Radioactive Gems

 

 

The gems listed below are radioactive to some degree. Below the gem name is the relative degree of radioactivity (Barely Detectable, Mild, Weak, Strong, Very Strong) and the main element that is responsible for radioactivity in the gem and the percentage of the radioactive element present in the mineral. More information below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adularia

 

Aeschynite

 

Afghanite

 

Ajoite
Adularia (Feldspar)

 

Aeschynite-(Ce)

 

Afghanite

 

Ajoite

Barely: (K) 14.05%

 

Weak: (Ce) 27.50%

 

Barely: (K) 2.28%

 

Barely: (K) 2.24%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allanite

 

Alum-(K)

 

Alunite

 

Amazonite
Allanite-(Ce)

 

Alum-(K)

 

Alunite

 

Amazonite (Feldspar)

Weak: (Ce) 27.35%

 

Barely: (K) 8.24%

 

Barely: (K) 9.44%

 

Barely: (K) 14.05%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apophyllite

 

Arrojadite

 

Astrophyllite

 

Autunite
Apophyllite

 

Arrojadite-(KFe)

 

Astrophyllite

 

Autunite

Barely: (K) 4.37%

 

Barely: (K) 1.92%

 

Barely: (K) 6.07%

 

Very Strong: (U) 48.27%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baratovite

 

Barrerite

 

Bastnaesite

 

Betafite
Baratovite

 

Barrerite

 

Bastnäsite

 

Betafite

Barely: (K) 2.78%

 

Barely: (K) 1.55%

 

Weak: (Ce) 63.94%

 

Very Strong: (U) 17.20%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boleite

 

Burbankite

 

Canasite

 

Celadonite
Boleite

 

Burbankite

 

Canasite

 

Celadonite (incl.)

Barely: (K) 0.36%

 

Mild: (Ce) 5.95%

 

Barely: (K) 6.22%

 

Barely: (K) 9.11%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chabazite

 

Charoite

 

Chevkinite-(Ce)

 

Coffinite
Chabazite

 

Charoite

 

Chevkinite-(Ce)

 

Coffinite

Barely: (K) 11.07%

 

Barely: (K) 10.69%

 

Weak: (Th) 1.93%

 

VERY Strong: (U) 72.63%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuprosklodowskite

 

Ekanite

 

Eudialyte

 

Euxenite-(Y)
Cuprosklodowskite

 

Ekanite

 

Eudialyte

 

Euxenite-(Y)

VERY Strong: (U) 55.24%

 

Strong: (Th) 27.08%

 

Mild: (Ce) 7.06%

 

Mild: (Ce) 3.57%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fergusonite-(Ce)

 

Fluorbritholite-(Ce)

 

Francevillite

 

Gadolinite
Fergusonite-(Ce)

 

Fluorbritholite-(Ce)

 

Francevillite

 

Gadolinite-(Ce)

Weak: (Ce) 28.31%

 

Weak: (Ce) 25.30%

 

VERY Strong: (U) 48.64%

 

Weak: (Ce) 16.74%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ganophyllite

 

Gmelinite-Na

 

Gorgeyite

 

Hanksite
Ganophyllite

 

Gmelinite-Na

 

Görgeyite

 

Hanksite

Barely: (K) 3.87%

 

Barely: (K) 4.58%

 

Barely: (K) 8.96%

 

Barely: (K) 35.47%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heulandite

 

Hibonite

 

Hyalophane

 

Johnsenite-(Ce) inclusion in Quartz
Heulandite

 

Hibonite

 

Hyalophane (Feldspar)

 

Johnsenite-(Ce) (incl.)

Barely: (K) 0.60%

 

Mild: (Ce) 1.98%

 

Barely: (K) 9.71%

 

Mild: (Ce) 2.66%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaliborite

 

Kentbrooksite

 

Lepidolite

 

Leucite
Kaliborite

 

Kentbrooksite

 

Lepidolite

 

Leucite

Barely: (K) 5.46%

 

Weak: (REE) 29.53%

 

Barely: (K) 10.07%

 

Barely: (K) 17.91%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Londonite

 

Mariposite

 

Autunite

 

Milarite
Londonite

 

Mariposite

 

Meta-Autunite

 

Milarite

Barely: (K) 1.93%

 

Barely: (K) 9.81%

 

Very Strong: (U) 56.53%

 

Barely: (K) 3.95%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monazite

 

Mordenite

 

Mosandrite

 

Mica
Monazite-(Ce)

 

Mordenite

 

Mosandrite

 

Muscovite (Mica)

Weak: (Ce) 29.17%

 

Barely: (K) 0.45%

 

Weak: (Ce) 23.01%

 

Barely: (K) 9.81%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nepheline

 

Neptunite

 

Orthoclase

 

Parisite
Nepheline

 

Neptunite

 

Orthoclase (Feldspar)

 

Parisite

Barely: (K) 6.69%

 

Barely: (K) 4.31%

 

Barely: (K) 14.05%

 

Weak: (Ce) 28.69%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pezzottaite

 

Phlogopite

 

Pollucite

 

Polycrase-(Y)
Pezzottaite (Beryl)

 

Phlogopite

 

Pollucite

 

Polycrase-(Y)

Barely: (Rb) 0.52%

 

Barely: (K) 9.33%

 

Barely: (Rb) 1.20%

 

Strong: (U) 6.38%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potassic-fluoro-hastingsite

 

Poudretteite

 

Remondite

 

Rhodizite
Potassic-fluoro-hastingsite

 

Poudretteite

 

Rémondite

 

Rhodizite

Barely: (K) 4.12%

 

Barely: (K) 4.28%

 

Weak: (Ce) 27.48%

 

Barely: (K) 3.77%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadanagaite

 

Samarskite-(Y)

 

Sanidine

 

Soddyite
Sadanagaite

 

Samarskite-(Y)

 

Sanidine (Feldspar)

 

Soddyite

Barely: (K) 3.15%

 

Very Strong: (U) 15.88%

 

Barely: (K) 10.69%

 

Very Strong: (U) 71.25%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sogdianite

 

Steacyite

 

Syngenite

 

Sugilite
Sogdianite

 

Steacyite

 

Syngenite

 

Sugilite

Barely: (K) 5.59%

 

Strong: (Th) 25.29%

 

Barely: (K) 23.81%

 

Barely: (K) 3.80%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taranakite

 

Thorianite

 

Thorite

 

Tinaksite
Taranakite

 

Thorianite

 

Thorite

 

Tinaksite

Barely: (K) 8.47%

 

Very Strong: (Th) 87.88%

 

Very Strong: (Th) 71.59%

 

Barely: (K) 10.40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Titanite (Sphene)

 

Vandenbrandeite

 

Yttrocrasite-(Y)

 

Yuksporite
Titanite (Sphene)

 

Vandenbrandeite

 

Yttrocrasite-(Y)

 

Yuksporite

Mild: (REE) 3.64%

 

Very Strong: (U) 59.27%

 

Strong: (U) 7.99%

 

Barely: (K) 6.14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radioactive Gems

The gemstones above are radioactive as defined in 49 CFR 173.403 (greater than 70 Bq/gram), but are considered safe under most circumstances since gemstones of these types are usually small. However, gems with Strong and Very Strong radioactivity should be handled carefully with very limited contact and exposure.

The following radioacitve elements are found in radioactive gems (click on the elements for more information):

Ce - Cerium

K - Potassium

La - Lanthanum

Nd - Neodymium

Pr - Praseodymium

Rb - Rubidium

Sm - Samarium

Th - Thorium

U - Uranium

 

 

 

The following radioactive elements are also Rare Earth Elements (REE):
Ce - Cerium,  La - Lanthanum,  Nd - Neodymium,  Pr - Praseodymium,  Sm - Samarium,  Th - Thorium

Below are more details on the radioactive minerals gems. They are listed in order of their strength of radioactivity from strongest to least as measured by their GRapi units (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute). Hover your cursor over a gem name to see a picture of that gem type or click on the gem name to open a new page with detailed information about that gem type and our gems for sale.

 


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