What is pitchblende?
Q: What is pitchblende?
A: Pitchblende is a uranium-rich mineral and ore that is radioactive, has a black color and high density and contains UO2, UO3, lead, thorium, and rare earth elements.
Q: Why is it called pitchblende?
A: It is called pitchblende due to its black color.
Q: Where was pitchblende first found?
A: Pitchblende was first found in silver mines in the Ore Mountains, on the German/Czech border.
Q: Who used pitchblende to discover uranium and in what year?
A: M. Klaproth used pitchblende found in Germany in 1789 to discover the element uranium.
Q: What other elements are contained in pitchblende besides uranium?
A: Pitchblende also contains oxides of lead, thorium, and rare earth elements.
Q: What is the source of radium in pitchblende?
A: Radium is a radioactive decay product of uranium found in pitchblende.
Q: What other element is present in pitchblende as a result of alpha decay and where was it first discovered?
A: Helium is also present in pitchblende as a result of alpha decay and was first found on Earth in pitchblende, after having been discovered in the Sun's atmosphere.
