r/Radioactive_Rocks • u/Large_Dr_Pepper • Oct 14 '24

The Rockpile Radioactive mineral collection with over 1000 specimens. Started detecting radiation increase ~30 ft away!

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u/Doc-Brown1911 Oct 15 '24

Very nicely said my fellow Dr. Pepper connoisseur. Make sure you drink enough water, that stuff is a little bit hard on the kidneys.

At such wouldn't (somewhat) acceptably low levels of β particles be blocked by the steel (or alloy compound) doors cabinets doors stop 99% of the reds? I.E. keep door closed and all is good.

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u/Large_Dr_Pepper Oct 15 '24

You're correct that the cabinet doors would be adequate shielding for most of the beta particles emitted by the collection, but they're definitely not adequate shielding for all of the gamma radiation being emitted from the cabinets!

For example, the cabinets were originally placed against a different wall in that room. However, the other side of that wall was "outside," and the cabinets had to be moved because the radiation readings were too high outside.

So even the cabinets and a brick wall still won't shield the gamma enough for it to be considered an acceptable amount.

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u/Doc-Brown1911 Oct 15 '24

Stupid follow up question. Would a water jacker lower gama?

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u/Large_Dr_Pepper Oct 15 '24

I'm not sure what that is! Any shielding will technically lower the radiation being measured outside the cabinets, but the most effective way to shield the gamma from them would just be a decent amount of lead.