Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects (the Condon Report, complete, three volumes)

~'n, AI, Zn, Hg, and Cr values were obtained from direct gamma
spectrometry and half-life measurement; eu, 8a, and Sr values were
obtained by gamma spectrometry after radiochemical separation of the
elements. In the latter cases, knOl.;n standard samples of these
elements were irradiated and analyzed concurrently with the specimen.
Results, within the limits of error indicated, should be quite
dependable. Since spectrographic analyses routinely performed on
purified magnesium show no other elements present at concentrations
of more than a few parts per million, the analytical results pre-
sented above show that the claimed UFO fragment is not nearly as
pure as magnesium produced by known earthly technology prior to
1957, the year of the UFO report.
The neutron activation analysis also was utilized as a means of
checking the .nagnesium isotopic cOlltcnt. 1118 suggesti on had been
made (Jueneman, 1968) that the fragment might be composed of pure
Mg 26 , and therefore the magnesium isotopic content of this fragment
should be detemined. The sllggestion was based on assumed qualities
of su~h a pure isotope and on a density figure of 1.866 gm/ec, which
had been reported for the center of one of the magn~siurn pieces
"as determined in replicate using a Jolly balance" (Lorenzen, 19(2).
It is interesting that this figure was chosen over the density figure
of 1.7513 gmicc, also reported in the Lorenzen book, which was deter-
mined at a US Atomic Energy Commission laboratory by creating a
liquid mixture in which the fragment would neither float nor sink,
and measuring the dens i ty of thp 1iqUlJ. 11)~ quantity of ~1g27 isotope
1 d b ' , '" 26 . ) 'I 27] I 'Ipro(uce y neutron actIvatIon L!V,~ ln, gammil jvg , as (e~ennlnc(,
by r,amma spectrometry after acti vation, showed that the Brazi 1 sampl c
did not differ significantly in Mg 26 isotope l'cntcnt from other mag-
nesium samples.
142
Mn, AI, Zn, Iig, and Cr values were obtained from direct gamma
spectrometry and hal f-Ii fe measurement; eu, lla, and Sr va lues were
obtained by gamma spectrometry after radiochemical separation of the
elements. In the latter cases, knmm standard samples of these
elements were irradiated and analyzed concurrently with the specimen.
Results, within the limits of error indicated, should be quite
dependable. Since spectrographic analyses routinely performed on
purified magnesium show no other elements present at concentrations
of more than a few parts per million, the analytical results pre-
sented above show that the claimed UFO fragment is not nearly as
pure as magnesium produced by known earthly technology prior to
1957, the year of the UFO report.
1be neutron activation analysjs also was utilized as a means of
checking the,nagnesium isotopic cOlltent. 'n1e suggesti on had been
made (Jueneman, 1968) that the fragment might be composed of pure
26
Mg ,and therefore the magnesium isotopic content of this fragment
shoUld be determined. The sl1ggestion was hased un assumed quali ties
of sur:h a pure i.sotope and on a density figure of 1.866 gm/cc, which
had been reported for the center of one of the magn~sium pieces
"as determined in replicate using a .Jolly balance" (Lorenzen, 19(2).
It is interesting that this figure was chosen over the density figure
of 1.7513 gmicc, also reported in the Lorenzen book, which was deter-
mined at a US Atomic Energy Commission laboratory by creating a
liquid mixture in which the fragment would neither float nor sink,
and measuring the density of the liqUld. 1110 quantHy of ~1g27 isotope
I d b . . "" 26 ' ) '1 27] I 'Ipro( uce y neutron actIvatIon l!"~ ln, gammil J' g , as ((~~pnnl nc(
by r.amn"l spectrometry after activation, showed that the ilra2i 1 sample
did not differ Significantly ill Mg26 isotope ,"cntent frC'l~ other l1Iag-
nesium samples.
142