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Forensic Analysis Weighing Bullet Lead Evidence (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix J: Understanding the Significance of the Results of Trace Elemental Analysis of Bullet Lead
Pages 165-168

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From page 165...
... Care should be taken that these limitations and caveats are appreciated and understood; this may require expert interpretation. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS CABL uses a chemical technique called inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
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From page 166...
... It is necessary for the finder of fact to have a general understanding of the possible complicating factors. OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS Virtually all the lead used in the manufacture of lead bullets and lead bullet cores in the United States is purchased from secondary lead smelters that use recycled automotive batteries as their primary source of lead.
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From page 167...
... Calculations can be used only to offer general guidance in assessing the significance of a finding that certain bullets are analytically indistinguishable. DEFINITION OF SOURCE The previously mentioned uncertainties arising from factors related to manufacturing make it difficult to define the size of a "source," hereafter referred to as a compositionally indistinguishable volume of lead (CIVL)
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From page 168...
... In summary, a CIVL would be large in comparison with the amount of lead in the ammunition in the possession of a typical single purchaser. Thus, multiple people would be expected to have ammunition with the same lead composition.
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Key Terms

  • bullet manufacturers
  • molten lead
  • compositional analysis
  • extruded wire
  • analytically indistinguishable

  • bullet cores
  • lead bullets
  • bullet manufacturer
  • lead smelters
  • form cartridges

  • smelter casts
  • finished ammunition
  • indistinguishable regions
  • called inductively
  • maximum set

  • specified elements
  • probative information
  • compositionally indistinguishable
  • understood probability
  • mentioned uncertainties

  • inductively coupled
  • alloying elements
  • dna typing
  • secondary lead
  • caliber bullets

  • obtain billets
  • purposefully duplicate
  • recycled automotive
  • plants obtain
  • coincidental matches


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