Fractional absorption of gamma photons from a source by uranium or plutonium in solution is measured to determine concentration of these elements.

A report discussing a geologic reconnaissance of a section of the Kaiparowits Plateau region of Utah was conducted to evaluate the uranium potential of the area.

Abstract: "The quantities of interest in a confined plasma include the electric and magnetic fields, current density, diffusion velocity, temperature, pressure, and particle density. Equations governing the distribution of these seven variables are given in this report and special cases of a one-dimensional steady-state plasma are examined in detail. The solutions are given in graphical form."

The creep problems associated with zircaloy-2 process tubes and the factors affecting the creep of these tubes were discussed in detail. Emphasis was placed on the determination of the tube wall thickness for an SPR tube, whose minimum thickness is limited by creep considerations. It was concluded that, at the present time, there is not enough information available to design zircaloy-2 process tubes on a realistic basis. Various experiments were suggested to supplement the creep rate testing program being pursued by Battelle Memorial Institute.

This bibliography contains 145 references on the technology and apparatus used in the purification of argon, helium and xenon, and on the analysis for water, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, in the purification process. The references are arranged in four classifications: general, argon, helium, and xenon. Within each classification, the references are arranged in chronological order.

This report presents a summary of certain physical properties that have been determined experimentally on the fluoride mixture that have been formulated at ORNL (Rers. 1, 2). These properties include the density, enthalpy, heat capacity, heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, viscosity, Prandtl number, electrical conductivity and surface tension. In addition to the experimental data, values have been predicted for the heat capacity and density of the other mixtures from the correlations of these properties. Estimates of the viscosity have also been made for a number of the mixtures on which no experimental data were available.

The objective of this report is to analyze the basic engineering problems involved in the design of a pressurized demonatration reactor to be moderated and cooled with heavy water. Two fundamental concepts of this reactor, here referred to as the HWER, are as follows: (1) a tank-type reactor, in which the moderator pressure is maintained at or near atmospheric conditions, and (2) a pressurized vessel-type reactor in which the moderator pressure is maintained at 1000 to 1300 psi. The fuel and primary coolant channels in either case will be designed for an internal pressure pressure of 1000 to 13000 psi.

From introduction: The primary object of this work was to aid prospectors and mining men in finding and exploiting new deposits of uranium-bearing ores in the Colorado Plateau region, particularly of those in the Shinarump and Moss Black members of the Chinle formation.

Abstract: "A particularly conventional modified form of Maxwell distribution is chosen. The modified expressions for (a) the energy transfer from the ions to the electrons in a plasma and (b) the brehmestrahlung from the electrons are calculated. Using the expressions some possible steady-state conditions for the ion and electron gases are derived and compared with those for the usual Maxwell distributions."

A exploratory study was made of a polarographic technique in which an alternating sine or square-wave potential is superimposed upon the applied d.c. potential of the polarographic scan. Recording of the a.c. component of the polarographic current results in derivative-type waves. It was shown that the technique yields greater sensitivity and greater selectivity than normal polarographic technique.

Progress report of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work. This report includes summaries of project activities in: aircraft reactor test design, ART physics, ART instruments and controls, component development and testing, procurement and construction, ART, ETU, and in-pile loop operations, phase equilibrium studies, chemical reactions in molten salts, physical properties of molten materials, production of fuels, compatibility of materials at high temperatures, chemistry, analytical chemistry, metallurgy, dynamic corrosion studies, general corrosion studies, fabrication research, welding and brazing investigations, mechanical properties studies, ceramic research, nondestructive testing studies, heat transfer and physical properties, radiation damage, fuel recovery and reprocessing, critical experiments.

Progress report of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work. This report includes summaries of project activities in: aircraft reactor test design, ART physics, ART instruments and controls, component development and testing, procurement and construction, ART, ETU, and in-pile loop operations, phase equilibrium studies, chemical reactions in molten salts, physical properties of molten materials, production of fuels, compatibility of materials at high temperatures, chemistry, analytical chemistry, metallurgy, dynamic corrosion studies, general corrosion studies, fabrication research, welding and brazing investigations, mechanical properties studies, ceramic research, nondestructive testing studies, heat transfer and physical properties, radiation damage, fuel recovery and reprocessing, critical experiments.

Abstract: "Uranium monocarbide-Zircaloy II alloy cermets were developed and tested for chemical and physical properties. It was determined that pure uranium monocarbide can be prepared by vacuum are melting techniques. Following melting, the combination, hot pressing, and corrosion behavior of dense monocarbide has been studied. The preparation of uranium monocarbide-Zircaloy II cermet bodies was investigated by means of hot pressing, cold pressing and sintering, warm pressing, extrusion, and hot rolling. The corrosion resistance of the cermets was related to such variables as composition, preparation technique, and powder size. 01 per cent uranium monocarbide, 70 per cent zircaloy II cermets withstood corrosion tests in 680 F water. Cermets having above 30 weight per cent uranium monocarbide were not corrosion resistant."

Abstract: "[alpha]-Hydroxy -[beta], [beta]-dinitropropionic and -butyric acids were prepared by condensation of dinitromethane and 1, 1-dinitroethane with glyoxylic acid. Some of their chemical and physical properties are described in this report."

Abstract: The Diamond Head droup area is entirely igneous. Tight fractures in alaskite and granite, which have been altered by heiratite and kaolinization contain narrow seams and very locally,pods of sooty uraninite. A greater percentage of the structures in the area strike about east-west and dip steeply to the north, while the radioactive structures have similar strike, they dip steeply to both the north and the south. A drift has been driven on a mineralized structure far enough to ascertain that the general character of the mineralization is very narrow seams. Many such seams exists but are scattered throughout the area.

This paper is a preliminary report of experiments being carried out on the compaction of UO₂ powders by swaging within a restraining tube. Various types of UO₂ have been tried with resulting apparent densities as great as 9.89 grams per cubic centimeter.

A series of diffusion length measurements were carried out on graphite stacks of various constructions in an attempt to resolve the discrepancies between the graphite diffusion lengths measured in the Hanford reactors and that value measured in the Hanford Standard Pile. It was found that the diffusion length of the graphite in the Hanford reactors is in good agreement with the value for the Hanford Standard Pile when corrections are made for the absorption and scattering of neutrons by the aluminum process tubes, and for neutrons streaming in the channels of the reactors.

The ORNL Graphite Reactor operated very well during 1955. The downtime was low, only 8.6%. The fuel in the bonded slugs did not perform as well in 1955 as in 1954. Much of the trouble was undoubtedly due to growth of slugs which were not beta-transformed. It is known that some slugs had grown over 1/2 in. The automatic central system installed in 1954 continued to operate satisfactorily. The cooling system gave minor trouble when one of the 900-hp fan meters had to be replaced because of shorts in the rotor. The high radiation in the canal was the largest source of trouble. Approximately 55 tons of slugs discharged from the reactor in 1952 was sent to the Metal Recovery Plant. Enough slugs had raptured, due to their long exposure in the canal and reactor, to badly contaminate of water. Most of the contamination was removed by the end of the year, but the radioactivity which had soaked into the canal wells was enough to give high radiation fields. A solution to this problem was being sought at the end of the year. A study is under way on the possibility of increasing the flux of the ORNL Graphite Reactor …

Discussing velocity logging carried out during six weeks of fieldwork in 1955 through contracts with the Texas Company.

Report discussing a proposed nomenclature of Upper Triassic rocks in southeastern Utah in which two types of strata are lumped together in the Chinle formation and that the Shinarump conglomerate be redefined as the Shinarump member of the Chinle formation.

Report issued by the Bureau of Mines over investigations of coking-coal reserves of Logan County, West Virginia. Methods used, and measurements of coal reserves are listed. This report includes tables, and maps.

Second part of the annual report of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts documenting financial records related to tax collection and tax rates assessed by the office during fiscal year 1956.

Annual report of the Texas Game and Fish Commission describing goals, activities, and accomplishments during fiscal year 1956.

Report issued by the Bureau of Mines over manganese deposits of Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties. As stated in the introduction, "the geology is outlined, ore deposits are described and work performed by the Bureau of Mines is covered in detail and supplemented by assay maps and figures" (p. 1). This report includes tables, maps, and illustrations.