"Single crystals of iodide zirconium were oxidized to determine any lattice relationship existing between zirconium and the oxide overlay, and a review of experimental data and proposed theories to explain the oxidation behavior of zirconium was made. A method of measuring the rate and depth of gas diffusion in alpha zirconium was devised, and calculations were made for the temperature range 900 to 1200 deg C using samples scaled in air, oxygen, and nitrogen. The consumption rates at lower temperatures were estimated from solutions to the diffusion equation. Distribution of gas during scaling was investigated. In general, breakaway occurs at shorter scaling, and the growth rate increases as the impurity level of zirconium is raised and the scaling atmosphere is changed from oxygen to air."