PROJECT 1947


4/20/67           

IDENTIFICATION OF MATERIAL “X”


The sample of material “X” submitted by L. Corbin has a metallic luster, a light grey color with
a slight yellowish tint. It displays many flat crystalline faces characteristic of either a metal-bearing,
naturally-occurring mineral or a casting of a brittle metal alloy.  Its appearance is very similar to
the mineral called “marcasite”, an iron sulfide FeS2).

The results of the analysis described below indicate that material “X” is ferro-chromium, a cast
metal alloy of the approximate composition 70% chromium - 30% iron.  Ferro-chromium is an industrial
material which is added to molten steel during manufacture to produce such chromium-containing
steels as the stainless steels.  Material “X” was not identifiable with any mineral class contained in
the investigator's reference books on minerals.

The results of the analysis are compared to the published properties of ferro-chromium:



TEST FERRO-CHROMIUM MATERIAL "X"  (approx 12 gms.)
1.  Density 7.35 to 7.40, depending on 7.54
(in grams per composition
cubic centi-
meter)
2.  Composition major elements: major elements:
    Chromium (up to 70%)     Chromium
    Iron (up to 30%)     Iron
minor and trace elements: minor elements:
    Information not available       Nickel
    but probably contains many     Calcium
    elements as impurities       Silicon
      Cobalt
      Vanadium
trace elements:
        Aluminum
       Zirconium
     Titanium
     Copper
     Molybdenum
     Magnesium
3.  Fusion (melt- approx. 2350° to 2500° F., approx. 2500° F, by gas
ing) point depending on composition torch test
4.  Magnetic slight slight
5.  Radioactive no no
6.  Appearance cast grain structure cast grain structure,
(should fracture in a brittle fractures in a brittle
manner, none available to test) manner




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