Evening star., 1949-11-04
By-Product of Atom Split
Yields STRANGE New Metal
Bureau of Standards Tells of Studies
of the Element Technicium
By Thomas X. Henry

OF the Element echnlc1um
By Thomas X. Henry
When a uranium atom splits in two, about
per cent of the by-product left in the
atomic furnace is strange new metal
technicium.
1t is quite similar. in most of its properties.
to the hard, gray, brittle metal manganese
which has wide use as an alloy in various
steel-making processes.
Systematic study of this new element now
Is being made at the United States Bureau Of
Standards. A sample of three milligrams,
about all that exists in the world, has been
provided. Bureau physicists are using this
primarily to determine its spectrum, the
wave lengths of visible and invisible light
which 1t emits when heated until it is
luminous. This gives light on its atomic
and molecular structure, which is essential
as basis for determining further prop
critics.
"Fingerprint Process"
The process is similar to taking the ele-
ment's hngerprints. Every one of the 90
elements Of which everything in nature is
built enits different wave lengths. When
one of these is detected, anywhere. in the
universe, even from the light of distant
star, it is certain evidence that the element
exists there.
Technicium was for many years one Of the
'1ost elements" The structure of the atomic
table required its existence. together with
similar element. rhenium. Neither could be
found on earth and there was no evidence
of their existence in the sun or stars. About
Is years ago rhenium finally was found.
in minute traces, in lake waters. There was
still no trace of the missing magnesium.
now known as technicium.
1t first appeared as purely synthetic ele-
ment IN the atomic furnace residues. Tho
fact that it results from uranium fission,
which is constantly in progress in nature,
indicates that there must be minute quanti-
ties of it in the rocks. Probably these are
too minute ever to be detected
Bureau OF Standards physicists want to
f1nd out just how it differs from both man.
ganese and rhenium The amounts In ex-
istence always will be extremely minute, but
these may prove to have unexpected values
in industry.
Earth's oldest land is belt of folded rocks
extending east and west across Northern
Quebec, Ontario and into Manitoba.
This is the conclusion from new measure
merts of the age of these rocks being carried
out at the Massachusetts, Institute of Tech
nology and reported to the American Asso-
ciation for the Advancement of Science by
DR.. Patrick M. Hurley.
Previous measurements, based on the rate
OF disintegration Of uranium and thorium in
granite rocks into various forms Of lead, have
given the maximum time since these rocks
were formed as about 1000, 900 900 years.
This may not be very far from the time Of
the original freezing of the previously molten
crust Of the earth.
New Method Of Measure.
At Massachusetts, Tech, Dr. Hurley and
his associates, working under grant from
the Office of Naval Research and the Geo.
logical Society of America have used another
method OF time measurement more difficult
but perhaps more accurate than the lead
ratio. 1t Is based on the emission Of atoms
OF helium from disintegrating uranium.
These leave discernible tracks in the rocks
One sample of rock measured in this way
gave an age Of 2,400 0o0. 900 years, almost q
half billion years greater than had been
determined hitherto. The helium method.
Dr.. Hurley reports. is subject to many pitt
falls but has been developed since the war
SO that, for the peculiar type Of rocks used.
1t Is on fairly stable basis and can be
accepted with considerable assurance.
The whole belt, DR.. Hurley says, consists
Of the roots Of an ancient mountain range
which ran half way across the continent
nearly 2.000,000000 years before the first
forms Of higher life appeared on earth.
1t includes some of Canada's largest gold
mines. It appears to be the Oldest part Of
the ancient rock bed known as the Canadian
shield which covers much Of the northern
part Of the dominion.