6 ms·
Probably a stupid question, but wouldn’t all lead have started decaying at the same time? Why would lead only start to decay once it has been mined?
by secondcoming 5y ago
Probably a stupid question, but wouldn’t all lead have started decaying at the same time? Why would lead only start to decay once it has been mined?
- coryrc 5y agoOnly lead 210 is radioactive. Lead 210 is only created by uranium. Lead 210 has a short half-life, uranium 235 has a long one. Thus, once uranium is removed, lead 210 levels drop "quickly".
- Lanolderen 5y ago"When lead ore is first processed, it is purified and most of the uranium is removed. Whatever lead 210 is already present begins to break down, with half of it decaying on average every 22 years. In Roman lead almost all of the lead 210 has already decayed, whereas in lead mined today, it is just beginning to decay."