Urgent search for tiny radioactive capsule missing in Australia

[Still Waters]

An urgent search is underway in Western Australia after a tiny capsule containing a radioactive substance went missing.

The casing contains a small quantity of radioactive Caesium-137, which could cause serious illness if touched.

It was lost between the town of Newman and the city of Perth in mid-January - a distance of roughly 1,400km (870 miles).

The public has been warned to stay away from the capsule if they see it.

It was being transported on a truck between a mine site north of Newman in the Pilbara region and the north-eastern parts of Perth between 10-16 January when it was mislaid. Caesium-137 is a substance commonly used in mining operations.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64429375

[Ell]

Police officer: "Hold kangaroo!"

Kangaroo: "What is it about, officer?"

Police officer: "We have got to inspect your pouch for a missing capsule of caesium-137."

Kangaroo: "You will have to look elsewhere. I do not have a pouch. I am male."

[moonman]

6mm x 8mm button lost somewhere along a 1400km stretch of road.

Yeah, good luck with that.

Edited January 27, 2023 by moonman

[Still Waters]

 

[+and-then]

I wonder what they had it in a mine for?  I first thought it was a source for industrial radiography - non destructive testing - but that's usually cobalt-60 or  Iridium-192.  Those are usually extremely well shielded and I can't imagine any reason for this device to be left unshielded.

[Still Waters]

Quote

The 8mm by 6mmm capsule – a 19-gigabecquerel caesium 137 ceramic source, commonly used in radiation gauges – fell from a secure device on a truck which travelled from a mine site north of Newman in Western Australia’s Pilbara region to a depot in the capital Perth.

It is believed a bolt securing the lead-lined gauge containing the capsule worked loose somewhere on the journey – potentially shaken loose by the vibrations of the truck – and the capsule fell through a hole left by the missing bolt.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/29/new-technology-deployed-in-search-for-tiny-potentially-deadly-missing-radioactive-capsule

[Golden Duck]

19 hours ago, and-then said:

I wonder what they had it in a mine for?  I first thought it was a source for industrial radiography - non destructive testing - but that's usually cobalt-60 or  Iridium-192.  Those are usually extremely well shielded and I can't imagine any reason for this device to be left unshielded.

Maybe...

https://www.geometrics.com/product/g-859ap/

[MysteryMike]

Better find it soon otherwise its gonna mutate the local ants. Last thing we need is Them! (1954).

Australia is dangerous enough as it is with its creatures.

[Still Waters]

On 1/29/2023 at 1:30 AM, and-then said:

I wonder what they had it in a mine for? 

The lost device is part of a density gauge..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64448879

[psyche101]

Maybe fit Geiger Counters to some cars and drive the route? 

It's got a half life of thirty years too. 

[Grim Reaper 6]

Authorities in the state of Western Australia on Wednesday recovered a tiny but dangerous radioactive capsule that fell off a truck while being transported along an 870-mile highway through the Outback, in an operation likened by an official to finding a needle in a haystack.  Officials said the capsule, about the size of a pea, was found south of the mining town of Newman on the Great Northern Highway. It was detected by a search vehicle traveling at more than 40 mph when specialist equipment picked up radiation being emitted by the capsule.

The capsule contains the cesium 137 ceramic source, which is commonly used in radiation gauges and which emits dangerous amounts of radiation, equivalent to 10 X-rays in an hour. It could cause skin burns, and prolonged exposure could cause cancer. The capsule got lost while being transported between a desert mine site and Perth on Jan. 10. The truck transporting the capsule arrived at a Perth depot Jan. 16. Emergency services were notified of the missing capsule Jan. 25.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/radioactive-capsule-that-fell-off-truck-in-australia-s-outback-is-found/ar-AA16Z6pc?cvid=32737257ac444daebf71f34d81d75f58

 

[psyche101]

About two metres from the road.

Saw it on Aunty an hour ago. 

Edited February 1, 2023 by psyche101

[Grim Reaper 6]

Just now, psyche101 said:

It's been found..

Saw it on Aunty an hour ago. 

That’s great, it also said so in the source I supplied in the. If, you didn’t read the article you may want too because it’s pretty amazing how they located,

Hope you and yours are well Psyche!

[psyche101]

14 hours ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

That’s great, it also said so in the source I supplied in the. If, you didn’t read the article you may want too because it’s pretty amazing how they located,

Hope you and yours are well Psyche!

Cheers mate, yeah, I thought it was continued till I saw that. Threads merged now. 

They found it how I suggested in post 9, but it was an obvious choice I think. 

I notice the MSN article uses mph and inches. That's a foreign language down under

[Grim Reaper 6]

37 minutes ago, psyche101 said:

Cheers mate, yeah, I thought it was continued till I saw that. Threads merged now. 

They found it how I suggested in post 9, but it was an obvious choice I think. 

I notice the MSN article uses mph and inches. That's a foreign language down under

Yes, I understand it is foreign language to those down under, but I hold out hope for you anyway because sooner or later you guys will graduate beyond the metric system!!!

I hope you are well my friend! 

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by Grim Reaper 6