  Alloys of hexagonal $\delta$-phase UZr$_2$ have been synthesized and studied
by means of heat capacity, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical
resistivity, magnetoresistance, thermoelectric power, thermal conductivity
measurements, for the first time, at temperatures from 1.8 to 300 K and in
magnetic fields up to 8 T. The weak temperature dependence of the magnetic
susceptibility and the small value of both Seebeck (0.75 $\mu$V/K at room
temperature) and of the Sommerfeld coefficient (13.5 mJ mol$^{-1}$ K$^{-2}$)
point to 5$f$-electrons in this material having a delocalized nature. The
electrical resistivity and magnetoresistance indicate the presence of
significant electronic disorder in $\delta$-UZr$_2$, consistent with the
disorder in its crystal structure. Density functional theory calculations have
been performed and compared to experimental results.
