Not So depleted Uranium-238

What kind of researcher is R Addison? He certainly does not know anything about Depleted Uranium. To learn genuine facts, go to http://www.depletedcranium.com or to http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DUStory/message/76 where there are links to dozens of solid scientific reports.

Roger

R Addision, who seems to have done a "peace poem" in 2003, still appears to have no clear credentials as an "expert" in Uranium, depleted or otherwise. The subject of the speech, "Not So Depleted Uranium 238" is misleading. It means that the so-called "expert" R. Addision, who probably is passing the hat to pay for their travel expenses, does not know what the term "depleted uranium" comes from or means. Natural Uranium consists mainly of U238, it is the most common Uranium isotope and the reason that it has a half-life of 4.5 billion years is because it is the most stable naturally occuring radioactive isotope and half of all the U238 present at the time of the Earth's formation 4.5 billion years ago is still present as undecayed U238. Natural Uranium also contains U235, which is capable of sustaining a fission chain reaction by and is suitable for use in a nuclear reactor to produce power. Depleted uranium merely means that the natural uranium has been depleted of the naturally occuring fissionable isotopes like U235. DU was not originally developed to become a bullet, the kinetic energy penetrator, it was what was left over after fissionable uranium isotopes were removed to form Enriched Uranium (see below)

Nuclear Chemistry - Uranium Enrichment - Dr Frank Settle
Describes the Uranium Enrichment Process
http://www.chemcases.com/2003version/nuclear/nc-07.htm

Natural uranium contains 0.7205% of the U-235, the fissile isotope of uranium. There are a few U-234 atoms (0.0055%) in the remaining mass of U-238 (99.274%). Uranium-238 does not contribute to slow neutron fission; however, it does react with neutrons to form a fissile isotope of plutonium, Pu-239. Although U-235 and U-238 are chemically identical, they differ slightly in their physical properties, most importantly mass. This small mass difference allows the isotopes to be separated and makes it possible to increase ("enrich") the percentage of U-235 in uranium. Most civilian power reactors use enriched uranium fuel containing 3 to 4% U-235.

Nuclear Chemistry Uranium Production Dr Frank Settle
Describes Uranium Ore through Uranium Metal
http://www.chemcases.com/2003version/nuclear/nc-06.htm

DU is not a Weapon of Mass Destruction - the UN established a WMD Commission that has issued a very lengthy report about WMDs and the word uranium does not even appear in the entire report. If you do not believe me, go read the report, or just run a search - I recommend you read some of it because you will learn more about what WMDs really are and learn that people like R. Addision just want to manipulate you by convincing you that "up is down" and other false logic.

http://www.wmdcommission.org/

Roger