Police have seized a quantity of black market uranium and thorium taken from a secret mine in the jungle in northern Brazil.
Based on a lead from an informant, federal police seized 1,320 pounds (600 kilogrammes) of ore containing the radioactive metals in the back of a pickup truck about 75 miles (120 kilometres) from Macapa, capital of Amapa state, near the mouth of the Amazon.
The uranium was not enriched which means it would not serve as material to build a nuclear bomb, but pending further tests, it was unclear whether it could be used in a radioactive "dirty" bomb. The uranium would have various high-tech applications in guidance devices and shielding material.
Thorium is expected to be used as a nuclear reactor fuel in the future but is not widely used at the moment. It is also used in portable lamps and in various metal alloys.
"Based on confessions from some of those involved, we estimate that the owner of the cargo was expecting to get over 1 million reais ($330,000) on the black market for it," he said.
The investigation was still going on. A man believed to be one of those responsible for trafficking the illegal material fled from the truck when it was stopped by police.
"The location of the mine is still unknown. We believe it is in the jungle in the Serra de Navio region," officer Luiz Carlos said.
"This is the first case that we've run across in the state, and I believe in Brazil," he added.
Brazil is rich in various metals including uranium, which is considered government property and is strictly regulated.
Natural uranium is sufficiently radioactive to expose a photographic plate in an hour or so. Much of the internal heat of the earth is thought to be attributable to the presence of uranium and thorium.
Uranium on the earth's surface, not as rare as once thought, is now considered to be more plentiful than mercury or silver.