ML19242E097
| ML19242E097 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 08/09/1979 |
| From: | Congel F Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Cliadakis W AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19242E098 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909070562 | |
| Download: ML19242E097 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATE'S.-
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY CdMMISSI,0,N, WASHlNGTON, D. C. 20555' g., *
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p AUG 0 91979 -
%,.....f Mr. William Cliadakis 175 West 93rd Street New York, NY 10025
Dear Mr. Cliadakis:
This acknowledges receipt of your letter to the Director, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, expressing your concern with radioactivity of the two mineral specimens--Carnotite and Samarskite--you have in your apartment.
According to our infomation partly obtained from the reference A Dictionary of Mining, Minerals, and Related Terms,1968, published by the U.S. Department of Interior:
Carnotite has the chemical composition K.,(UO )2(V0 )7 3H 0.
It is strongly radioactive and is used as a sobrce or radium. 2 2
3 Radioactive elements possibly present in this mineral, besides uranium, are potassium and radioactive decay procucts of uranium including radium.
Vanadium in carnotite is not radioactive.
Samarskite has the chemical composition (Y,Er,Ce,U,Ca,Fe,Pb,Th)(Cb,Ta, T1,Sn)2 6 It is moderately to strongly radioactive. Radioactive 0
elemen s possibly present in this mineral, besides uranium and thoriuc, are radioactive decay p; oducts of uranium and thorium. Thorium, and some isotopes of lead in samarskite are themselves members of the radioactive decay chain that begins with uranium. Yttrium and cerium in samarskite are not radioactive.
Regarding other questions in your letter, we do not believe that your mineral specimens pose a significant hazard to you. However, since it is difficult to evaluate the different types of radiation which may be present in your specimens without making measurements, we advise you to contact Mr. James McLaughlin, Director of Envirormental Measurements Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, New York, N.Y.10014, and arrange an appointment to bring in your samples. This laboratory is equipped ta perform measurements on your specimens and provide you guidance on the basis of the results of measurements as to how you should handle or store them.
Sincerely yours,
~
p Frank J.
ongel, Acting Chief Radiological Assessment Branch Div. of Site safety & Env. Analysis Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc:
Mr. James McLaughlin
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