RADIUM IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 119, 27 August 1910, Page 9

RADIUM IN AUSTRALIA.

-K m THE NORTHERN TERRITORY. In connection with the claim of Mr. Niemann, Australian Government chemist at Pine Creek, to have discovered the, existence of possibly large quantities of radium in the 'Northern Territory, the following details of his experiments, as summed up bv himself, are of interest: He had noticed that crystal glass containing manganese turned an amethyst color when exposed to the atmosphere. He learned that the presence of strong radium salt would account for this, and subsequently became convinced that the amethyst glass actually absorbed radium. This belief lie tested, and states the results as follows:

"There is not the slightest doubt now that amethyst glass is decidedly radioactive, an<l contains radium in a pure form occluded with it.. It possesses all the properties of the various radium rays. I am forwarding tlie following occular demonstrations: First, a radiograph of a key taken on an ordinary photographic plate, and: given five days' contact. This shows very distinctly. The second is the same kind of plate exposed for the same period, and shows an equally distinct radiograph of mica. The third is a rapid plate giving ten days' contact with finely powdered glass covering a threepenny piece. Long contact with the rapid plate has enabled the radium either to penetrate the coin or allowed the rays from the fine glass to extend its influence laterally. _ The image of the coin is not very distinct, but the whole face of the plate is dark, as if it had been exposed to the sunlight, and is thrice as dark as the check plate, which was not in contact with any radioactive material. The fourth check plate, also shows a very faint image of the coin, which may have been caused by Tadiation from the other plate, although the I*wo plates were well separated. The fifth is amethyst glass, showing the explosive action: of radium. "The proofs tihat the amethyst glass contains radium are, first, the radiographs as above; second, the explosive, effects plainly evident in many specimens; third, the coloration of the crystal I class left in contact with amethyst glass for a month 'or two indoors, an effect ■Which is onlv produced 'by radium, as far a« is known; fourth, the melting into liquid of vaseline placed for one day in a box with amethyst glass, whilst a bottle in an adjoining, bo* remained unmelted; and the fine liberation of ozone and nitroceivfrow proved, by some Vecent Melbourne experiment*."