SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australian authorities on Wednesday found a
radioactive capsule that was lost in the vast Outback after nearly a week-
long search along a 1,400 km (870-mile) stretch of highway, an emergency
services official said.

The military was verifying the capsule and it would be taken to a secure
facility in the city of Perth on Thursday, Emergency Services Minister
Stephen Dawson said in a news conference.

"When you consider the scope of the research area, locating this object
was a monumental challenge, the search groups have quite literally found
the needle in the haystack," Dawson said.

The radioactive capsule was part of a gauge used to measure the density of
iron ore feed from Rio Tinto's (RIO.AX) Gudai-Darri mine in the state's
remote Kimberley region. The ore was being taken to a facility in the
suburbs of Perth - a distance longer than the length of Great Britain.

Officials from Western Australia's emergency response department, defence
authorities, radiation specialists and others have been combing the a
stretch of highway for the tiny capsule that was lost in transit more than
two weeks ago.

Officials said the capsule apparently fell off a truck and landed on the
side of the road, adding that it was

unlikely there will be contamination in the area.

The silver capsule, 6 mm in diameter and 8 mm long, contains Caesium-137
which emits radiation equal to 10 X-rays per hour.

People had been told to stay at least five metres (16.5 feet) away from
the capsule if they spot it as exposure could cause radiation burns or
radiation sickness, though driving past it is believed to be relatively
low risk, akin to taking an X-ray.

<https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/missing-radioactive-capsule-
found-western-australia-2023-02-01/>