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Uranium Hexafluoride Mystery Cache

Hidden : 10/4/2013
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:






This geo-art consists of twenty-six Unknown/Mystery caches which each have a puzzle to solve in order to determine the coordinates of the final location (a container with log book and in most cases some swag). The final location may be a park & grab along a graded forest road (accessible with a 2WD car), a reasonably short hike or drive up a Jeep trail (may require 4WD or a high ground-clearance vehicle), or a short hike up a foot trail.


Uranium hexafluoride (UF6), referred to as "hex" in the nuclear industry, is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. It forms solid grey crystals at standard temperature and pressure, is highly toxic, reacts violently with water and is corrosive to most metals. It reacts mildly with aluminium, forming a thin surface layer of AlF3 that resists further reaction.

Milled uranium ore—U3O8 or "yellowcake"—is dissolved in nitric acid, yielding a solution of uranyl nitrate UO2(NO3)2. Pure uranyl nitrate is obtained by solvent extraction, then treated with ammonia to produce ammonium diuranate ("ADU", (NH4)2U2O7). Reduction with hydrogen gives UO2, which is converted with hydrofluoric acid (HF) to uranium tetrafluoride, UF4. Oxidation with fluorine yields UF6.

During nuclear reprocessing, uranium is reacted with chlorine trifluoride to give UF6:

U + 2 ClF3 →UF6 + Cl2


Cache is located at: N 29° AB.CDE W 81° FG.HIJ

You'll find values for AB.CDE and FG.HIJ using the following image:





Additional Hints (No hints available.)