U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Active-, inactive-, and abandoned-mine information and selected geochemical data for the state of Colorado. by Jean L. Ryder Open-file Report 94-579 Diskette version This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards and stratigraphic nomenclature. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. U.S. Geological Survey, DFC, Box 25046, MS 973, Denver, CO 80225 1994 CONTENTS FILES ON THIS DISK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 USGS DATABASES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 RASS and PLUTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 MRDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 USBOM Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 MILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 References Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 i FILES ON THIS DISK CO-RASS.EXE Self-extracts the files CO-RAS-B.DBF and CO-RAS- C.DBF which will require 1.3 megabytes of disk space. CO-PLUTO.EXE Self-extracts the files CO-PLU-D.DBF, CO-PLU-E.DBF, CO-PLU-F.DBF, CO-PLU-G.DBF, and CO-PLU-H.DBF which will require 3.3 megabytes of disk space. CO-MRDS.EXE Self-extracts the file CO-MRDS.DBF requiring 16.2 megabytes of disk space. CO-MIL.EXE Self-extracts the file CO-MIL.DBF requiring 1 megabyte of disk space. A compression program was run on each of the four executable files listed above. This was done to enable distribution of all the data on one floppy disk. To access the archived files, simply copy the desired FILENAME.EXE to your hard drive. You can make sure your hard drive has enough free space to unarchive the file by running DIR. The number of free bytes of disk space will be at the bottom of the directory listing. Then type the FILENAME.EXE and press the Enter key. The file will decompress automatically. The first two letters of the archived filenames designate the state followed by a dash and three or four letters indicating the database where the files originated from. The decompressed filenames also designate the state in the first two letters, followed by three or four letters to identify the database. RASS and PLUTO database filenames include another dash followed by a letter indicating the source where the samples originated from. This sample source information is explained in the text below. All of the decompressed files are in dBase (.DBF) format. This format was used due to the widespread availibility of many spreadsheet and database software programs capable of importing dBase formatted files. Disclaimers: The U.S. Geological Survey assumes no responsibility for possible errors within the data presented herein, or the consequences arising from usage thereof. Although the program LHA.COM ((c)Yoshizaki,1988-91) was used by the U.S. Geological Survey to archive these files, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy and functionality of the program and related program material, nor shall the fact of distribution constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection therewith. 1 These digital data files have been compiled from databases maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBOM). The data presented here comprise selected information from each database related to active and inactive mine locations in the state of Colorado and may be of use to people involved with environmental efforts. USGS DATABASES The Rock Analysis Storage System (RASS) and PLUTO data were retrieved from the National Geochemical Database, maintained by the Branch of Geochemistry. The Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) is maintained by the Branch of Resource Analysis. RASS and PLUTO The RASS and PLUTO databases are collections of geochemical data maintained by the USGS, Branch of Geochemistry. These data have been collected over a period of time extending from the present to as far back as the 1930's for the PLUTO data and the 1960's for the RASS data. Scientific methods, instrumentation, and detection levels have changed significantly over this period of time. Thus, researchers are likely to find data from more than one analytical method and reporting more than one lower determination limit for any given element. All of the data are reported in parts per million unless designated as percent. The RASS data files contain approximately 50 elements listed in alphabetical order. They are selected from two sample source categories, each with a letter designation in the computer filename indicating the following sample sources: B = Mine C = Dump or Prospect Pit The PLUTO data files contain up to 80 elements listed in alphabetical order. These are taken from five sample source categories, each with a letter designation included in the computer filename to indicate the following: D = Open Pit Mine or Quarry E = Prospect Pit F = Underground Mine G = Mine Dump H = Mill Product (smelter, tailing) Thus, CO-RAS-B.DBF is a file of Colorado data taken from the RASS database containing samples collected from mines in dBase format. CO-PLU-E.DBF is a file of Colorado data from the PLUTO database containing samples collected from prospect pits and in dBase format. 2 The various analytical methods used to produce the RASS and PLUTO data are indicated by one or more letters following or preceding the element name at the head of each field of data. Atomic absorption spectroscopy is designated by AA and SI indicates determination by specific ion electrode. Semi- quantitative emission spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) are both designated by an S. The semi-quantitative emission spectroscopy results are reported in concentration intervals of 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 7, or orders of magnitude thereof. The precision of the ICP-AES technique and the AA techniques used permits the use of two significant figures. Due to the formatting used by the computer programs in compiling this data, some of the columns reported contain one or more insignificant digits to the right of the significant digits. The RASS and PLUTO data may be reported with a "qualifying" letter attached to the result. These letters indicate the following: N = Nothing detected at the lower limit of determination. L = Amount detected is less than the lower limit of determination. G = Amount detected is greater than the maximum limit of determination. B = Not analyzed. H = Interference. T = Trace. For information concerning current analytical methods, use of instrumentation, laboratory procedures, and quality control, see Arbogast, ed. (1990). To obtain further information from the RASS and PLUTO databases, contact the Associate Branch Chief, Branch of Geochemistry, Building 20, Mail Stop 973, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, Telephone (303) 236-1800. MRDS The Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) is managed by the USGS, Branch of Resource Analysis. This data originates not only from USGS studies but also from other federal and state agencies and primarily pertains to mineral commodities. The Colorado dataset comprises fifty-nine fields of information for over six thousand sites. Included on this disk are all 6361 sites for forty-eight fields of data including name, location, deposit type, commodities, products, tectonics information, and mineral age. For further information concerning these data, contact the Minerals Information Office, Branch of Resource Analysis, Building 20, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, Telephone (303) 236-5704. 3 USBOM Database The Minerals Availability System (MAS) Database is non- proprietary data maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The Minerals Industry Location Systems (MILS) is a subset of that database. MILS The Minerals Industry Location Systems database provides information on locations of mines, their operational status, and information about the minerals at those locations. The Colorado MILS dataset contains sixty-four fields of data for nearly fourteen thousand sites. The data on this disk include all 13,906 sites with only the fields consisting of sequence number, name of deposit, deposit type, current status, location, and point of reference. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Minerals Availability System (MAS) Data Base Administrator, Branch of Data Administration, Division of Statistics and Information Services, Bureau of Mines, Building 20, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, Telephone (303) 236-5204. Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank Baiba Barr from the Branch of Geochemistry, Mary Berger from the Branch of Resource Analysis, and David Buckingham from the Bureau of Mines for their invaluable assistance in providing data retrievals. References Cited Arbogast, B.F., ed., 1990, Quality assurance manual for the Branch of Geochemistry, U.S. Geological Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 90-668, 184 p. LHA version 2.12, Copyright (c) Haruyasu Yoshizaki, 1988-91, A High-Performance File-Compression Program, 3/21/91. 4