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Radioactive Gems

The following gems 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. See information at the bottom of this page for details on the radioactive elements.

Barely: (K) 14.05%

Weak: (Ce) 27.50%

Barely: (K) 2.28%

Barely: (K) 2.24%

Weak: (Ce) 27.35%

Barely: (K) 9.44%

Barely: (K) 14.05%

Barely: (K) 4.37%

Barely: (K) 6.07%

Barely: (K) 1.55%

Weak: (Ce) 63.94%

Very Strong: (U) 17.20%

Barely: (K) 0.36%

Mild: (Ce) 5.95%

Barely: (K) 6.22%

Barely: (K) 9.11%

Barely: (K) 11.07%

Barely: (K) 10.69%

Strong: (Th) 27.08%

Mild: (Ce) 7.06%

Mild: (Ce) 3.57%

Weak: (Ce) 28.31%

Weak: (Ce) 16.74%

Barely: (K) 4.58%

Barely: (K) 8.96%

Barely: (K) 35.47%

Barely: (K) 0.60%

Barely: (K) 9.71%

Barely: (K) 5.46%

Weak: (REE) 29.53%

Barely: (K) 10.07%

Barely: (K) 17.91%

Barely: (K) 1.93%

Barely: (K) 3.95%

Weak: (Ce) 29.17%

Barely: (K) 0.45%

Weak: (Ce) 23.01%

Barely: (K) 9.81%

Barely: (K) 6.69%

Barely: (K) 4.31%

Barely: (K) 14.05%

Weak: (Ce) 28.69%

Barely: (Rb) 0.52%

Barely: (Rb) 1.20%

Strong: (U) 6.38%

Barely: (K) 8.24%

Barely: (K) 4.28%

Weak: (Ce) 27.48%

Barely: (K) 3.77%

Very Strong: (U) 15.88%

Barely: (K) 10.69%

Barely: (K) 5.59%

Mild: (REE) 3.64%

Barely: (K) 23.81%

Barely: (K) 3.80%

Very Strong: (Th) 87.88%

Very Strong: (Th) 71.59%

Barely: (K) 10.40%

Strong: (U) 7.99%

Barely: (K) 6.14%

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):

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

Here are more details on the radioactive 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).

  Thorianite - Very Strong; GRapi = 1,505,305.18 - contains 87.88% Thorium (Th)
  Betafite - Very Strong; GRapi = 1,310,418.25 - contains 17.20% Uranium (U)
  Thorite - Very Strong; GRapi = 1,281,657.29 - contains 71.59% Thorium (Th)
  Samarskite-(Y) - Very Strong; GRapi = 1,202,300.20 - contains 15.88% Uranium (U)
  Yttrocrasite-(Y) - Strong; GRapi = 784,722.58 - contains 7.79% Thorium (Th); 7.99% Uranium (U)
  Polycrase-(Y) - Strong; GRapi = 603,860.75 - contains 6.38% Uranium (U); 6.22% Thorium (Th)
  Ekanite - Strong; GRapi = 542,060.77 - contains 27.08% Thorium (Th)
  Monazite-(Ce) - Weak; GRapi = 91,584.19 - contains Rare Earth Elements (REE); 29.17% Cerium (Ce), 14.46% Lanthanum (La), 12.01% Neodymium (Nd), 4.83% Thorium (Th)
  Bastnäsite-(Ce) - Weak; GRapi = 60,386.61 -contains 63.94% Cerium (Ce)
  Parisite - Weak; GRapi = 50,156.22 - contains 28.69% Cerium (Ce), 23.27% Lanthanum (La)
  Gadolinite-(Ce) - Weak; GRapi = 44,145.76 - contains 17.99% Neodymium (Nd), 16.74% Cerium (Ce), 10.98% Lanthanum (La)
  Fergusonite-(Ce) - Weak; GRapi = 40,097.08 - contains 28.31% Cerium (Ce), 14.03% Lanthanum (La)
  Rémondite-(Ce) - Weak; GRapi = 36,248.83 - contains 27.48% Cerium (Ce), 9.08% Lanthanum (La)
  Kentbrooksite - Weak; GRapi = 29,710.44 - contains 29.53% of the Rare Earth Elements (REE) Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Samarium (Sm)
  Allanite - Weak; GRapi = 27,438.55 - contains 27.35% Cerium (Ce), 17.46% Lanthanum (La)
  Aeschynite-(Ce) - Weak; GRapi = 27,088.82 - contains 27.50% Cerium (Ce)
  Mosandrite - Weak; GRapi = 23,082.68 - contains 23.01% Cerium (Ce)
  Eudialyte - Mild; GRapi = 7,287.91 - contains 7.06% Cerium (Ce)
  Burbankite - Mild; GRapi = 5,871.73 - contains 5.95% Cerium (Ce)
  Sphene (Titanite) - Mild; GRapi = 3,805.77 - contains 3.64% of the Rare Earth Elements (REE) Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Samarium (Sm)
  Euxenite-(Y) - Mild; GRapi = 3,420.62 - contains 3.57% Cerium (Ce)
  Pollucite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 484.85 - contains 1.20% Rubidium (Rb)
  Londonite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 457.11 - contains 1.05% Rubidium (Rb), 1.93% Potassium (K)
  Syngenite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 343.09 - contains 23.81% Potassium (K)
  Leucite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 255.81 - contains 17.91% Potassium (K)
  Pezzottaite (Beryl) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 212.96 - contains 0.52% Rubidium (Rb), 0.06% Potassium (K)
  Adularia (Feldspar) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 200.97 - contains 14.05% Potassium (K)
  Amazonite (Feldspar) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 200.97 - contains 14.05% Potassium (K)
  Orthoclase (Feldspar) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 200.97 - contains 14.05% Potassium (K)
  Charoite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 154.18 - contains 10.69% Potassium (K)
  Sanidine (Feldspar) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 152.94 - contains 10.69% Potassium (K)
  Tinaksite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 148.49 - contains 10.40% Potassium (K)
  Lepidolite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 143.68 - contains 10.07% Potassium (K)
  Muscovite (Mica) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 140.52 - contains 9.81% Potassium (K)
  Alunite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 136.78 - contains 9.44% Potassium (K)
  Hyalophane (Feldspar) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 135.85 - contains 9.71% Potassium (K)
  Celadonite (incl.) - Barely detectable; GRapi = 130.24 - contains 9.11% Potassium (K)
  Görgeyite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 129.09 - contains 8.96% Potassium (K)
  Potassium Alum - Barely detectable; GRapi = 124.32 - contains 8.24% Potassium (K)
  Nepheline - Barely detectable; GRapi = 95.15 - contains 6.69% Potassium (K)
  Canasite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 89.32 - contains 6.22% Potassium (K)
  Yuksporite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 86.57 - contains 6.14% Potassium (K)
  Astrophyllite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 85.21 - contains 6.07% Potassium (K)
  Kaliborite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 79.53 - contains 5.46% Potassium (K)
  Sogdianite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 79.14 - contains 5.59% Potassium (K)
  Apophyllite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 62.81 - contains 4.37% Potassium (K)
  Poudretteite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 61.48 - contains 4.28% Potassium (K)
  Neptunite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 60.73 - contains 4.31% Potassium (K)
  Milarite - Barely detectable ; GRapi = 56.71 - contains 3.95% Potassium (K)
  Sugilite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 54.07 - contains 3.80% Potassium (K)
  Rhodizite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 52.60 - contains 3.77% Potassium (K)
  Hanksite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 35.47 - contains 2.50% Potassium (K)
  Afghanite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 32.54 - contains 2.28% Potassium (K)
  Ajoite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 31.60 - contains 2.24% Potassium (K)
  Barrerite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 22.57 - contains 1.55% Potassium (K)
  Chabazite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 11.07 - contains 0.75% Potassium (K)
  Heulandite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 8.68 - contains 0.60% Potassium (K)
  Mordenite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 6.53 - contains 0.45% Potassium (K)
  Gmelinite-Na - Barely detectable; GRapi = 4.58 - contains 0.31% Potassium (K)
  Boleite - Barely detectable; GRapi = 4.47 - contains 0.36% Potassium (K)