Trinitite is the name given to the soil that was
fused into a glass-like consistency by the heat from the Trinity Test, the
world’s first nuclear explosion that took place
The three pieces shown in the photograph range from 1 to 1.5 inches
The three pieces shown in the photograph range from 1 to 1.5 inches across.
By the early 1950s, the government had excavated and buried almost all of
the Trinitite remaining at the site. The
subsequent removal of material was strictly prohibited. Prior to this
however, a fair amount had made it into the hands of the public and rock
Trinitite is measurably radioactive, but not
dangerously so. Needless to say, the activity depends on a variety of
factors, e.g., the size of the piece and the distance from ground zero. The
three pieces shown are approximately 1 uR/hr above background at a distance
of one inch.
As the radionuclides created by the explosion decay away, Trinitite becomes less and less radioactive. Which radionuclides are identified today depends on how much trouble and time one is willing to devote to the analysis. A simple analysis by gamma spectroscopy reveals the presence of Cs-137, Am-241, Ba-133, Co-60, Eu-152, Eu-154 and Eu-155 (the Co-60 and Eu-155 were present at very low levels but they were still detectable as of March 2005). A number of harder to detect pure alpha and beta radionuclides will also be present, e.g., Sr-90, Pu-239 and Pu-241. Needless to say, naturally occurring nuclides such as K-40 and the various members of the uranium and thorium decay series are also present.
Donated by Jim Berger, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Bill Kolb
Kolb, W.M., and Carlock, P.G. Trinitite, The Atomic Age Mineral (1999)
Last updated: 07/25/07
Copyright 1999, Oak Ridge Associated Universities