@article{25123,
  keywords = {Forensic science, Illicit nuclear materials, Nuclear forensic analyses and characterization, Nuclear smuggling},
  author = {Patrick M Grant and Kenton J Moody and Ian D Hutcheon and Douglas L Phinney and Jeffrey S Haas and Alan M Volpe and James J Oldani and Richard E Whipple and Nancy Stoyer and Armando Alcaraz and John E Andrews and Richard E Russo and Gregory L Klunder and Brian D Andresen and Shawn Cantlin},
  title = {Forensic analyses of suspect illicit nuclear material},
  abstract = {<p>A small metal sample, alleged to be a substance that could substitute for highly enriched uranium in a nuclear weapon, was subjected to qualitative and quantitative forensic analyses using methods of materials science, radioisotopic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry. The specimen was determined to be moderately pure Sc, likely derived from a uranium refining operation. Although no fissionable species or weaponization signa were detected, the sample did exhibit some unusual properties. These anomalies included lanthanide fractionation, with concentrations of Dy, Ho, and Er elevated by factors greater than 100 over normal levels, and the presence of long, odd-chain fatty acids.</p>},
  year = {1998},
  journal = {Journal of Forensics Science},
  volume = {43},
  pages = {680-688},
  language = {eng},
}