From summary: "Methods were developed for measuring various engineering properties of high-density concretes. Data are presented on selected thermal properties of a limonite-iron concrete and the mechanical properties of the limonite-iron concrete, a magnesium oxychloride concrete, and a Portland cement concrete containing steel punchings and shot (no limonite)."

Abstract: "Decontamination factors of the order of 10-4 were obtained for Beta and Gamma emitters present as fission products when uranium was precipitated from 50 mC activity level solutions as uranyl oxalate under normal uranium yield conditions for three cycles (~60%). Factors of the order of 10-3 were obtained by the use of this reaction with similar solutions under relatively high uranium yield conditions for three cycles (~90%). The uranium peroxide precipitation reaction proved to be of no value on such solutions, yielding decontamination factors of only 17.1 Beta emitters and 1.2 for Gamma emitters for three cycles."

In view of current work on the Columbia River by the Biology Division and Development Division of the Health Instrument Divisions and the contemplated studies of the US Public Health Service Group new at Hanford, it was suggested that the groups review their programs related to studies of the Columbia River. The work carried out by the Control Functions Section of the Health Instrument Division in this respect is reviewed in outline form. Some of the studies are jointly carried out by the Control Functions Section and the Methods Group of the Environmental Hazards Section. The principal purpose for monitoring the Columbia River is to evaluate any radiation hazards that might exist as the result of discharging radioactive effluent into the river from the Hanford pile areas. The miscellaneous special studies conducted so supplement the routine monitoring program are pointed at into the river to better understand the effects of this radioactive contamination on the environment of the river and/or any drinking water supplies using the Columbia river as a source of supply. 1 fig.

From abstract: This report comprises data derived from 53 prospect drill holes drilled by the Davison Chemical Corp. in the eastern part of the Bonny Lake mine, Polk County, Fla.

From introduction: The present report summarizes the indicated and inferred reserves which have been found to date by the drilling in Club Mesa, Montrose County of New Mexico, and includes an estimate of the potential reserves predicted for the area. It also includes a statement of plans for additional drilling. A final report will be prepared on the completion of the drilling planned for 1951.

From abstract: Numerous discontinuous layers of opal are interbedded with a gently-dipping series of vitric tuff and ash which is at least 300 feet thick. The tuff and ash are capped by a dark, vesicular basalt in the eastern part of the area and by a thin layer of terrace gravels in the area along the west side of Virgin Valley.

From abstract: The two topmost zones of the Bone Valley formation at the Homeland mine are a phosphate-cemented quartz sandstone and an underlying pebbly and clayey quartz and phosphate sand characterized by graded bedding. This sequence is found in every other area of the land-pebble field. Therefore, these zones are considered to be stratigraphic units and the transition between them to be a key horizon.

This is a progress report of the production reactors on the Hanford Reservation for the month of April 1951. This report takes each division (e.g., manufacturing, medical, accounting, occupational safety, security, reactor operations, etc.) of the site and summarizes its accomplishments and employee relations for that month.

From introduction: In an effort to stimulate the search for uranium deposits among professional geologists and mining engineers, the following pages present a brief summary of some of the pertinent facts and ideas concerning the geology of uranium deposits evolved by many individuals who have been actively engaged in uranium exploration. This work has been done by members of the U. S. Geological Survey, the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, geological surveys of several other countries, mining companies, and several educational and research institutions.

The fission and spallation reactions caused in uranium by bombardment with high energy protons (340 t o 350 MeV) were investigated. The reaction products were separated from the target by chemical processes and identified by their radioactive properties. The relative yields of the observed fission products were measured, and the results plotted as a function of mass number. Several of the spallation products were identified and their yields estimated. An attempt was made to determine the most probable atomic number for a nuclide of given mass formed directly from fission. Studies were made of the relative yields along several isobaric chains as a function of atomic number. From these data predictions of the mass and charge of the fissioning nucleus are made.

This volume presents the quarterly results of that portion of the research and development which is directed towards establishing new techniques and instruments and towards improving present methods for determining levels of radioactivity accurately and safely. The locally developed amplifier of high gain and of wide dynamic range has been shown to provide plateaus suitable for the simultaneous counting of alpha and beta particles. Commercially available amplifiers have failed to exhibit suitable plateaus when used under the same conditions. This locally developed amplifier in conjunction with the Nuclear Instruments PC1 chamber has made it possible to estimate beta energies down to 0.02 million electron volt, which is to be compared to a former lower limit of 0.1 million electron volt. A fast neutron survey meter must be simple, lightweight, portable and efficient and must provide discrimination against gamma rays. The first step, which is the design of a suitable detecting device has been successfully completed as good efficiency and good discrimination against gamma rays have been achieved. The necessary electronic circuits must now be engineered to provide the requisite simplicity lightweight and portability.

Report documenting the suitability of Arkansas for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials such as coal, natural gas, oil shale, and oil-impregnated strippable deposits.

The second volume of a report documenting the suitability of Illinois for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials.

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

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

The work presented in this volume concludes the research on methods for the recovery of purified radium from K-65 residues. The completion of a final report and an engineering study of the proposed process are underway. The preliminary treatment of the K-65 residues with 15% sodium hydroxide was checked and found to give 84% removal of lead and 40% removal of silica. The combined sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate treatment for removing additional amounts of lead and achieving a preliminary conversion of the radium-barium silfates to carbonates has been studied at 170 deg C under pressure as well as at 100 deg C as previously used. A marked improvemont was found with the use of higher temperatures. Alternate methods were studied for removing the residual lead content in place of precipitation with hydrogen sulfide. Precipitation of insoluble hydroxides was found to remove about 90% of the lead present. The over-all recovery of radium in the residues treatment has been checked and found to be better than 98%. The work on the separation of radium from barium by fractional precipitation of the chromates has shown that in actual practices the results are in good agreement with the results calculated from the observed …

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The slow neutron transmission of several samples of plutonium is being investigated with the Columbia Neutron Velocity Spectrometer. The spectrometer, which has been described previously (Rainwater et al., Phys. Rev. 71, 65 (1947)), was recently improved, recalibrated, and the operational factor reevaluated (CUD-59). Results reported here were obtained by the procedure described in that report.

From introduction: This report serves as a recommendation that a full-scale incineration process be installed at Mound Laboratory and provides a complete flow sheet for this process and recommended designs for the critical parts of the processing equipment. It contains justification for the process, a history of the investigation including early work and pilot plant results, an explanation of the values and information given in the flow sheet, and the reasons for the recommended design features.

It is concluded that austenitic stainless steels in the fully solution- heat-treated state will give satisfactory service in concentrated UNH solutions. (M.H.R)

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