: Fifty-four representative soil samples from all over the world were selected for heavy mineral analysis from those provided by the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California. Data thus obtained, in conjunction with mineralogical, chemical, and abrasion investigation data from the literature, is presented in support of a discussion of the relationship between the mineralogical and chemical content to abrasion/corrosion potential of environmental dust. Crushed quartz is the most representative material for dust abrasion testing, but not for total dust damage potential prediction. It is quartz (not laterite) together with the phenomena of 'Differential A Aeration Cell' corrosion/erosion-corrosion and possible thermochemical contributions, that is believed to be responsible for the extensive damage to military ordnance due to dust contamination experienced in Southeast Asia.

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Minearalogy of selected world soil samples, with implications regarding the abrasion/corrosion potential of environmental dust on military ordnance and a hypothesis for the Southeast Asia problem.

: The report describes the techniques of sampling and analyses of worldwide soil samples. The results demonstrate that there are considerable differences between the actual sand and dirt environment and that specified in the Military specification. Field reports show that many military and military- support items did not perform as expected even though they had fulfilled the specification requirements. Therefore, the Military Specification on Sand and Dirt should be revised to conform to the actual environmental test conditions.

Howard C Schafer

Papers

Survey and Study on Sand and Dirt