  We present detailed abundance observations of the metal-poor ([Fe/H] = --2.0)
Galactic halo star BD+17 3248. We have detected gold in this star, for the
first time in any halo star. We also detected a weak line at 3859.60 A in the
spectrum of BD+17 3248 that we tentatively identify with uranium. This would be
only the second such detection of this radioactive element in any metal-poor
halo stars. Similarly to the case of CS 22892--052, the heavier n-capture
elements (Z >= 56) fall on the scaled solar system r-process abundance curve,
while the elements with Z = 40--50 in BD+17 3248 fall below that same solar
curve. Employing the newly detected Th, U and third r-process peak element
(e.g., Pt, Ir) abundances, chronometric age estimates have been made for BD+17
3248. The average value of the various chronometric pairs suggests an age of
13.8 +/- 4 Gyr for this star, consistent, within error limits, with other
chronometric age determinations for metal-poor Galactic halo stars.
