AARO's Supplement to ORNL's Analysis of a Metallic Specimen

3
custody. Regardless of the specimen’s attributability to a specific research project, it is
consistent with well-documented Mg alloy research projects during the mid-20th century and is
otherwise unremarkable.
Conclusion
AARO concurs with ORNL’s findings that the specimen’s isotopic composition indicates
terrestrial origin. AARO also concurs with ORNL’s findings that its physical and elemental
properties are incompatible with functioning as a THz waveguide. Considering all available
evidence, AARO assesses that this specimen is likely a test object, a manufacturing product or
byproduct, or a material component of aerospace performance studies to evaluate the properties
of Mg alloys.
1 (U) Journal article, Journal of Modern Optics; Podolskiy, V. A., Alekseev, L. V., & Narimanov, E. E.; 03 MAY 2005;
Strong Anisotropic Media: the THz Perspective of Left-handed Materials; Vol. 52(16), pp 2343–2349.
2 (U) Ibid.
3 (U) Report, DOE OSTI Technical Report; Johnson, H.A.; 01 JUN 1954; Experimental Magnesium Alloys. Part 2.
Wrought Alloy Survey of Minor Additions to Selected Mg-Base Alloys; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4408202;
Accessed 15 FEB 2024.
4 (U) Journal article, The Astrophysical Journal; Nguyen, A, Messenger, S.; 01 APR 2014; Resolving the Stellar
Sources of Isotopically Rare Presolar Silicate Grains through Mg and Fe Isotopic Analyses; Vol. 784:149, pp 1-15.
5 (U) Journal article, Earth & Planetary Science Letters; Chakrabarti R. & Jacobsen S.; 01 MAY 2010; The isotopic
composition of magnesium in the Inner Solar System; Vol. 293, pp 349-358.
6 (U) Journal article, Earth & Planetary Science Letters; Higgins, J. A. & Schrag, D. P.; 03 NOV 2012; Records of
Neogene Seawater Chemistry and Diagenesis in Deep-Sea Carbonate Sediments and Pore Fluids; Vol. 357, pp 386-
396.
7 (U) Journal article, Reviews in Minerology and Geochemistry; Teng, F.-Z.; 01 MAR 2017; Magnesium Isotope
Geochemistry; Vol. 82, pp 219-287.
8 (U) Journal article, The Astrophysical Journal; Hoppe, P, Leitner, J, Kodolanyi, J; 10 DEC 2018; New Insights into
the Galactic Chemical Evolution of Magnesium and Silicon Isotopes from Studies of Silicate Stardust; Vol. 869:47,
pp 13
9 (U) Journal article, S. A. E. Journal (Transactions); Welty, G.; 01 MAR 1932; Magnesium Alloys in Aircraft-Engine
Construction; Vol. 27, pp 112-115.
10 (U) Report, Light Metals and the Thermal Frontier; Perry, R.L.; 1955; History of Wright Air Development Center, 1
July – 31 December 1955, Vol. 3, pp 1-68; Box A3016, Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH.
11 (U) Missile, Hughes Aircraft Co.; 1954- ca.1962; Falcon GAR-1 Air-to-Air Missile; Inventory No. A19580099000;
Materials: magnesium skin with body and fins of glass fiber-reinforced phenolic plastic;
https://www.si.edu/object/missile-air-air-falcon-gar-1:nasm_A19580099000, Accessed 17 JUN 2024.
12 (U) Report, DOE OSTI Technical Report; Jones, J B.; 01 OCT 1951; Ultrasonics Applied to Solidification And Solid-
State Transformation; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4394795; Accessed 15 FEB 2024.
13 (U) Report, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Jones, A., Lennon, J. H., Nash, R. R., Chang, W. H. & MacPeek, E. G.;
01 SEP 1952; Magnesium Alloy Research Studies; https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA075877.pdf; Table XVIII pp
70; Accessed 15 FEB 2024.
14 (U) Report, DOE OSTI Technical Report; Taylor, Henry F. and C. F. Flemings; 01 OCT 1956; Factors Affecting the
Fluidity And Hot Cracking of Magnesium Alloys. Period Covered: June 1955 To June 1956;
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4354056; Accessed 16 FEB 2024.