Summer, 1966 – Granite Creek, Montana

Description: The witness recovered the above debris from a freshly plowed field in the summer of 1966. He had plowed the field the previous day. He noticed a bright silver mass in the field the next day. He said that the debris looked like someone had packed it into a waste basket and then dumped it in the field. He gathered up a considerable amount of debris and saved it. He subsequently (late 1960s) attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana and had the sample analyzed by his physics professor. A technique called X-Ray Fluorescence was used to analyze the sample. The debris was found to be composed of bromine, strontium, nickel, arsenic, and possibly some aluminum and copper. The witness’s professor said that the sample alloy was unusual.

Sample Analysis – October, 2013: I obtained a small amount of the sample from the witness. I sent the sample to materials specialist (Dr. Sam Lyengar) who performed a scanning electron microscope (SEM) Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis on the sample. Dr. Lyengar’s analysis showed that the sample was mostly aluminum (98.1%) with a small amount of oxygen (1.9%) and carbon. He said that the sample was aluminum foil and not at all unusual. So why did the two sample results differ so much? That is difficult to say. I would trust the recent analysis because it was conducted by a recognized expert with “state-of-the-art” equipment. Why did this metal accumulate in a “clump” in a plowed field? I believe that the foil could have been “radar chaff” possibly from Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls. Foil is sometimes used to calibrate radar units. It can also be used to obscure radar signatures of aircraft.

Click here to read Dr. Lynegar’s report (PDF).

Note to Commenters: If you are reporting a sighting, be sure to include the location (city, state, country), date and time of your sighting. Be detailed in your description. You may also use our report form to report your sighting. Comments will only be published if they are in "good taste" and not inflammatory. Also the name that you list in the comment will be posted. Use abbreviations or aliases if you don't want your name listed.