Chemistry: A Volatile History to investigate. Marie Curie began her investigations by testing a uranium ore called pitchblende with an electrometer. She discovered it was four times more radioactive than pure uranium, and wondered if this was due to the presence of an even more radioactive element in the pitchblende. Curie began stockpiling tonnes of pitchblende, then in the most basic of workshops with primitive equipment she undertook a multitude of complex and dangerous procedures in an attempt to isolate this new element. In the event, Curie discovered two new elements, polonium named after her native Poland and radium. Whilst these were naturally occurring
Naturally occurring radioactive material UK regulation is via the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales)Regulations 2010. This defines two types of NORM activity: (a)the production and use of thorium, or thorium compounds, and the production of products where thorium is deliberately added; or (b)the production and use of uranium or uranium compounds, and the production of products where uranium is deliberately added (a)the extraction, production and use of rare earth elements and rare earth element alloys; (b)the mining and processing of ores other than uranium ore; (c)the production of oil and gas; (d)the removal and management of radioactive scales and precipitates from equipment associated with