Uranium-238
Uranium-238 is the non-fissile IC2 uranium isotope used as a neutron-absorbing filler in Nuclear Reactor Fuel Rod recipes.
1.19.2
1.12.2
Description
Uranium-238 is the non-fissile uranium isotope added by the Industrial Craft 2 (IC2) mod for Minecraft, used as a fuel-extender component when crafting reactor Fuel Rods. Uranium-238 is obtained by processing Uranium Ore through the IC2 Thermal Centrifuge, which separates natural uranium into the rare fissile Uranium-235 isotope and the abundant Uranium-238 isotope. Uranium-238 does not sustain nuclear fission on its own inside the IC2 Nuclear Reactor, but Uranium-238 surrounds the fissile core of a Fuel Rod and acts as a neutron-absorbing filler that stretches the reactor cycle. A standard IC2 Fuel Rod recipe combines one Uranium-235 with multiple Uranium-238 units plus iron casings, producing a balanced fuel that runs roughly 10,000 reactor ticks per cell. Uranium-238 reflects real-world nuclear chemistry, where U-238 makes up about 99.3% of natural uranium and is the primary source of depleted uranium. In IC2 builds for Minecraft 1.7.10 and 1.12.2, Uranium-238 is stackable, radiation-safe to carry, and stores cleanly in any IC2 inventory or Personal Safe.
Guide
How to obtain and use Uranium-238 in Industrial Craft 2
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1
Mine Uranium Ore
Locate Uranium Ore between bedrock and Y=64 in IC2-enabled worlds and mine it with an Iron Pickaxe or better.
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2
Macerate the ore
Run the Uranium Ore through an IC2 Macerator to produce Crushed Uranium Ore, doubling the yield over direct smelting.
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3
Thermal-centrifuge the dust
Process the crushed ore in a Thermal Centrifuge powered by EU; the output stream splits into rare Uranium-235 and bulk Uranium-238.
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4
Craft a Fuel Rod
Combine one Uranium-235 with Uranium-238 units and iron casings on a crafting table to assemble an IC2 Nuclear Reactor Fuel Rod.
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5
Load the reactor
Insert the finished Fuel Rod into an IC2 Nuclear Reactor and surround it with cooling cells to sustain a safe ~10,000-tick cycle.
Version note
Recipe quantities and Thermal Centrifuge yields differ slightly between IC2 Experimental on 1.7.10 and IC2 Classic on 1.12.2; check the in-game NEI/JEI recipe for the exact ratio.
How to craft this block
Ingredients:
Uranium Block
x1
Uranium Block
x1
Crafting
Uranium-238
9
Used in crafts
- Uranium Block
- Uranium
- Mox
Frequently asked questions
How do you get Uranium-238 in Industrial Craft 2?
Mine Uranium Ore, macerate it into crushed ore, then process the dust in a Thermal Centrifuge. The centrifuge output separates the rare Uranium-235 isotope from the bulk Uranium-238.
Is Uranium-238 radioactive in IC2?
Uranium-238 is safe to carry in your inventory in IC2 and emits no contact radiation. Only an active Fuel Rod inside a running Nuclear Reactor produces heat and radiation effects.
Can Uranium-238 power a reactor alone?
No. Uranium-238 is non-fissile and cannot sustain a chain reaction by itself. Uranium-238 only works inside a Fuel Rod, where it surrounds a Uranium-235 core as a neutron-absorbing filler.
How much Uranium-238 does a Fuel Rod need?
A standard IC2 Fuel Rod recipe uses one Uranium-235 surrounded by several Uranium-238 units and iron casings. Exact amounts depend on IC2 version (Experimental on 1.7.10 vs Classic on 1.12.2).
What is the real-world basis for Uranium-238?
Uranium-238 mirrors natural uranium chemistry: U-238 forms about 99.3% of natural uranium on Earth and is the main component of depleted uranium used in industry.