Article

2020-08-12 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Analysis of Beirut explosion. The red-orange gas is NO2, from incompletely reacted ammonium nitrate.

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Posted by Mr Obvious 2020-08-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 So, how much of the not as potent as TNT material was "incompletely reacted?"

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-08-12 01:15|| 2020-08-12 01:15|| Front Page Top

#2

Hypergolic fuel fires (like those used in missiles) also has a similar coloured gas (same nitrogen).

I think missile fuel should not be ruled out yet!

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2020-08-12 04:46|| 2020-08-12 04:46|| Front Page Top

#3 It would appear that a lot of things went on sequentially. The fire along with what looks like ammo cooking off folowed by several, discreet detonations of what appear to be different substances.

It is difficult to imagine that in a middle eastern port that 2,700 tons of anything permanently impounded wasn't being stolen systematically and resold. Further this is a port that Hezbollah proudly claims to control.

I sort of have to agree with the Russian, if all 2,700 tons had gone up there wouldn't be any Beirut left and the Seismic signature would have been higher as well.

Posted by Cesare 2020-08-12 08:03|| 2020-08-12 08:03|| Front Page Top

#4 It will quickly be replaced. Pakistan has no fewer than a dozen fertilizer manufacturing facilities pumping the stuff out to regional IED's makers.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-08-12 08:08|| 2020-08-12 08:08|| Front Page Top

#5 Trump in his second term should make sure they have inshallah "accidents"

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2020-08-12 10:40|| 2020-08-12 10:40|| Front Page Top

#6 One of the points about ammonite, whether plain or mixed as ANFO, is that it's a low explosive that's not particularly easy to set off, which is why it's so popular in mining, etc. Usually take a boosted detonator (two stage) made of much more sensitive materials. You don't just light it up and expect it to go boom.
So something else started the chain.

Posted by ed in texas 2020-08-12 16:02|| 2020-08-12 16:02|| Front Page Top

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