Data Series 297
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Data Series 297
The USGS compiled digital spreadsheets, by depth interval, of available rock-sample data stored at the USGS Core Library and Data Center in Mercury and the USGS office in Henderson, Nevada. These digital spreadsheets are the Rock-Sample database, Lithologic-Description database, Rock-Property database, Fracture-Characteristic database, and Hydraulic-Property database. Records were compiled for vertical (boreholes and shafts) and horizontal (tunnels and drifts) holes. Rock-sample locations were inventoried by personnel stationed at the Mercury facility. Rock-sample records were compiled by personnel stationed at the Henderson office from paper copies of records contained in the historical files stored at the Mercury and Henderson locations and from paper copies of published reports. A small percentage of lithologic descriptions were provided in electronic format towards the end of the study.
The USGS catalogued interval-specific locations for rock samples collected from nearly 2,600 holes drilled or mined on and around the NTS (fig. 3). The Rock-Sample database presents locations of rock samples collected by DOE/DOD contracting organizations, the National Laboratories, and USGS and stored at the USGS Core Library. The database is a digital spreadsheet (appendix A) and column contents are described in table A1. Locations of all rock samples stored at the Mercury facility have been compiled. However, rock samples stored at the USGS Yucca Mountain Program (YMP) sample storage facility in NTS Area 25 (fig. 1) are part of another program and have not been included in this compilation.
A core sample collected from exploratory hole UE-20f and a cuttings sample collected from exploratory hole UE-14b are used to show examples of rock-sample data at the NTS. Hole UE-20f is the deepest hole drilled at the NTS and the core sample collected from the bottom (13,670–13,686 foot) interval of this hole shows an example of welded volcanic tuff. Wooden blocks indicate sections of core removed from the USGS Core Library (fig. 4A). The cuttings sample collected from the 1,120- to 2,160-ft interval of exploratory hole UE-14b shows an example of variations in welded volcanic tuffs (fig. 4B).
The USGS compiled interval-specific records for lithologic descriptions for nearly 1,300 holes drilled or mined on and around the NTS (fig. 5). The Lithologic-Description database presents lithologies interpreted and re-interpreted from rock samples and geophysical and video logs in boreholes and shafts and mapped inside tunnels and drifts by investigators from DOE/DOD contracting organizations, the National Laboratories, and USGS. The database is a digital spreadsheet (appendix B) and column contents are described in table B1. Lithologic descriptions have been compiled for holes located in Frenchman and Yucca Flats and on Buckboard, Pahute, and Rainier Mesas and parts of the Amargosa Desert near the NTS (fig. 1). Lithologic descriptions are available but have not been compiled for holes located in Jackass Flat (fig. 1).
The lithologic-description data for borehole ER-6-1 is used to show a graphical example of generalized lithologic units at the NTS (fig. 6). The general units penetrated in this hole are alluvium, nonwelded to welded and bedded tuff, dolomite, and quartzite. The lithology was interpreted by Sigmund L. Drellack, Jr. and Lance B. Prothro from National Security Technologies, LLC and by Robert L. McCall from Stoller-Navarro Joint Venture.
The USGS compiled interval-specific records for rock-property data for nearly 600 holes drilled or mined on and around the NTS (fig. 7). The Rock-Property database presents physical and mechanical properties analyzed from rock samples by investigators from DOE/DOD contracting organizations, the National Laboratories, and USGS. The database is a digital spreadsheet (appendix C) and column contents are described in table C1. Physical and mechanical rock properties have been compiled for holes located in Yucca Flat and on Rainier Mesa (fig. 1). Physical and mechanical rock properties are available but have not been compiled for holes located in Frenchman and Jackass Flats and on Buckboard and Pahute Mesas (fig. 1).
Samples collected from exploratory hole U-4d Ex. #1 and analyses contained in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory project files are used to show examples of rock-property data at the NTS. Depth profiles are shown for grain density, wet (natural-state) bulk density, and wet water content by weight from exploratory hole U-4d Ex. #1 (fig. 8).
The USGS compiled interval-specific records for fracture-characteristic data for nearly 500 holes drilled or mined on and around the NTS (fig. 9). The Fracture-Characteristic database presents locations of fractures interpreted from rock samples and geophysical and video logs in boreholes and shafts and mapped inside tunnels and drifts by investigators from DOE/DOD contracting organizations, the National Laboratories, and USGS. The database is a digital spreadsheet (appendix D) and column contents are described in table D1. Fracture characteristics have been compiled for holes located in Yucca Flat and on Buckboard, Pahute, and Rainier Mesas (fig. 1). Fracture characteristics are available but have not been compiled for holes located in Frenchman and Jackass Flats (fig. 1).
A core sample collected from the core hole MH-2, drilled vertically in the invert (floor) of emplacement drift U-12n.10 at 303.77 ft from the portal opening, is used to show an example of fracture-characteristic data at the NTS. Slickensides and black staining on fracture surfaces are indicated at 79 ft (fig. 10).
The USGS compiled interval-specific records for hydraulic-property data for nearly 100 holes drilled or mined on and around the NTS (fig. 11). The Hydraulic-Property database presents water-level response from injection and withdrawal of water during aquifer tests conducted by investigators from DOE/DOD contracting organizations, the National Laboratories, and USGS. The database is a digital spreadsheet (appendix E) and column contents are described in table E1. Hydraulic properties have been compiled for holes located in Yucca Flat and on Buckboard, Pahute, and Rainier Mesas (fig. 1). Hydraulic properties are available but have not been compiled for holes located in Frenchman and Jackass Flats (fig. 1).
Aquifer testing conducted in water well WW-A and reported in Price and Thordarson (1961) are used to show examples of hydraulic-property data at the NTS. Water-level recovery is shown following bailing tests of 3,000, 74, and 33 gallons, respectively (fig. 12).
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2007/297
Page Contact Information: Publications Team
Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 26-Sep-2007 12:33:15 EDT
