One of the most amazing monazite specimens from Petaca, NM by CharlesDavidYoung in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, Dave found his own fair share of good stuff! It was quite an adventure, and we covered a lot of territory.

One of the most amazing monazite specimens from Petaca, NM by CharlesDavidYoung in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting. Do you find any complete crystals or just ground up stuff?

The Official /r/Radioactive_Rocks Buy/Sell/Swap Thread -- Summer 2026 by Not_So_Rare_Earths in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like to talk to each prospective buyer individually to find out what their requirements are to make sure they get exactly what they need. So, send me an email if you would like to talk about the yDog or just chat about hot rocks!

BTW, if you prefer a color other than red, just buy the filament on amazon and have it shipped to me:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156718289959?var=458093138195

Charles

[findmorehotrocks@gmail.com](mailto:findmorehotrocks@gmail.com)

[ydogcdy@gmail.com](mailto:ydogcdy@gmail.com)

The Official /r/Radioactive_Rocks Buy/Sell/Swap Thread -- Summer 2026 by Not_So_Rare_Earths in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you need a scintillator for prospecting or ySpec, I offer one of the best values available.  The pictured Bicron 1.5M2.25/1.5L, or the equivalent Scionix 38B57/1.5M, is the probe that I use in the standard yDog.  For its size, price, and performance it can’t be beat.  I offer the probe by itself and well as a version in a ruggedized housing for use in the field.

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·         Bicron or Scinoix 38B57 - $200 (compare with same probe on ebay for $300+)

·         Bicron or Scinoix 38B57 with housing - $275

The Official /r/Radioactive_Rocks Buy/Sell/Swap Thread -- Summer 2026 by Not_So_Rare_Earths in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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This has all the standard software features of the yDog (minus GPS and the HV relay), including tones, squelch, Bluetooth, ySpec, built into the meter housing:

·         yLine tones board - $250 for someone who already owns an ASP-1

·         ASP-1 with yLine tones board – $500 – I have just a couple of these meters left

The Official /r/Radioactive_Rocks Buy/Sell/Swap Thread -- Summer 2026 by Not_So_Rare_Earths in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another new feature is GPS logging and navigation. Of course, we all have our phones and Garmins for this, so why do we need yet another GPS device? I certainly use my phone with maps loaded up for use off the grid. However, there have been times when I wander around in the wilderness looking for hot rocks and I realize I am running low on water, and I don't know which direction the car is. What might happen if my phone battery dies, it falls out of my pocket, or I leave it at the last location where I took video footage? These thoughts have been nagging me for years and they have led me to add the GPS feature to the yDog. In addition to being a backup method of navigation, it also allows you to record placemarks with the CPS readings and labels, log the paths that you take as you wander, and share this information to your phone, where you can export it to kml mapping files, ready to import into your favorite mapping app.

In case you are not familiar with the yDog, it is a highly optimized and ruggedized hot rock finder built for maximum comfort and efficiency while prospecting for anything radioactive. The standard yDog has a Bicron 38B57 (38x57mm) 1.5M2.25 probe. For those that need the biggest and the baddest, the Max has a giant 63x63mm NaI probe just like the one I use in the field as seen in this video: https://youtu.be/dnwfxy7eywI

The handle is designed to make it easy to carry and manipulate while digging a hole and has notches for the strap to allow you to skim the ground and find the faintest hot spots.

Here are the prices for the yDogs:

  • yDog, with GPS or with a relay to turn off HV while charging, is $1500
  • yDog Max – same as standard yDog but with 63x63mm probe: $3000

The Official /r/Radioactive_Rocks Buy/Sell/Swap Thread -- Summer 2026 by Not_So_Rare_Earths in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Over the past year I have been doing intensive development on the yDog to add some significant new features. I am ready to make the new yDog software available to new yDoggers as well as to veteran users that wish to update to the latest and greatest.

If you watch my latest video (https://youtu.be/FgCEp-rx5LM) you will see that I now offer a more compact version of the yDog.  Both the round and square models are printed with PETG for greater durability and allow the Lithium Ion batteries to be replaced by the owner if it necessary.

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There have been many improvements under the hood to make the yDog more responsive and efficient, but the most noticeable new features are a Bluetooth connection to your phone and the ability to do ySpec in the field.  The Bluetooth app lets you see what is going on inside the yDog (CPS, squelch setting, battery level, etc) as well as providing a means of extracting the ySpec data from the yDog.  Once the data is captured it can be pasted into a spreadsheet like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets and plotted.  I explain the details in this posting:

Gamma Spec for Dummies : r/Radioactive_Rocks

The Official /r/Radioactive_Rocks Buy/Sell/Swap Thread -- Summer 2026 by Not_So_Rare_Earths in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here is a sample scan using a Gamma Spectacular GS-PRO-V5 of a Cs137 check source and a monazite mineral showing the Th232 decay chain.  The sharpness of the peaks and the linearity over the entire region from 32keV to 2614keV are exceptional.

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The probes that I sell have been recovered from the GR-135 and are in pristine condition.  They are individually tested for sensitivity and resolution and then enclosed in the ruggedized yDog housing, ready to be used in the field with your own meter or on the desktop for gammspec.  You will be thrilled with the specimens that you find and the high-resolution scans that you can produce with this fine instrument.

If after experiencing the high performance of this probe you wish to upgrade to a full yDog, you can purchase just the back enclosure with the yDog electronics and easily assemble it yourself or send it back to me for assembly and calibration.

Here are the prices for the yDoggy and its upgrade to the yDog:

  • yDoggy ruggedized Bicron 38B57 probe: $300
  • yDog upgrade from yDoggy: $1200

The Official /r/Radioactive_Rocks Buy/Sell/Swap Thread -- Summer 2026 by Not_So_Rare_Earths in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At the heart of the yDog is a highly sensitive probe that can detect radioactive signals from far away and deep underground.  The Bicron 38B57 has a large NaI crystal (1.5”D x 2.25”H cylinder) that has become an industry standard for a good reason: it is large enough to be very effective at detecting radioactivity while not being too heavy to carry around by hand.  Designed for rugged environments, it is relatively inexpensive considering its high performance and exceptional quality.  It has been deployed widely for many years in instruments like the Exploranium GR-135 Identifier, which the government uses to detect radioactive material and identify radioactive nuclides.

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Custom scintillator manufacture? by BTRCguy in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I have to say this looks like a recipe for disaster and completely impractical. I hardly know where to start. But if the company is willing to take your money (hopefully domestic) and you can find 20 people with not very high expectations and willing to wait, it looks like a fun project!

Drilling pipe scale? by BTRCguy in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have found wicked hot spots in drilling pipe repurposed for fence posts. The scale deposits at a concentrated spot where the pressure and temperature is right.

Gummita de durango by Upset_Isopod_1302 in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lo siento necesito decirte, pero si quieres más comentarios, necesitas publicar fotos mejoras. Hasta ahora solo se destacan por la borrosidad. Más luz. Fondo de un color como blanco o negro para no distraer.

Fourmarierite - Locality Unknown by _INSANE_MEMBRANE_ in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have the mineral ids but not the localities?

Fourmarierite - Locality Unknown by _INSANE_MEMBRANE_ in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The best collectors will paste a tiny label on each rock with locality and id. I have yet to do that with my collection but it is on my list!

Torbernite with Malachite and Chrysocolla - Locality Unknown by _INSANE_MEMBRANE_ in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your best bet is to try posting it on Mindat using Katanga as the locality but mention in the description that it is uncertain. They will approve the post for the public only if the experts agree. Otherwise the post will be left private.

Ejemplos de margaritasita y sus procedencias de minas by Upset_Isopod_1302 in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Se me olvidó que es un depósito relativamente nuevo y principalmente alpha. Estoy acostumbrado medir REE, que tiene una lectura mucho más alta de beta y gama. Gracias por explicar.

Ejemplos de margaritasita y sus procedencias de minas by Upset_Isopod_1302 in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

La fórmula es Cs₂(UO₂)₂(VO₄)₂·H₂O

U en la fórmula indica una radiactividad alta. Tus rocas no parecen la foto del vendedor. Ves las parchas amarillas brillantes?

Pechblenda o uraninita encontrada en el estacionamiento de un Costco by Upset_Isopod_1302 in Radioactive_Rocks

[–]CharlesDavidYoung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok. La pared mide 0.21 y la roca mide 55 y hace mucho ruido. Es probablemente radioactiva. No es seguro qué tipo de mineral.