Evening star., 1951-09-14
Atomic Experts Prepare
New Artificial Rodium
DecIored Essentially EquuI
To Radioactive CobuIt
By Thomas R. Henry

A new kind of artificial radium essen
italy equal to radioactive cobalt in
potency has been prepared at the
Brookhaven, Long Island, laboratory of
the Atomic Energy Commission.
This Is radioactive tantalum.
Amounts have been prepared equal in
activity to % pounds of radium, an
amount equal to the total world supply
before the last war.
A medical revolution was brought
about three years ago by the produc-
tion of radioactive cobalt. 1t was found
that it produced essentially the same
kinds of radiation as radium 1t was
amount desired. 1t could be prepared
in almost any form-especially as
needles or wire. In cancer treatment
these could be inserted directly into
malignant tumor where the effect would
be entirely local. All radium treatments
had to be from outside the body.
Since the introduction of radioactive
cobalt, the use of radium, an exceedingly
rare and costly element, practically has
ceased.
One slight drawback is that radio
active cobalt has a half-life of more
than five years. That is, in five years
half of the atoms originally present
have exploded" In another five years
half of the remaining atoms have dis
integrated.
Radioactive tantalum, on the other
hand, has a half-life of only little
more than six months. 1t would be
the faster product to use in many cases
OF malignancy.
TantaIum Rust Resistant.
There is little similarity between the
two elements, except in superficial ap-
pearance. Tantalum is one Of the heav-
lest metals, slightly heavier than lead.
Its unique property is that it is prac-
tically rust resistant. It has been used
extensively in surgery for skull plates,
etc. 1t has a wide usage in radio sets
and in thermocoupleS used as delicate
heat meaSurers. Separation of this ele-
ment, most Of which is mined in the
United States, long has been a difficult
problem but now has been solved sue
cessfully.
A new form of uranium, the natural
mineral essential to development of
atomic energy that appears as a soot-
like black powder, has just been an
nounced to the American Association
for the Advancement of Science here
by Columbia University geologist.
This curious material has been found,
reports DR.. Paul F. Kerr, in several To-
calItieS during the recent intensive
search for uranium deposits in the
United States-particularly at Marys-
vale and White Canyon, Utah, and in
Colorado. Minute amounts also have
beer. reported in uranium ore received
from the very rich deposits in the Bel
gian Congo. Chemical analysis. DR..
Kerr says, establishes this substance as
a form of uraninite, combination Of
uranium and oxygen, which ordinarily
occurs in hard and heavy crystals and
is mixed with such elements as lead
and thorium Pitchblende, the SUBJ
stance from which the largest amounts
of uranium are extracted, is believed to
be somewhat altered form of this
uraninite.
Black Powder Very Deep.
The mysterious black powder found
to date has been at considerable depths.
In one Colorado mine it was more than
1,0OC feet below the surface. Present
indications are that the change oc-
CURED at considerable depths in the
distant past as result of solutions Of
uraninite in heated water. Certainly.
he says, it must have been formed at
temperatures considerably higher than
tnat of ordinary ground water.
This black powder, it is reported. is
exceptionally rich in pure uranium The
fno has considerable theoretical sig
nificance in revealing the geological his
tory of uranium deposits. Also it may
serve as guide to buried deposits of
what has become the most important
of all strategic elements, as well as
rich source in itself.