Mercury casework particles containing

Table 22.3 Casework Particles Containing Mercury (Continued)...

Clarify the types of discharge particles containing mercury that have been detected in casework. 

In casework in which discharge residue particles were detected, and in which the ammunition involved is known to contain mercury, very few, if any, of the particles contained mercury. This has been noted over many years and in numerous cases. Possible reasons for this could be the volatility of mercury and its compounds, or decomposition of the mercury fulminate and the loss of mercury through amalgamation with zinc in the primer cup/car-tridge case. It is not uncommon, when firing old ammunition with mercury fulminate primers, for some of the cartridge cases to crack, due to embrittlement of the brass caused by mercury amalgamating with the zinc. 

The particle classification scheme is based on modern primed ammunition and consequently mercury fulminate-primed ammunition is not included. Mercury-containing particles from the discharge of mercury fulminate-primed ammunition are rarely detected in casework. Discharge residue from such ammunition was tested in an effort to provide an explanation for this. Discharge particles from Sintox-primed ammunition was also examined with a view to anticipating future problems the criminal use of... 

To provide an insight into the types of mercury-containing particles detected in casework. 

---