Monthly report of the U.S. Geological Survey's trace element investigations including an outline of field work, laboratory work, and staff activities that have been completed or are in process.

From introduction: A trip into the Henry Mountains area occupied the days from March 6 to 9, 1951, inclusive, excepting March 7, which was used to examine Reo Hunt's deposit in Poison Spring Wash. Observations were made on stratigraphy, regional geology, and the locations of the known deposits of uranium and vanadium.

The trip into the Henry Mountains Area used to examine the Reo Hunt's deposit s of uranium and vanadium.

This report describes the Temple Mountain district in Utah, specifically four Shinarump-capped areas that are recommended for ore mining.

Discussing recommendations for wagon drilling in the Temple Mountain District, Utah

Cost estimates for two types of Th producing plants are offered. One utilizes Th(NO3)4 as raw material, the other uses monazite sand. Final processing schemes and plant designs are not fixed, so the estimates represent maximum costs. Recommendations for research and development of Th producing methods are given.

The following report follows a correction on a previous report (CP-1381) on the value of the magnitude of the gamma effect.

Abstract: Uranium ore deposits on two exposed rims and past production records of tonnage and grade indicate an exploration program is justified in the Oak Springs area. A minimum of 24,000 feet of core drilling is recommended with a maximum of 75,000 feet to be based on favorability as determined by subsurface studies.

The following report describes data on the provided phase equilibrium systems that show the general nature of the diagrams and the compounds and solid solutions which occur.

Abstract: "Preliminary data have been taken to evaluate X-ray absorption at the L III edge of uranium as a method of detection of uranium in solution. Uranium concentrations in water from 150 ppm to 30,000 ppm have been investigated. The effect of copper as a typical contaminant in the range of 737 ppm of copper to 36,850 ppm of copper has been investigated for a representative uranium solution. Instrumentation has been constantly improved and suggestions for further improvements in amplifying and counting equipment are included. Comparison of experimental data with theory indicates that the derived equations are adequate."

Discussing the importance to mapping of the Salt-Bluff contacts at King tut Mesa

"A small quantity of a Np-237, the long-lived ancestor of the 4n + 1 series, has been isolated from a natural source. The Th-229 content of the Th-230 obtained from Belgian Congo pitchblende concentrate and of Th-232 obtained from Brazilian monazite has been determined indirectly through isolation of the Ac-225 daughter. The mass ratio of Np-237 to U-238 in the Belgian Congo pitchblende concentrate has been determined as (1.8 +/- 0.4) x 10-(-12). The mass ratio of U-233 to U-238 in the same ore deposit is found to be (1.3 +/- 0.2) x 10-(-13). The ratio of the respective neutron-capture cross sections of U-238 in the ore body for the (n, 2n) and (n, gamma) reactions is calculated to be (1.3 +/- 0.6) x 10-(-3) on the basis of the relative Np-237 and Pu-239 contents."

The following document describes observations from tests on neptunium metal and their reactions to different room temperatures.

Technical report on the geological investigation of the Green River desert area, Utah, studying uranium deposits in the area.

Abstract: "The effect of variation in fuel element density upon f, p in a D2O cooled and moderated lattice of cylindrical fuel elements is investigated. The CP-3 lattice is chosen as a reference. The effect of a source term in the fuel element is considered. f, p are calculated as functions of "a", the ratio of the modified fuel element density to the original (fuel only) density. Curves showing f(a), p(a) are included. It is concluded that a 1 per cent decrease in the product, f(d), p(a) is not suffered until a=0.3. A 5 per cent decrease in k is estimated at a-0.4. The necessity of introducing the fuel element source term into the calculation after a has been decreased to about 0.6 is brought out."

Purpose and scope: The purpose of this report is to present an analysis and evaluation of the airborne radioactivity survey of the Blanding, Utah district conducted by The Texas Company on behalf of the Atomic energy Commission. Within the scope of the report, only the results of the airborne survey and the data used in its evaluation are presented. No attempt is made to discuss the details of the survey or of the drilling program conducted in the area. A separate report by P. 1. Melanoon, on the drilling program is in preparation.

Abstract: "A method has been developed for the determination of sodium monoxide in sodium which depends upon the reaction between sodium and n-butyl bromide in hexane solution. The sodium monoxide does not react with the reagent and can be determined, after the addition of water, by titration. The method is comparatively rapid, requires only the simplest of equipment, and it has the advantage that both oxygen and other impurities can be determined on the same sample."

The following report provides value tables of resonance intervals for various elements and materials.

This report describes a micro technique for the preparation of intermetallic polonium compounds.

Introduction: This volume is the second in a series of reports dealing with the recovery of uranium, alumina, and phosphatic values from the leached zone portion of he Florida phosphate producing area.

Abstract: "The heat of solution of thorium sesquisulfide was determined in 6.000 molar HCl at 25 C to ascertain the stability of the thorium (III) halides. The molal heat of formation of Th2S3 from rhombic sulfur and crystalline thorium is calculated as 258.6 kcal."

This is a preliminary report on a multigroup's analysis on the IBM 604, a programmable Electronic Calculating Punch, as part of the course work W31-Eng. 52.

Abstract: "A method is described for determining moisture on uranium and uranium oxides. This method should also be applicable to solid samples which, when heated, do not decompose to form water or liberate a substance which will react with Fischer's reagent. The method should be especially applicable to samples which are insoluble in alcohol or Karl Fischer reagent under normal titration conditions, or which will themselves react with the reagent. The amount of moisture on uranium and uranium oxide was found to be 0.02% except when the oxide was found to be 0.02% except when the oxide source was uranyl sulfate. In this case, the moisture content was found to be 0.1%. Modifications of the procedure and apparatus are presented for improving the accuracy and shortening the time necessary for the determination."

The causes for loss of uranium originally adsorbed on strong base anion exchange resins from Rand cyanide residue leach liquors after prolonged passage of such liquors through resin columns were investigated.