large value resistors

[Mike I.]

A geologist friend who was involved in uranium exploration in 
Saskatchewan in the 1980's quickly learned to store the Coleman lantern 
mantles well away from the ore assay shack. They made the 
scintillometers go wild... they contain thorium nitrate before ignition, 
thorium oxide after ignition. The oxide improves the luminous efficiency 
of the mantle in a similar manner to the way thorium activated tungsten 
cathodes in vacuum tubes put out more electrons at lower temperatures 
than simple tungsten filaments.

> > >Wouldn't want to monkey around cutting the
> > >enclosed americium source open, but if the resistor is
> > conveniently >soldered somewhere....
> >
> > But how else am I supposed to show off my geiger counter's
> > alpha window?
> >
> > Clck click click  8o
> 
> That's easy, just buy some gas lantern mantles from the
> camping store, they're a lot more radioactive than smoke
> alarms!
>