SeaKurt
Alpha decay of Thorium in Ekanite
A multiple exposure showing the ionized trails of alpha particles in a cloud chamber.
What is shown in the photo is only a fraction of the decay. This cut Ekanite represents ~91mg of Thorium. A Curie of Thorium is 9.1 x 10e9 mg--or 3.7e10 decays per second. This piece represents 10e-8 of a Curie, or 3.7e2 decays per second. I believe the only alphas escaping would be from Thorium on the surface; the rest build up as helium inside the mineral.
Alpha decay of Thorium in Ekanite
A multiple exposure showing the ionized trails of alpha particles in a cloud chamber.
What is shown in the photo is only a fraction of the decay. This cut Ekanite represents ~91mg of Thorium. A Curie of Thorium is 9.1 x 10e9 mg--or 3.7e10 decays per second. This piece represents 10e-8 of a Curie, or 3.7e2 decays per second. I believe the only alphas escaping would be from Thorium on the surface; the rest build up as helium inside the mineral.