This blockbuster focuses on American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in leading the effort during World War II to design, build and successfully test an atomic bomb.
The development of the bomb was a milestone in history and science. And the most celebrated, sought-after, and readily available material reminder of that era is a greenish, quartz-based glass called trinitite.
FISSION AND FUSION
Trinitite was created at 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945, when a plutonium-implosion fission device was detonated at Trinity Site in the New Mexico desert north of Alamogordo-an event unforgettably portrayed in the Oppenheimer movie. With a TNT-equivalent energy yield of 125 kilotons, the blast's 3000°F temperatures completely vaporized the 100-foot-tall, steel detonation tower.
Two months later, Time magazine described Trinity Site's ground zero as a shallow, 2,400-foot-wide blast crater that appeared as "a lake of green jade."
The abundant, jade-like material that imparted a greenish color to the crater floor was initially named everything from "atomsite" and "a-bombite" to "Alamogordo glass," but the name that stuck was "trinitite." Scientists first assumed that trinitite was created when the heat of detonation fused the desert sand. But according to current theory, the greenish glass formed when sand was drawn up into the atomic fireball where it fused before falling in small, molten blobs to solidify on the desert floor.
TRINITITE
Classified as a man-made glass of indefinite composition and amorphous structure, trinitite consists mainly of quartz with lesser amounts of feldspar, hornblende and pyroxene minerals-the same basic composition as the original sand.
Bu hikaye Rock&Gem Magazine dergisinin July 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Rock&Gem Magazine dergisinin July 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
This News is for the Birds
The amazing range of the would-be birds!
CALIFORNIA MAGNESITE PLASMA AGATE
California magnesite plasma agate is a kaleidoscope of minerals. Much like its neighbor from Clear Creek, it contains chalcedony, serpentine, jadeite and chromite.
HOW TO CREATE A CABBING MATERIAL
Even though Mother Nature creates almost unbounded types and numbers of beautiful materials for cabbing, often I struggle to find a slab that will work for the project that I want to do.
PINWHEEL - VIET GEMS 149
I am frequently asked what my favorite gemstone designs are and where to find them. After my trip to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, I updated my list of favorites to include gemstone designer, Phan Thanh Trung.
Copper Minerals: My Favorite
I have lived in the “Copper State” of Arizona for 65 years so it should not surprise readers that copper minerals are among my favorites to collect.
OPPENHEIMER, TRINITY SITE AND TRINITITE
The widely acclaimed, 2023 Hollywood biographical movie Oppenheimer recently won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor (Cillian Murphy).
Clearing ,Smudging & Setting Intentions for Stones
Why do you believe what you believe? Are your beliefs true because you choose to believe them? Whether it is religion, science or the metaphysical, your belief and faith make it real to you in mind, body and soul.
Rhode Island's Hobbit Stone Age
Rhode Island may be 22nd out of 30 states in miles of total coastline but when you compare coastline length to land acres, it ranks second only to Maryland.
Black Range Amethyst
Amethyst in Southwest New Mexico
EQUINE Bling!
How an Oklahoma Saddle Maker Uses Moissanite, Gold, Silver Turquoise tc to Adorn Saddles Jewelry