Isotopes of californium projectiles, mortar projectiles, rockets, bombs, land mines, and improvised explosive devices (IED). In the oil industry, Cf-252 neutron sources are used to find layers of petroleum and water in a well. Instrumentation is lowered into the well which bombards the formation with high energy neutrons to determine porosity, permeability, and hydrocarbon presence along the length of the borehole. Californium-252 has also been used in the treatment of serious forms of cancer. In patients suffering from certain types of brain and cervical cancer, Cf-252 can be used as a more cost-effective substitute for radium. Isotopes of californium Californium (Cf) is an
Californium(III) polyborate can be made by autoclaving a californium(III) chloride solution in water with excess boric acid for a week at 240°C. This is then cooled slowly to room temperature for another three days. Water dissolves excess boric acid to leave insoluble crystals of the borate. The californium(III) polyborate solid undergoes a green fluorescence of 525 nm with ultraviolet light of wavelengths 365 or 420 nm. There is also an invisible near infrared fluorescence at 1020 nm induced by green light at 546 nm. Californium polyborate is dangerous because of the radioactivity of californium and its decay daughter curium. Between them these