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The article does not even say what the ratios of the isotopes are. If it was depleted or uranium with an unenriched amount aka natural amount of trace U-235. I

by anfilt 5y ago

The article does not even say what the ratios of the isotopes are. If it was depleted or uranium with an unenriched amount aka natural amount of trace U-235. Its not really any problem. Heck they make boat keels out of depleted uranium.

rrmm 5y ago
This article says it's 'natural uranium' https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/two-arrested-7kg-natural-uranium-101427661.html https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/two-arrested-7kg-n...
- anfilt 5y ago
  If its natural why are we arresting people for 7kg. 7kg of unenriched uranium is nothing to worry about. If they had many tons and were planning on enriching then maybe be concerned.
  - DubiousPusher 5y ago
    Anti-terror squad needs something to do.
arp242 5y ago
This was my question as well; according to some other articles it was "natural uranium"[1]. This also isn't the first time, it happened in 2016 as well.[2] [1]: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-two-held-for-possessing-uranium-worth-rs-21-30-crore-sent-to-ats-custody-till-may-12-7304918/ https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-two-h... [2]: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/two-held-with-smuggled-depleted-uranium-in-mumbai-4439107/ https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/two-held-wit...
anthropodie 5y ago
> The uranium was seized and was sent to BARC in Mumbai for analysis. A report was received that the substance is Natural Uranium, which is highly radioactive and dangerous to human life. Article does not mention those details but if BARC has concluded that it was radioactive then it most definitely is radioactive.
- asdfasgasdgasdg 5y ago
  Right but lots of things are radioactive. The point is that the headline might give the impression that this could have been used to make a bomb or something. If it was natural uranium 7kg is peanuts. You need tons and tons to get enough fissionable material for one bomb.
- anfilt 5y ago
  The radioactivity even from enriched uranium is not much of a concern. Take a look at the half life U-238 and U-235
- mr_toad 5y ago
  Uranium has no stable isotopes. Some are more radioactive than others, but ‘radioactive’ uranium is a redundant term.
- greshario 5y ago
  Bananas are radioactive. The ground under your house is probably radioactive. Saying something is radioactive is meaningless without saying _how_ radioactive it is.
stabbystabstab 5y ago
Check out this website where you can order 99% U235! So it might not even be possible to enrich uranium to the point where it spontaneously...fissures. https://www.isotopes.gov/products/Uranium https://www.isotopes.gov/products/Uranium

by anfilt 5y ago

rrmm 5y ago

This article says it's 'natural uranium' https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/two-arrested-7kg-natural-uranium-101427661.html https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/two-arrested-7kg-n...

anfilt 5y ago
If its natural why are we arresting people for 7kg. 7kg of unenriched uranium is nothing to worry about. If they had many tons and were planning on enriching then maybe be concerned.
- DubiousPusher 5y ago
  Anti-terror squad needs something to do.

arp242 5y ago

This was my question as well; according to some other articles it was "natural uranium"[1]. This also isn't the first time, it happened in 2016 as well.[2] [1]: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-two-held-for-possessing-uranium-worth-rs-21-30-crore-sent-to-ats-custody-till-may-12-7304918/ https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-two-h... [2]: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/two-held-with-smuggled-depleted-uranium-in-mumbai-4439107/ https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/two-held-wit...

anthropodie 5y ago

> The uranium was seized and was sent to BARC in Mumbai for analysis. A report was received that the substance is Natural Uranium, which is highly radioactive and dangerous to human life. Article does not mention those details but if BARC has concluded that it was radioactive then it most definitely is radioactive.

asdfasgasdgasdg 5y ago
Right but lots of things are radioactive. The point is that the headline might give the impression that this could have been used to make a bomb or something. If it was natural uranium 7kg is peanuts. You need tons and tons to get enough fissionable material for one bomb.
anfilt 5y ago
The radioactivity even from enriched uranium is not much of a concern. Take a look at the half life U-238 and U-235
mr_toad 5y ago
Uranium has no stable isotopes. Some are more radioactive than others, but ‘radioactive’ uranium is a redundant term.
greshario 5y ago
Bananas are radioactive. The ground under your house is probably radioactive. Saying something is radioactive is meaningless without saying _how_ radioactive it is.

stabbystabstab 5y ago

Check out this website where you can order 99% U235! So it might not even be possible to enrich uranium to the point where it spontaneously...fissures. https://www.isotopes.gov/products/Uranium https://www.isotopes.gov/products/Uranium