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From: ix241@sdccs6.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Planetary destruction plans
Message-ID: <1475@sdccs6.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-May-84 08:37:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdccs6.1475
Posted: Tue May 15 08:37:33 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 16-May-84 04:34:14 EDT
References: <532@sri-arpa.UUCP> Uranium is not a siderophilic element.  It tends to be found in the upper mantle and crust.  On
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Date: Tue, 15-May-84 08:37:33 PDT

e of the reasons for this is that both it and thorium combine with oxygen readily.  The oxides are large as are the elements themselves; theyTue, 15-May-84 08:37:33 PDT
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Computer Center
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	So U and Th are not good candidates for blowing up the core.
	However, there was a natural U fission reactor running for a
	moderate period of time in West Africa about 2e9+ years ago.  It
	is called the Oklo Phenomomenon after the place in West Africa.
	It seems that fluvial deposits of uranium oxides built up
	enough to initiate a chain reaction in the bottom of the river.
	It was discovered when the site was mined for uranium.  Nuclear
	chemists in Belgium found the daughter products of a reactor in
	the ore.  They were surprised.

					John Testa
					UCSD Chemistry
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