Collection of reports on Death Valley, the bordering region of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Reports include birds, reptiles and Batrachians, fishes, insects, mollusks, trees and shrubs, cactuses and yuccas, and list of localities in the reports.

From introduction: "Revision to include all known hares and rabbits of North America from Isthmus of Panama to north Greenland."

Technical paper issued by the Bureau of Standards over tests conducted on the durability of stucco construction. Construction methods are discussed. The test results are presented and discussed as well. This paper includes tables, illustrations, and photographs.

Summary: "Water containing 1.8% D2O was distributed between the two liquid phases formed with triethylamine at 20 and 35 C. The triethylamine was removed from each phase by aseotropic distillation with benzene before analyzing the water by determining its density with a quartz float. The ratios of the concentrations of the D2O in the water layer to that in the amino layer were 1.007 and 1.004 at 20 and 35, respectfully. The differences from unity are about the same as the errors of analysis."

A report regarding the Trachyte District, located in the Henry Mountains Area, Garfield and Wayne Counties, Utah.

It was desired to determine a method of evaporating boron to form a rather pure uniform tenacious coat of specified thickness. These coats are needed as monitoring films for neutron intensities, particularly in steel ionization cylinders. The most satisfactory method of evaporating boron employed a graphite filament. A mixture of amorphous boron and Carbenoid A was painted onto the filament which was then heated by electrical resistance method to 2300 degree C at which temperature the boron evaporated. Opaque films with purities up to 98% boron or better could be deposited by this method. Much heat was liberated by the filament, and it was found necessary to cool the steel cylinders during evaporation to prevent alloying of boron with the steel. Cathodic deposition also proved satisfactory for producing high purity films; this method has the advantage that little or no heat is produced during the process, but requires much time. Other less efficacious methods of depositing lighter films of born were developed; these are included in the following discussion.

A good determination of the resonance absorption of uranium when admixed with various substances is necessary so that calculations can be made on the efficiency of homogeneous piles. The original experiments along these lines were undertaken by Creutz, Jupnik, and Snyder (C-116) and consisted of experiments on the resonance capture in pure U, UO2, U3O8, and one experiment on capture in a mixture of U3O8 and graphite. These experiments were done at the cyclotron in Princeton and consisted of determining the ratio of the twenty-three minute activity of uranium to an iodine monitor placed in some position with respect to the sample. By using spheres of different radii both the volume and the surface absorptions were measured. It was considered very desirable to extend these measurements to mixtures containing large amounts of graphite to uranium and also to investigate other substances containing hydrogen and deuterium. In addition it was decided to use both iodine and gallium monitors in the experiments. While the experiments were in progress, an absorption curve for uranium metal was made by Marshall using iodine and gallium detectors, which showed that there was a certain amount of overlapping of resonance levels of uranium and iodine.

Technical report with short reports from the (1) Physics Section I; (2) Physics Section II ; and (3) Physics Section III.

Abstract. Experimental work was carried out to improve material conversion efficiency and to reduce handling costs inherent in the present process for production of high purity calcium. Charges up to 54 pounds were handled successfully in the equipment available. Material losses were reduced and more complete removal of alkali and alkaline earth metals was effected by controlled pressures of inert gas and by melting under positive pressure of Argon.

The following report covers the construction materials selected for laboratory corrosion studies and the determination of their corrosion rates in process solutions.

The following report describes a chemical procedure to analyze fission products and long-lived rare earths in both untreated urine samples and the supernates from the precipitation steps in the TTA procedure for plutonium.

Report documenting the suitability of Alaska for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials such as coal and natural gas.

Abstract: "A magnetically operated pump has been constructed and used successfully to pump a mixture of uranium hexafluoride and hydrogen fluoride gases at pressures up to 175 psia. and temperatures up to 100 C."

Report documenting the suitability of Montana for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials, water sources, and local interest

Report documenting the suitability of New Mexico for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials, water sources, and local interest

Report documenting the suitability of Utah for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials, water sources, and local interest.

Abstract: "X-ray and microscopic examination of slags from uranium metal production bombs which gave good and bad yields in the plant at St. Louis have indicated the significance of uranium oxide formation. Apparently the oxide (UO2) results from reaction of the UF4 with linear material, particularly with moisture in the liner."

This technical report presents the process design for the thorium semi-works plant which will be located at the Feed Materials Production Center, Fernald, Ohio. It contains the process information required for the layout and detailed mechanical design of the thorium plant.

Report documenting the suitability of West Virginia for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials, water sources, and local interest.

Abstract: High Velocity disturbance are observed to propagate in advance of the plane shock front along the walls of a high-explosive-operated shock tube. Experiments were performed which indicate that the disturbance proceeds at a constant velocity relative to the shock front, and carries a considerable amount of energy as evidenced by its ability to penetrate metal plates. The velocity of a similar disturbance observed along a rod placed on the axis of the shock tube normal to the plane shock front was essentially independent of the rod material and diameter. This phenomenon was observed when shock tubes were filled with argon or chlorine but was absent when air or helium was used.

Simple expression are derived for the time dependence of slowing down of neutrons in a simple media. In Section I, a method suggested by age theory is used, while in section II, a two parameter scattering function is employed. Results are compared with exact calculations.

From introduction: This report presents the results of the two phases of the work: study of the compatibility of beryllia bodies with a coating material, molybdenum; and studies of beryllia-beryllium body fabrication.

The following report describe the effect of plasma oscillations using a table-top model and the probable magnitude of the quantities needed to reach complete ionization.

Introduction: "During the early planning of the multicurie cells at Hanford it was decided that a slave type manipulator would be necessary to perform the experiments for which the cells were being designed. The design required steel roofs for installation through a port hole in the face. Technical Services Equipment Development began developing the proposed manipulator in January 1951 by making a study of those existing at that tune. None met the requirements which had been established; therefore, the design of a special manipulator was started immediately."