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This paper presents measurements of the differential rigidity spectra of primary cosmic-ray nuclei between 5 OVIc and 100 GVIc. These measurements were performed with a balloon-borne superconducting magnetic spectrometer containing scintillation detectors, optical spark chambers, and associated electronics. We present a rigidity spectrum for each element from hydrogen through oxygen and for groups of elements through the iron group. In our data, at large rigidities, the elements lithium, beryllium, boron, and nitrogen become increasingly rare relative to the other elements. Since these four elements are thought to be fragmentation products from the interactions of carbon, oxygen, or heavier cosmic-ray elements with the interstellar gas, one possible explanation of this result is that less interstellar material was traversed by higher-rigidity nuclei in the cosmic rays. Subject headings: abundances, cosmic-ray - cosmic rays
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