Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-12
RADIUM' s GREAT POWER
Luminous Effects on Diamonds
 Shown by TiAany's Expert.
FIFTEEN CARAT STONE USED.

One Twenty-three-hundr of an
 Ounce of the Rare Mineral, Incased
 In Many Receptacles, Made a Big
 Diamond Sparkle In the Dark at a
 Demonstration Tn New York.
 A large assemblage sat in utter dark ness for more than an hour the other evening at the Museum of Natural His tory, in New York, and among other incidents watched the fluorescence and phosphorescence imparted to a fifteen carat diamond by 127 milligrams tor 1-2300 an ounce) of radium.
 The exhibition was so marvellous as almost to be incredible, but every statement that has been made abroad regarding the properties of the new metal was confirmed, says the New York American.
 Prior to covering the lights the small tube containing the radium was passed around the hall for inspection, but it never left the hands of George F. Kuntz, the expert of the Tiffany com pany, who gave the exhibition. One reason was that radium is highly dan- gerous; another that it is very costly.
 The specimen shown was of 100000 activity, the most potent yet seen in the United States, although a much higher grade will undoubtedly be pro- duced. The feeling of danger inspired was of that indefinite character that may we'll be described as "uncanny." Nobody present at the museum could gauge radium's distinctive powers, but enough of the mineral was at hand to convert the museum building into dust.
 Radium is separated from uranium; from many tons only mere trace. Twenty-Five hundred tons (5,Ooo,O00 pounds) must be refined to secure one pound of radium. Its cost, $4, 100000.
 The appearance of the new metal was that of a mixture of fine table salt and four Some of it's particles glis- tened; others were dull white.
 The incident of the night was the dis play of the effect of radium upon white and blue diamonds. Then Pro- lessor Kuntz announced that he was about to produce from a box fifteen carat Brazilian diamond. The, diamond had no luminosity in the dark when held aloft, but as soon as the radium tube was placed behind 1t the gem took on pale steel white glow, the in-' tensity of which increased to fixed degree.
 Professor Kuntz then inclosed the glass containing the radium in a rub Der pipe-same effect. This combina- ton was then dropped into a, section of lead pipe-no change in result Again the radium, glass, rubber and lead were sealed in a brass tube with a screw top-the big white diamond glowed as before.
 Then came the supreme test. The diamond was held far from the radium until it's phosphorescenee had melted away. Meanwhile the brass tube and it's contents were submerged in jar of water. Four inches of wooden blocks were placed before it on ped estal and the white diamond hung over the wood, facing the assembly. These preparations were made in the small luminous field of portable electric lamp.
 After the extinction of the electric bulb pale white luminous spot began to develop at the front of the wooden blocks. Tn few seconds it glowed like a f1refy, and in a quarter of minute 1t literally sparkled.
 Professor Kuntz announced that the specimen of costly metal had been pre- scented to the Academy of Natural Sci ences, belonging to the museum, by Edward D. Ellis of New York city.