Oriented recovery core from Bureau of Mines test site 9 north of Rock Springs, Wyoming was tested to determine the physical properties of the oil shale section of the basin for depths of from 124 to 174 feet. This core was of a known in situ orientation. Physical property tests were made to determine if vertical fractures created by point loading discs of oil shale have a preferred orientation of fracture; other tests were made to describe the behavior of the shale under various stress regimes.