10,000
Soil Under 81-mm Mortar
Low-Order Detonation
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2
6
10
14
18
Time (min.)
Figure 5. Chromatogram (GC-ECD) from the extract of surface soil
collected under the low-order detonation of an 81-mm mortar projec-
tile. The explosive composition was 66% RDX, 25% TNT, and 9% HMX,
as determined by HPLC.
1998). The composite samples were collected from 5-
TOW missiles are anti-tank weapons. Information
m to 50-m distance from the tank target with a 5-m
on the components of the TOW missile is restricted,
distance between each concentric circle.
but we do know that the explosive filler is LX-14
The only explosive detected in surface soil next to
(HMX). Double-based propellant (nitrocellulose and
the first tank target was RDX, which ranged from 0.002
nitroglycerin) launches the missile, then a solid
to 0.17 g/g (Table 6, Fig. 7). In surface soil
propellant rocket motor ignites and burns out within
1.6 s of launch. The missile is guided by an operator
immediately adjacent to the second tank target, RDX
(<d to 0.031 g/g) and PETN (<d to 0.20 g/g) were
who steers the missile to the target using wires that spool
from the end of the missile.
detected. PETN is the explosive in detonation cord.
We collected six discrete surface soil samples
HMX, RDX, and TNT were detected in one composite
adjacent to each of two separate tank targets (Fig. 6).
sample collected 10 m from the second tank target.
Then, composite samples, composed of seven
Explosives were not detected in the more distant
subsamples each, were collected in duplicate in
composite samples (15 to 50 m from the tank target).
concentric circles around tank target #2 (Jenkins et al.
In soil samples adjacent to both tank targets,
Table 5. Metals determined in soil from mortar firing test location.
Concentration (g/g)
Fe*
Zn
Pb
Ni
Cr
Cu
Ba
Sb
Cd
Area Blue
20,600
56
8.2
26
18
32
482
<4.0
<0.5
Area Yellow
22,400
48
6.6
20
17
24
473
<4.0
<0.5
Area Red
38,600
98
12
45
45
55
789
<4.0
<0.5
Area Pink
23,000
60
7.7
22
17
28
528
<4.0
<0.5
*Iron and Barium were determined by XRF. The remaining metals were determined by atomic
absorption.
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