Technical report abstract. The present state of knowledge concerning the effect of pile radiation on a variety of solid materials is reviewed. Radiation corrosion will not be a serious hazard for aluminum or stainless steel but it can be for iron or lead if either are exposed to water. Apart from corrosion the principal uncertainty is in regard to the Wigner effect on the behavior of metals. There is at present no ground for optimism regarding the behavior of tuballoy. The effect on aluminum or a bonding material while less severe must also be considered serious. The expectation in regard to graphite is that its behavior will not cause trouble during the first 100 days of operation although serious troubles will probably arise within two years of operation. Organic materials can be used safely only in regions of limited exposure.

Technical report with short reports on (1) P-9 recovery from UO2F2 solution; (2) Correlation of theories on action of radiation on matter; (3) Literature surveys on organic compounds and on chemistry of UO2F2; (4) effect of radiation on organic compounds; and (5) Effect of radiation on 100 area construction materials.

Technical report. Long-time tests have been made on the effect of various types of radiation on the corrosion of 2S aluminum in simulated W water. In no case was any acceleration of corrosion by the radiation observed; the effect of radiation, if any, appeared to be a protective one. Deuteron irradiation did accelerate the corrosion of mild steel at low flow rates in hot water of pH 6 to 7, but no appreciable effect was observed with copper, stainless steel, or tuballoy. The general theory of the effect of radiation on corrosion is discussed, with the conclusion that no acceleration of corrosion by radiation is to be expected in most cases of practical interest.

Technical report. Quite pure anhydrous ThCl4 in small quantity (8-10 g charge) has been prepared by the action of a mixture of Cl2 and CCl4 vapor on ThO2 at 675 degrees to 725 degrees C.

Technical report. The effect of temperature during pile exposure on the fast-neutron-induced change in properties of graphite was studied. Temperatures up to 125 degrees C have no effect upon the rate of increase of elastic modulus; pieces exposed at 300 degrees C on the other hand show no change at all in elastic modulus. The increase in electrical resistance s an inverse function of the temperature of exposure at all temperatures in the range 60 to 300 degrees C.

Technical report describing the investigation of the short-lived activities produced in oxygen compounds by irradiation with pile neutrons. The most prominent of these activities in cooling water is a beta and gamma emitting activity of about 8 second half-life. Because of its production by epicadmium neutrons it was believed to be the 8 second N16 produced in the pile by n,p on O16. The identification has been accomplished and it is established that the 8 second activity is N16. Part 2 of the report deals with the determination of the recoil range of the Al28 atoms formed by pile n,p reaction on Al27.

Table showing the estimated reserves of vanadium-bearing rock in the Paris-Bloomington, Montpelier, Sublette Ridge, Swift Creek, and Strawberry Creek - Greys River Divide extraction areas in west-central Wyoming and southeastern Idaho. Indicated tonnage and inferred tonnage values are given for each area in millions of tons, along with the percentage of vanadium ore rock, maximum and minimum thickness, and average thickness of the rock in the extraction area.

Illustrations accompanying a report investigating the locations of vanadium-bearing phosphatic shale in West-Central Wyoming and Southeastern Idaho. The set includes seven maps (Plates I and V-X) showing the location of rock formations in the area and three charts (Plates II-IV) showing the correlation between the occurrence of vanadium deposits and the thin persistent beds of phosphate rock, oolite, siltstone, dolomite, and limestone with which they are interbedded.

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.

The examination of 3 districts; southeastern Pennsylvania near Chester and Philadelphia, the Williams quarry northeast of Kaston, and the northeastern end of Mt. Pisgah near Mauch Chunk.

Discussing Vanadium-bearing phosphatic shale produced in West-central Wyoming and Southeastern Idaho

The recovery of plutonium has been demonstrated in a laboratory countercurrent horizontal extractor using the TTA process. Using three extractive stages and two washing stages in each step, a recovery of 91 percent has been obtained in the chelation step and a recovery of 99.9+ percent in the de-chelation step. With five extractive stages, recoveries of 94-98 percent have been found for the chelation step.

Abstract: This technical report consists of series of drawings of the instrument with the following explanation. The modification of the Simpson Methane flow proportional counter consists of a means for inserting and replacing samples into the chamber through an air-lock device which avoids the introduction of even a small quantity of air into the active volume of the chamber. This is accompanied by sweeping out the small volume of the air-lock containing the sample with methane gas before the sample is introduced into the chamber -- this sweeping out requiring only a few seconds. The mechanical construction is somewhat simplified over that employed in the Simpson counter design, although the electrical and counting characteristics are essentially duplicates of those employed in the Simpson version. Voltage plateaus about 400 volts long, flat within 1% per 100 volts are obtained with the counter, with the operating point at about 2500 volts for methane at one atmosphere pressure. A plateau extending over a range of about 40% variation in amplification factor is obtained. Standard samples have been checked to standard deviation of +/-0.3% over a period of one year. The counter is rather gas-tight and is ready for use within about ten minutes …

Technical report describing a procedure for the determination of lead in pitchblende. The procedure was determined as needed in the course of an investigation of the processing of pitchblende for the production of uranium. Summary: The volumetric dichromate method for the determination of lead was selected from among several methods investigated as being best suited for a rapid determination of lead in pitchblende. The method as described is accurate to within 1% and it does not require the application of an empirical factor as suggested by Willard and Diehl for this determination.

The emf of galvanic cells at high temperatures was measured using uranium metal in equilibrium with its chloride as one half of the cell, the other half of the cell being some reference electrode such as silver - silver chloride. Several designs of cells tried are described. A value of 2.83 volts/eq. at 1170[degree]K and also at 990[degree]K is considered as the most probably value for the potential of the uranium halide couple.

Report describing results of experiments that involved injecting radioactive yttrium into animals: "The excretion, retention, and distribution of the yttrium was measured, and its effect on survival and growth was observed. The average total excretion of Y91 to the time of death (from 76 hours to 24 days) was a little less than 30 per cent of the injected dose" (p. 2).

Technical report describing development of the Clinton alpha amplifier. The circuit for the Clinton alpha amplifier which is used with an Offner scaler is shown attached to the report. It consists of a pre-amplifier mounted in a cylindrical alpha chamber, followed by a three state amplifier and a pulse height selector in a separate cabinet. Pulses are fed from the pulse height selector in the amplifier to the input tube of the Offner scaler. Through the third stage of the amplifier, this circuit is exactly the same as the California circuit now used by the chemical section for alpha counting. A type 961 Offner scaler was used for these tests. None of the latest Offner scalers type961A, were available to us when the tests were made. Method of testing is given, results are tabulated, computations are made, and eight graphs are given. it appears that the Clinton amplifiers used with a Offner scaler will give substantially the same performance as that given by the California circuit.

From introduction: "The discovery of element number 96, curium, was realized by the preparation and identification of the isotope Cm-242 by G. T. Seaborg, R. A. James and A. Ghiorso by cyclotron bombardment of Pu-239 with helium ions."

Report discussing experiments investigating the effects of radiation and metal toxicity on the function of the liver, kidneys, adrenals, and bone marrow of experimental animals.

Abstract: An ionization chamber for use in counting alpha particle activity from the air has been devised for counting samples collected with the electrostatic precipitator. The chamber is an adaptation of the breech-locking standard chamber, with a cylindrical high voltage electrode into which the collection foil is placed, and a coaxial rod as a collecting electrode. A geometrical efficiency of close to 50% is obtained.

Abstract: "Preliminary studies are reported on the use of the ion exchange resins for the adsorptions of purines, uracil, nucleotides, kynurenic acid, and coproporphyrin. Adenine and guanine are adsorbed on IR-100 resin from neutral solution and eluted by HCl. Kynurenic acid and coproporphyrin are adsorbed from neutral solution on IR-4 resin and eluted by HCl. Coproporphyrin is strongly adsorbed on IR-100 resin from either acid, alkaline, or neutral solution. Kynurenic acid is poorly adsorbed on IR-100 resin from neutral aqueous solution. The preliminary application of these procedures to the spectro-photometric study of urine is described."

The following document describes some studies of the radioactive isotopes of cerium and lanthanum lying on the light or neutron-deficient side of stability.

The following report records the study of albino rats subjected to beta rays and analyzes the skin reactions and metabolic patterns.

The following report is a quarterly report by the Monsanto Chemical Company for liquid waste disposal research, covering the period between April 1 to June 30, 1949.