What is Reddit's opinion of Introduction to Radioactive Minerals?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Welcome to the community!

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To start out, I'd give a solid look over the wonderful Alysson Rowan's free resource, [*Here Be Dragons -- the Care and Feeding of Radioactive Mineral Species*](https://www.academia.edu/31501150/Here_be_Dragons_The_Care_and_Feeding_of_Radioactive_Mineral_Species_Feb_2017_). It addresses many of the FAQ's of newcomers to this hobby, with a special concern for safety.

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Next, I'd recommend joining up with your [local group of rockhounds](https://rocktumbler.com/blog/rock-and-mineral-clubs/), since collecting radioactive minerals is inherently a subset of the /r/Rockhounding hobby. A club is a fantastic resource to start collecting, and even go out into the field to find your own specimens!

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If you're a fan of physical books and want a great conversation starter, consider picking up Robert Lauf's [*Introduction to Radioactive Minerals*](https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Radioactive-Minerals-Robert-Lauf/dp/076432912X). It's got some great full-color photos, too.

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As far as general advice, I'd suggest: Don't Go Overboard. Many (most?) of us go/went through the phase of "the Hotter the Better", but know that there are plenty of awesome minerals out there that don't make your equipment scream in pain, and give you less of a hassle in figuring out to safely keep them.

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Otherwise, be sure to always wash your hands, don't put your radioactive rocks near where you eat or sleep, keep them away from kids and pets, and use your common sense and the resources above to be safe and have fun!