Environmental Radiation
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This article will attempt to explain in more detail environmental radiation caused by blocks. For more information about radiation itself, see Radiation.
The natural overworld environment is not radioactive by itself with the exception of Sellafields. It can only become radioactive by artificial means, unlike the Nether, which has constant ambient radiation. Blocks such as the radioactive barrel, nuclear waste block, blocks of radioactive elements/isotopes (ie Uranium) the various sellafite blocks (except the slaked one), dead grass, and glowing mycelium emit environmental radiation.
When environmental radiation reaches incredibly dangerous levels, radioactive clouds begin to appear. This usually only happens when a nuclear device is detonated or an unshielded nuclear reactor using highly radioactive fuels is actively running. Can also happen if a lot of highly radioactive blocks are bunched together (ie Plutonium).
Environmental radiation can be picked up by Geiger Counters, so make sure you have one when going near these blocks. Radioactive blocks also emit tiny particles that rise up from the top of the block.
Effect on Entities
All entities, not just player ones, can accumulate radiation. The negative effects that can affect a player entity suffering from radiation poisoning will also affect mob entities. When an entity's radiation level reaches ~1000 RAD, it dies, no questions asked. The exception are undead entities such as zombies or skeletons, which are not affected. Creepers have an interesting reaction, as sometimes they can turn into a Nuclear Creeper, which are much more dangerous than normal creepers. Additionally, cows may turn into mooshrooms and villagers may turn into zombies.
Effect on Blocks
Similar to the Blue Rinse, environmental radiation can kill "living" blocks such as grass and trees. Grass blocks turn to dead grass, leaves are destroyed, and wood can sometimes also be destroyed. This will result in an area lacking grass and damaged trees without leaves. Flowers curiously are not affected. If radiation stops, such as from a radiative block being removed or an unshielded nuclear reactor turned off, grass will return slowly.
Types of Radioactive Blocks
Unlike radioactive items, radioactive blocks only cause radiation when placed, not when in your inventory. So mining them up will render them effectively inert.
Radioactive Barrels
Radioactive barrels spawn in the Desert Atom structure due to it being an abandoned nuclear plant. This causes the structure to be extremely unsafe even with the best hazmat suits, even the local area is very dangerous. Radioactive barrels can be crafted and used as a cheap way of disposing of nuclear waste. Although one barrel may not be too dangerous, having many in a waste dump site can quickly kill any living entity that gets near.
When exposed to an explosion's blast, it itself can explode in a dirty bomb fashion, which can be utilized in Schrabidium Creation.
Nuclear Waste Block
Similar to the radioactive barrel, but it cannot explode. Also shows no visual queue that it's radioactive as it is a plain-looking black block from a distance, whereas the barrel is bright yellow with a radioactive symbol on it.
Trinitite also technically fits in this category. It's nuclear glass, formed only from a nuke or dirty bomb.
Radioactive Material Blocks
List of radioactive elements and their isotopes:
- Radium-226
- Uranium
- Neptunium-237
- Plutonium
- Schrabidium (Sa-326)
- Solinium (Sa-327)
- Thorium, Uranium, MOX, Plutonium, and Schrabidium fuels.
Materials that are more radioactive as an item will also be more radioactive as a block. Thorium is the only radioactive element that is not "radioactive".
Sellafite
Sellafite is effectively highly irradiated stone. It is normally found in Sellafields, but can also be found in Barrels (Structure), possibly as a solidified form of Stereotypical Green Ooze. Sellafite can also form from a nuclear meltdown. Blocks of higher radioactivity glow more vibrantly, with slaked sellafite (non-radioactive) not glowing at all. It forms in a nuclear detonation, though most of it is slaked with the more radioactive ones being closer to ground zero. It can be used as fuel in the Radiation-Powered Engine (with higher "ranking" sellafite blocks giving more fuel obviously). Other than that, it has no specific use, but Sellafite-Corium (the highest-ranking sellafite block) has a use in a DFC component. It can be made outside of nuclear weapons by bombarding stone in a Breeding Reactor.
It not only emits radiation, but when walked on, but it also causes the "Contaminated" status effect, which adds to your personal RAD count after you stop walking on them.
Dead Grass
Irradiated grass created in a nuclear detonation. Some can be found in the Desert Atom structure. It can be used as a tiny amount of fuel for the Radiation-Powered Engine. It also inflicts the "Contaminated" status. It can be used as a good farming ground for Glowing Mushrooms.
Glowing Mycelium
Similar to dead grass, but more dangerous. It glows and can spread if enabled in the configuration file. Can also be used to farm glowing mushrooms.
Decontaminator Fist
The Power Fist's decontaminator mode can be used to decontaminate radioactive blocks and turn them into an inert element, usually Lead. Any form of sellafite will turn to slaked sellafite and dead grass and glowing mycelium will turn into their normal forms.
Notes
- If you're playing on a low-end PC and there's a lot of radiation clouds, it will lag or crash your game. Change the config to prevent it.