranium, thorium, cerium, yttrium, ytterbium, lanthanum, niobium, neodymium, tantalum, samarium, gadolinium, europium, etc.

For an explanation of size and other abbreviations used, please see our guide to mineral sizes.

Activity readings were taken with an older, used Geiger counter that has an LND 72314 G-M tube. Assume all readings to be combined alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. The cpm and cps numbers are given only as a rough guide to radiation strength.

Dosage rates for a given specimen can only be estimated¹. Typical dose rate per gram of uranophane is about 1 millirem / hour, based on a specific activity of roughly 2x10^-6 Curies / gram (a low level). Since a specimen usually contains a great deal of matrix that adds weight but not radioactivity, one has to estimate how many grams of actual uranophane (etc.) are present. A thin crust of uranophane covering a couple of square inches on a rock face represents probably less than 5 grams of active material, so the dose rate would be no more than about 5 mR / hour if you held it directly in your hand. The largest specimen of uranophane we've ever had for sale would probably be no more than 15-20 mR / hour. A solid chunk of uraninite (pitchblende), on the other hand, might be more like 40-50 mR / hour.

CAUTION: Radioactive minerals are comparatively weak emitters, but they can in theory still harm or kill you under special conditions². All radioactive minerals, even the tiniest fragments, must be kept out of reach of children and any persons unaware of their radioactivity. By placing an order, buyer acknowledges the potential dangers and assumes all responsibility for consequences of handling, storage, transport, use, or misuse of radioactive specimen(s). If you plan to collect radioactive minerals, you should own and use a Geiger counter.

Allanite - Rosenthal, Renfrew Co., Ontario, Canada. Thought to be Allanite-(Ce). Has original, old label from Ward's Natural Science Establishment. Size approx. 2 1/2" x 2 1/4" x 1". Radioactivity is weak, about 7 to 9 counts per second at 1 cm distance. #R-19 ... SOLD

Cerite, Torneboehmite, Actinolite, & Allanite with other minerals. One is an unidentified bluish mineral occurring in small specks near the cerite. This specimen is from Cerit Gruva (Cerite Mine), Bastnaes, Sweden. Rare-earth minerals, but essentially non-radioactive.
#R155.... SOLD

Monazite - High Bridge / Annandale, NJ. Small red spots of monazite in a feldspar matrix. Probably the (Ce) variety. Radioactive, but very mild -- only a few counts per second above background. The matrix rock is fairly crumbly; the combination of high pyrite content (thus, acid waters from decomposition) and radioactivity have weakened the rock over many years.

A couple of these are currently available. Picture is just to give a rough idea of what to expect; size is typically about 3/4 inch across maximum dimension.
#R163... $3.50

Metatyuyamunite - Mashamba, Congo (formerly Zaire). Yellow platy meta-tyuyamunite on a matrix of pale bluish copper minerals. MT size - mounted on a pedestal in an Amac M511 box with the inside painted black. Specimen size is ca. 7 to 12 mm across. Radioactive.
#R156 ... SOLD

Uranophane - Spruce Pine, Mitchell County, North Carolina - Yellow anh./sub. xtln. coating on feldspar. Radioactive - approx. 1000 counts per SECOND at 1 cm distance with our counter. Uranophane area is about 2" x 1 1/2". #R161.....SOLD

Uranophane - Spruce Pine, Mitchell Co., NC - Thick, yellow anh./sub. xtln. coating on feldspar. Radioactive - 2000+ counts per SECOND at 1 cm distance with our counter (pegs the meter!). Uranophane area is about 1" x 1 1/2". #R162......SOLD

Zircon variety Cyrtolite - Macdonald Mine, near Hybla, Ontario. Reddish-brown, coarse partial xtl of zircon from a pegmatite environment. Size about 3/4 inch across. Radioactive.
This material is rather crumbly and fragile due to its metamict nature.
Specimen is about 4.5 x 2.5 cm. Ship wt. 0.1 lb. #R159 ...... SOLD

Zircon variety Cyrtolite in a matrix of feldspar and smoky quartz, with minor amounts of a couple other radioactive / REE minerals - Betafo-Antsirabé pegmatite region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar. Reasonably well-formed crystal of zircon, ca. 12 mm (almost 1/2 inch), protruding from matrix. Most zircon xtls from this locality are broken, since the zircon is brittle and always locked in the tough matrix, but this one survived somehow. Weakly radioactive. The specimen is also fluorescent in short-wave UV, about as bright as the mineral gets from this locality (zircon: yellow-orange; feldspar: weak magenta-red).
Specimen is about 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) across largest dimension.
#CR235 ...SOLD

More REE / radioactive minerals are available Please check this page often for updates.

Please click here to read more about radiation safety & basics.

We sell radioactive minerals in full accordance with Section 13, Part 40 of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules, as well as US Postal Service regulations (49 CFR 173.421). Items will be shipped in compliance with USPS Publication 52. Radioactive minerals are for education and scientific study only. Buyer assumes full responsibility for any and all consequences arising from their storage, handling, use, misuse, or transport.

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Notes:

¹ Dosage rates given on this page are based on specific activities for a given mineral. These data are available at Uraniumminerals.com.

² The primary hazard is that of particles inhaled into the lungs. Wear a dust mask when handling friable (crumbly) radioactive specimens. Don't saw or grind radioactive specimens. Your display case should have good ventilation to prevent radon buildup.

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