Mining company 'sorry' for losing radioactive capsule

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Authorities are now grappling with the daunting task of searching along the truck's 1,400 kilometre journey from north of Newman - a small town in the remote Kimberley region - to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth, Western Australia

The radioactive capsule, believed to have fallen from a truck, was part of a gauge used to measure the density of iron ore feed which had been entrusted to a specialist contractor to transport.Authorities are now grappling with the daunting task of searching along the truck's 1,400km journey from north of Newman - a small town in the remote Kimberley region - to a storage facility in the northeast suburbs of Perth - a distance longer than the length of Britain.

"If the source just happened to be lying in the middle of the road you might get lucky...It's quite radioactive so if you get close to it, it will stick out," he said.When it was unpacked for inspection on 25 January, the gauge was found broken apart, with one of four mounting bolts missing and screws from the gauge also gone.

The silver capsule, 6mm in diameter and 8mm long, contains Caesium-137 which emits radiation equal to 10 X-rays per hour. The state's emergency services department has established a hazard management team and has brought in specialised equipment that includes portable radiation survey meters to detect radiation levels across a 20-metre radius and which can be used from moving vehicles.

 

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Here's hoping this story doesn't end up turning into a tragic Sci_Phile documentary

I’m sure it is “lost”

For something as small as a cent ..... feck !!!

More scaremongering drama

Who was driving the truck? Homer Simpson!!!!

Probably on the slow boat to Iran by now.

Kind of a big oopsie

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Mining company 'sorry' for losing radioactive capsule in Western AustraliaThe solid, silver-coloured cylinder is smaller than a human fingernail but authorities say it could cause acute radiation sickness.
Source: thejournal_ie - 🏆 32. / 50 Read more »