ORNL_Synopsis_Analysis_of_a_Metallic_Specimen.pdf

Synopsis: Analysis of a Metallic Specimen OAK RIDGE National Laboratory

Synopsis: Analysis of a Metallic Specimen
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Introduction
The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) sponsored a series of measurements on a layered material 
specimen primarily composed of magnesium and zinc, with bands of bismuth and other co-located trace elements. 
The material specimen, whose origin and purpose are of long and debated history, is claimed to be recovered 
from an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) crash in or around 1947. Furthermore, the specimen’s 
physiochemical properties are claimed to make the material capable of “inertial mass reduction” (i.e., levitation o…

Synopsis: Analysis of a Metallic Specimen
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Methods
All analyses and materials utilization were authorized and overseen by TTSA via the DEVCOM CRADA, and all 
analyses were preapproved by AARO and DEVCOM before ORNL received the specimen. 
Morphology and microstructural characteristics were investigated using the following techniques.
•	 Optical microscopy: standard microscope analysis that allows imaging of microstructural features.
•	 Computerized tomography, aka CT scan: X-ray imaging procedure that produces a 3D image of a sample 
without damaging it, revealing interior structural features…

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(Mn). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the most sensitive analysis technique performed, 
additionally revealed the presence of small amounts of cadmium (Cd), thallium (Tl), gold (Au), molybdenum (Mo), 
tin (Sn), and barium (Ba). If a detected element abundance fell beneath the lower bound of the calibration curve or 
below the method detection limit, then the element is not displayed in Table 1 because that element was extremely 
unlikely to have been a purposeful addition to the manufacturing process.
BSE
200 m 
μ
C Wt%
0
50
10…

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Finally, based on the postulated hypothetical uses of bismuth, the dielectric properties necessary for bismuth to 
function as a waveguide would have been disrupted in this material because the bismuth in the specimen is co-
located and mixed with lead (Figures 3 and 5). Based on these findings ORNL determined that this material is highly 
unlikely to have ever functioned as a bismuth-based terahertz waveguide. 
5 μm
(a)
5 nm-1
(b)
5 μm
5 nm-1
γ =3.0
Bi2O3
Bi
(c)
(d)
Figure 4: (a) TEM micrograph of a single-crystalline region from the bulk of the sam…

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Figure 5. Laser ablation ICP-MS elemental maps. (Top) Colocation of lead (green), bismuth (blue), and zinc (red), the three 
primary minor elements in the material. Blending of colors indicates co-location: teal indicates the nearly 1:1 ratio of lead 
to bismuth. (Bottom) Elemental map of bismuth concentration (hot [yellow] = more, cool [purple] = less). Bismuth is most 
concentrated at the top but is present in many repeating layers.
Isotope Analysis
Multicollector ICP-MS analysis showed that the specimen’s magnesium and lead isotope composition is …

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-400
400
-200
200
-200
200
0
0
-200
-400
400
200
0
0
δ26Mg (‰)
δ25Mg (‰)
UP TO 1.5 X 106
UP TO 5.0 X 105
UP TO 1,000
UP TO 750
Graphite LD - Super Nova
Graphite HD - low metal AGB
Group 3 - low mass, low metallicity
Group 1 - low to intermediate mass Red Giant or AGB star
Group 2 - low/very low-mass AGB star
Group 4 - Super Nova
UP TO 1400
UP TO 5.0 X 105
Earth
Brazilian specimen
NASA JSC metal
Meteorites
Seawater
Manufactured metal
DOW metal
Aerospace metal
Sample A
-2
0
-7
-12
-17
-22
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-8
0
2
4
δ26Mg (‰)
δ25Mg (‰)
Kinetic Fractionat…

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Figure 7. Lead (Pb) isotope systematics of the unknown material, shown relative to other terrestrial and non-terrestrial 
materials in 206Pb/204Pb vs. 207Pb/206Pb. This plot has three end-member compositions: (1) primordial lead, which is the 
starting composition of the lead in the solar system; (2) pure radiogenic lead from the decay of naturally occurring uranium; 
and (3) terrestrial lead or “common lead,” which is defined by repeat analyses. The specimen has a lead isotopic composition 
that plots precisely in the field of terrestrial lead compo…