pitchblende
Radioactive mineral source
Pitchblende is a black, naturally occurring mineral that is the primary ore of uranium.
It consists mainly of uranium oxide and is notably radioactive—Marie Curie extracted radium and polonium from pitchblende samples.
The name refers to its pitch-black color and heavy, blob-like appearance: The miners discovered a vein of pitchblende deep in the shaft.
Radioactive alkaline earth metal
- poloniumElement number eighty-four
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
- beta particlesElectrons from radioactive decay
Marie Curie · Pierre Curie · gamma rays · half-life · radon · emanation · radioactive decay · ionizing radiation
Concentrated uranium oxide powder
- U-235Fissile uranium isotope
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- nuclear fuelRadioactive reactor feedstock
- atomic ageEra of harnessed fission
Major Central African waterway
- uranium miningOre extraction for reactors
- extractionAct of removing
- prospectingSearching for mineral wealth
- ore depositMineable mineral accumulation
Closely packed together
- isometricHaving uniform measurements
- specimenIndividual for examination
- crystallographyStudy of atomic lattices
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- atomic bombFission-triggered mass destruction device
- nuclear agePeriod following fission's harnessing
- HiroshimaFirst nuclear-struck city
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
radium
Radioactive alkaline earth metal
- poloniumElement number eighty-four
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
Marie Curie · Pierre Curie · beta particles · gamma rays · half-life · radon · emanation · radioactive decay · ionizing radiation · dosimeter
yellowcake
Concentrated uranium oxide powder
- U-235Fissile uranium isotope
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- nuclear fuelRadioactive reactor feedstock
Congo
Major Central African waterway
- uranium miningOre extraction for reactors
- extractionAct of removing
- prospectingSearching for mineral wealth
ore deposit · vein · lode
dense
Closely packed together
- isometricHaving uniform measurements
- specimenIndividual for examination
- crystallographyStudy of atomic lattices
Manhattan Project
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- atomic bombFission-triggered mass destruction device
- nuclear agePeriod following fission's harnessing
- HiroshimaFirst nuclear-struck city
pitchblendeenriched uranium
Isotope-concentrated nuclear fuel
yellowcake · nuclear fuel · fuel rod · weapons-grade uranium · fuel rods
blend, pitch, pitcher, pitching, pitched, pitchfork, pitchers, pitchforks, pitchman