A comparison of the elemental and isotopic composition of bullets and projectiles from old conflicts could give useful information for forensic science and archaeometry. Projectiles, bullets, cartridge cases and Pb artillery shots, dated back to the First World War, were analysed by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry equipped with an octopole reaction system (ORS-ICP-QMS) to determine both the trace elemental composition and the Pb isotope ratios. Multivariate statistical analysis techniques were applied to the dataset to evaluate the different origins and characteristic of the war residues. The core of rifle bullets of Italian and Austro-Hungarian origin is characterized by high levels of Li, Sr, Cd, Ga and Ba compared to Russian, German and British bullets which all show higher concentrations of Ag and Mo. The origin of the bullet cores cannot be discriminated through the study of Pb isotopic ratios, while the external jacketing of Italian and Austro-Hungarian samples are well discriminated. This could mean that while the bullet cores were made using seized or salvaged war materials, the external jacket, which represents the most important part of a bullet, is principally made higher quality materials using non re-cycled metal from definite sources. Moreover, the external armoured jacket is different depending on the weapon type and is nation specific. Similarly, the Pb isotope ratios of Italian and Austrian artillery lead shots (shrapnels) differ significantly, allowing a good discrimination between these two groups. The elemental and isotopic characterization of bullets and projectiles dating back to the First War World provides important information on the allocation of war materials in terms of country of provenance, production period and weapon typology.

ELEMENTAL AND ISOTOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF WAR RESIDEUS DATING BACK TO THE FIRST WORLD WAR

TURETTA, Clara;W. Cairns;BALLIANA, Eleonora;BARBANTE, Carlo
2012-01-01

Abstract

A comparison of the elemental and isotopic composition of bullets and projectiles from old conflicts could give useful information for forensic science and archaeometry. Projectiles, bullets, cartridge cases and Pb artillery shots, dated back to the First World War, were analysed by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry equipped with an octopole reaction system (ORS-ICP-QMS) to determine both the trace elemental composition and the Pb isotope ratios. Multivariate statistical analysis techniques were applied to the dataset to evaluate the different origins and characteristic of the war residues. The core of rifle bullets of Italian and Austro-Hungarian origin is characterized by high levels of Li, Sr, Cd, Ga and Ba compared to Russian, German and British bullets which all show higher concentrations of Ag and Mo. The origin of the bullet cores cannot be discriminated through the study of Pb isotopic ratios, while the external jacketing of Italian and Austro-Hungarian samples are well discriminated. This could mean that while the bullet cores were made using seized or salvaged war materials, the external jacket, which represents the most important part of a bullet, is principally made higher quality materials using non re-cycled metal from definite sources. Moreover, the external armoured jacket is different depending on the weapon type and is nation specific. Similarly, the Pb isotope ratios of Italian and Austrian artillery lead shots (shrapnels) differ significantly, allowing a good discrimination between these two groups. The elemental and isotopic characterization of bullets and projectiles dating back to the First War World provides important information on the allocation of war materials in terms of country of provenance, production period and weapon typology.
2012
XIII CONGRESSO NAZIONALE DI CHIMICA DELL’AMBIENTE E DEI BENI CULTURALI Dall’emergenza alla sostenibilità: il contributo della Chimica
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/37045
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