Radiation at Burning Man

regionalchaos · Post by **regionalchaos** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:15 am

Has anyone taken a Geiger counter out to the playa with them? I was just wondering what kind of back ground radiation is out there.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:42 am

I imagine it is the same as anywhere else.

Is there some insight into a local nuclear waste dump that we should know about?

regionalchaos · Post by **regionalchaos** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:47 am

MrMullen wrote:I imagine it is the same as anywhere else.

Is there some insight into a local nuclear waste dump that we should know about?

There was a lot of nuclear testing conducted in Nevada in the past. I'm sure you've seen pictures of mushroom clouds somewhere along the way.

The levels might be the same as many other places, I'm just curious about it.

Rockdad · Post by **Rockdad** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:56 am

Possible it is slightly higher but all the testing took place far far south of there...Las Vegas is much closer to NTS no problem there

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:03 am

this was discussed before i beleive last year.

Maybe Rob the wop or K or Bob had the answer.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:01 pm

You mean these?

http://maps.google.com/?t=h&om=1&ll=37. ... 5,0.080509

These happen FAR FAR south of Black Rock City.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:02 pm

The only things I am aware of regarding radiation in the vicinity of the Black Rock Desert is that Gerlach has or had a problem with high levels of uranium in the water supply. That problem is caused by localized uranium deposits underground and has nothing to do with the NTS tests. The EPA was working on efforts to address the situation, I haven't read up on if they've made any changes to the water supply or not.

As for the playa itself there shouldn't be anything out there beyond normal background radiation that you'll find almost anywhere. The military did use the Black Rock Desert for a time as a weapons range but only with conventional weapons so that's not an issue. But again I'm no expert....I'd recommend doing a Google search...and you may want to search the eplaya for Badger's (or Isotopia) posts on the geography of the playa...use the word "graben" as one of your search terms to help you find the comments. He's posted some good info to counter the propaganda of the Stop BM folks that might answer more of your questions.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:26 pm

Regioanl Chaos.

radiation levels in Vegas are higher than in Gerlach. See EPA study
"Background Radiation baseline readings. Circa 1986" Way higher in Southern Utah (prevaling wind direction and where fallout from Nevada Test Site lands)

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:37 pm

I was just wondering what kind of back ground radiation is out there.

On average 360 mR/hr [millirem] whole body exposure to ionozing radiation to most North Americans. A bit more in the western states. Assume double exposure while at the event. Figure it at appx 13 millirem.

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed May 10, 2006 4:02 pm

When I was a kid we all had radium on our watch dials so we could see them in the dark. Radiation on Black Rock? feh.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed May 10, 2006 4:44 pm

We're all fucking doomed.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:16 pm

Hey, this isn't the Kamp Apokiliptika thread! We're not fucking doomed! (At least not yet)

Keeper_of_the Key · Post by **Keeper_of_the Key** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:37 pm

MrMullen,

what the heck ARE those? any more importantly what are they doing with them? I see a crane nearby there if you zoom in.

david

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Wed May 10, 2006 6:33 pm

Those dimples in the ground are the results of nuclear bombs set off in the southern part of Nevada at the Trinity test site. If you have a fast internet connection, get Google earth and go to the same location. Turn on layer called Google Earth Community and see names associated with all of the holes.....BIG BOMB tests.. this is north of Mercury NV and east of Beatty.

Then check out BRC

nogganoodle · Post by **nogganoodle** » Thu May 11, 2006 8:52 am

Those craters close up on google earth are some crazy shit. How old are they? I know they aren't recent

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Thu May 11, 2006 8:53 am

I love the Nevada Desert... kinda kewl when you see some of those craters, and realize *just* how big they are. Also... There's so much natural mineral "wealth" in Nevada (especially the western part of the state) I wouldn't be surprised if there's uranite deposits around BlackRock.

Anaconda Copper had a *huge* open pit mine near Yerington (my uncle worked there, lived in the company town of Weed Heights) which was later found to have Uranite and Asbestos deposits, which were mined for a while... It then became a lake, and is now a monitored site (along with everyone who spent any time there...) by the EPA...

I always remembered 2 things about visiting my aunt and uncle - one was the absolutely awesome tours of the mine I'd get (seeing trucks 12 feet tall from across the pit through a telescope thingy)... and the funny taste of the water there... Different than anything else. Kinda... I dunno... metallic. (Prolly glowed in the dark, too!!!) It was safe, tho... they told us so!!

And kids nowdays think *they* have it rough!! >giggles<

bb

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:52 am

EspressoDude wrote:Those dimples in the ground are the results of nuclear bombs set off in the southern part of Nevada at the Trinity test site. If you have a fast internet connection, get Google earth and go to the same location. Turn on layer called Google Earth Community and see names associated with all of the holes.....BIG BOMB tests.. this is north of Mercury NV and east of Beatty.

Then check out BRC

There is something to add to this, these are underground tests, not above ground and they were not Trinty tests, they were post Trinity tests. I believe that Trinity were done in New Mexico.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu May 11, 2006 11:08 am

I believe that Trinity were done in New Mexico.

I believe you are correct - Alamagordo. See
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Trinity.html
for a history and photos.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:06 pm

phil wrote:
I believe that Trinity were done in New Mexico.
I believe you are correct - Alamagordo. See
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Trinity.html
for a history and photos.

Yah, for watching the History Channel!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:30 am

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:I love the Nevada Desert... kinda kewl when you see some of those craters, and realize *just* how big they are. Also... There's so much natural mineral "wealth" in Nevada (especially the western part of the state) I wouldn't be surprised if there's uranite deposits around BlackRock.

bb

Relax, it's natural radiation...