Uranium Rush 1950s

The Uranium Rush - 1949

It was advertised as the largest rush, even larger than the gold rush. The government had paid over $2,000,000 in bonuses for uranium discoveries in the past two years in 1955. Some prospectors were being paid over $150,000 per month. The fever in uranium prospecting could be illustrated from the many magazine covers of the period. As early as 1949, popular science magazines started highlighting the uranium prospecting as a hobby.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Agency would analyze samples free of charge. A sample of 10 lbs. should be sent for analysis with the location and occurrence or quantity. The government was guaranteeing $3.50 per pound of recoverable uranium oxide. A bonus of $10,000 is authorized for discovery and production of high grade ores from new domestic products. No special governmental license or permit is needed to prospect for or mine uranium or thorium on public or private lands.

Popular Mechanics 1949

Boy Life Magazine 195x

How to Prospect for Uranium 1955

Mechanix Illustrated 1955

Radio-Electronics Magazine 1949

Popular Electronics May 1955

Uranium Magazine 1954

From Rags to Riches with Uranium 1954

In May 1955, Life Magazine did an story on “History’s Greatest Metal Hunt” on the uranium prospecting craze. The article features the fashionable items required for the best prospecting. A complete kit including jeep ($1,685) could be purchased for $3,529.

Uranium Prospecting Equipment 1955

Of course, there was also the minimal amount of equipment for the cost conscious uranium prospector. The kit could be assembled for $180 including $98.50 for the Detectron DG-2 Geiger Counter.

Basic Prospecting Kit 1955

At the time there were a variety of portable radiation instruments offered for the uranium prospector. The prices ranged from $30 to more than $1,995. The counters from left to right on the bottom row are the Precision Radation Instruments (PRI) Snooper ($29.95), the PRI Lucky Strike ($99.50), the Victoreen Vic Tic ($125), the Babbel Counter ($350), and the Detectron Bismuth Nucliometer ($1,295). And on the top row are the top row from left to right are the PRI Scintillator Model 111B ($495), the Mt. Sopris ($647) and the PRI Royal Scintillator ($1,995).

Radiation Counters 1955

It was also fashionable to dress appropriately for the prospecting adventure. The prospecting duds in the picture are the girl’s “Diggerette Jr.”, the mother’s “U-235” suit, and the father’s “Smock”. The article also noted that Geiger counters were now being sold in the Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs.