I don’t think conventional explosives capable of vaporizing uranium or plutonium. The masses are so dense, I can’t believe it would not remain intact.
The initial Atom bomb used an encasing explosive shell to densify to critical mass. I can’t believe an external explosive force would be stronger than the atomic bonds of the mass causing it to vaporize or fly apart.
I discount the possibility of an IAF nuclear device in this incident. We would know by now.
One thing bugs me about the target.
The article says Dayr as Zawr near the border of Turkey.
The only thing I can find is Dayr az Zawr which is on the Euphrates but it’s 100 miles from Turkey. Infact it’s closer to Iraq than it is to Turkey.
Anyone have a bead on where the target area actaully was?
Sure, it won’t fission, but it will get blown to smithereens if you hit it with a big enough explosive. The facility is now said to be a huge hole in the desert. I’m thinking they used either the MOAB, or the MOP(Massive Ordnance Penetrator), or perhaps both.
They can burn. Think of a magnesium fire with lethal smoke. The only 'good' thing is the oxides are so heavy that they rapidly settle out.
Plutonium is just a metal. It also burns.