The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-10
The Isolation of New Group of Ele-
ments Is Possible Demonstrations
I'm New York of the Phenomena
. of Radio-Activity.
New York SUN.

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Few discoveries of recent years
have received or merited the attention
bestowed upon the mineral radium.
While the scientific world marvels at
its potentiality, the public looks upon
the pinch Of whitish powder, exhib-
tied in a harmless tube of glass, as a
new and pleasing toy, to be juggled
with after the fashion of the NEGRO
mancers' stock in trade. The trained
scientist looks upon radium as the
first and greatest aid in a new field of
scientific investiga tion-namely. the
isolation Of a new group of elements.
The New York Academy of Sci
sences, meeting in the section Of as
tronomy, physics and chemistry, de-
voted an evening this week to the
consideration of radium and the phe-.
nomena Of radio-activity as exhibited
by the mineral. with a comparison
and differentiation between the ultra
violet and Roentgen rays.
George +. Kunz, the world famous
gem expert, exhibited to an enthusi-
astic audience in one Of the lecture
rooms Of the Natural History Museum
sample Of radium Of 100000 actiy-
ity, together with specimens of lesser
strength, and demonstrated their ac-
ton upon great variety Of gems and
other mineral substances. Mr.. Kunz
|
-hensive semi-scientific paper ON the
action Of the Roentgen rays, ultro-
violet rays. and radium on mineral
substances. Mr.. Kunz spoke in part
as follows:
"Radium was first taken from
pitch-blende and uranium by NJ. Bee
querel. Later it was isolated and ex-
perimented with by Prof. and Nine.
Curie, Sir William Crookes. Sir Will
10, Wv, TIL
and Sir William and Lady Higgins.
Many experiments have been made
with it in Montreal. altho very little
has been contributed in this direction
by scientists in the United States.
Edward D. Films gave the funds to
purchase 127 milligrams, one-half a
carat, or 1900 Of an ounce. We have
one sample Of 100000 activity, and we
hoped to have one Of 100000, but it
ing. We will exhibit, therefore, the
sample Of 100000 activity, one of
1000 and others Of low luminosity. 1t
| is startling to see the penetrative re-
suits Of radium Of 100000 activity,
even when inclosed in glass tube,
a rubber thermometer case, a tin box
and a silver tureen covered by four
heavy copper plates. A diamond
placed in water under the tureen
|
"A certain amount of discussion has
arisen between French and German
Investigators concerning, the pheno-
mena Of radtum. Some say that to
speak Of 100000 activity sounds like a
hoax, and that 1t will never be pro.
duced stronger than 100000. They
declare, moreover, that it's activity
can never be properly estimated.
There are three kinds Of radio
activity. They are called Alpha, Bet;
and Gamma. Alpha is absorbed b.
solids; Beta has more penetrating
power, while Gamma has intense pen
] etrating power, but no electric ray
at all. Radium induces phosphores
cence in minerals tested without re
gard to position or direction. Their
is a sample of German radium Of grea
It is not the light, but the radioactive
ty, which produces the effects.
1T is possible that we may find twt
elements in radium, as we find nitro
] gen and oxygen in the air.
/ 4 DIR. Charles Baskerville and my
self have, thru several months past
made careful study of the complet
collection Of gems in the Natural His
tory museum. They were all teste,
with radium, Roentgen rays and ultra
violet rays. Willemite brought from
Franklin, N. j., phosphoresced unde
the influence Of each Of the three. Cal
| cite and willemite showed marked eff
fects from exposure to these. The.
showed a red glow. The Swedish anl
California specimens phosphorescee
and fuoresced under ultraviolet ray
but not under the Roentgen rays
These effects are not produced wher
glass is interposed-it is Opaque tt
these rays. The. Piffard lamp wa,
used as the source Of the ultra-vioIe
rays. These experiments were all con.
Quoted with this lamp.
| 1T seems as tho there is in willie.
mite, zinc oxide and other. minerals
i some element that possesses peculiar
properties and that there exists ir
| fuorspar some rare earth that is af.
4 fected. by these various rays. 1t is 6
fuorescent substance. different from
anything that has ever been. discov.
cred.
''The diamonds were the most re.
sponsive. From $4,000, mined in Brit
ish Guiana and elsewhere, which were
examined, forty-four were selected
After an exposure of sixty seconds tt
the ultraviolet rays, they, glowed fol
some time. They also glowed wher
separated by a thickness Of white vel
vet from the light, also thru twelve
thicknesses of paper; but they did no
glow SO brightly when black velve
was interposed. There is a diamond
there Of 15A carats which phosphor
Isee If they were as we'll filled or bet
i ter than usual. On the occasion o