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LASL: Tularosa Quadrangle
A total of 1,877 sediment and 388 water samples were collected from 2,125 locations within the Tularosa 2° quadrangle as part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) Tularosa Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. The western half of the quadrangle (west of 107°W longitude) was sampled by one contractor between April and July of 1976 while the eastern half of the quadrangle was sampled by another contractor between February and August of 1977. All of the samples were sent to LASL for uranium analyses and the data were released in the LASL Tularosa NURE HSSR study GJBX-104(78) report.

ORGDP: Tularosa Quadrangle
LASL sent 1,847 sediment and 284 water samples from the Tularosa quadrangle samples to the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) for multielement analyses. These data were released by ORGDP in the ORGDP Tularosa Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-326(81) report.

LASL: San Andres and Oscura Mountains Detailed Survey
In May of 1979, LASL conducted a detailed geochemical survey within the northern San Andres Mountains and the Oscura Mountains of New Mexico. This area falls entirely within the Tularosa 2° quadrangle. A total of 884 dry stream-sediment and 33 rock samples were collected for this study. The rock samples were crushed to -100 mesh and then treated and reported by LASL in the same manner as sediment samples. LASL analyzed all samples for uranium and up to 46 additional elements and then released these data in the San Andres-Oscura Mountains Detailed Survey GJBX-215(81) report.

Summary Tables
The following is a list of the NURE sample types collected for all studies within the Tularosa quadrangle.

These Tularosa quadrangle samples were analyzed by one or more of the following methods:

Sediment Samples

• LA1: Los Alamos Delayed-Neutron Counting Analysis of sediments for U.
• LA3: Los Alamos Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of sediments for Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, W, and Zr (Detailed Study samples only).
• LA4: Los Alamos Arc-Source Emission Spectrography Analysis of sediments for Be and Li (Detailed Study samples only).
• LA5: Los Alamos Neutron Activation Analysis of sediments for Al, Au, Ba, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, V, Yb, and Zn (Detailed Study samples only).
• OR7: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of sediments for Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr.

Water Samples

• LA6-DN: Los Alamos Delayed-Neutron Counting Analysis of waters for U.
• LA6-FL: Los Alamos Fluorometry Analysis of waters for U.
• OR13: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of waters for Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Sc, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr. (Note: Nb and Th may be included in this method.)

Rock Samples (Detailed Study only)

• LA1: Los Alamos Delayed-Neutron Counting Analysis of rocks for U.
• LA3: Los Alamos Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of rocks for Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, W, and Zr.
• LA4: Los Alamos Arc-Source Emission Spectrography Analysis of rocks for Be and Li.
• LA5: Los Alamos Neutron Activation Analysis of rocks for Al, Au, Ba, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, V, Yb, and Zn.

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Tularosa Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Tularosa quadrangle sediment data consist of records from the early LASL Tularosa NURE HSSR study GJBX-104(78) report combined with records from the ORGDP multielement Tularosa Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-326(81) report plus reformatted records from the San Andres-Oscura Mountains Detailed Survey GJBX-215(81) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Tularosa quadrangle sediment data:

1. During the NURE sample collection phase, LASL sites and samples were initially assigned a 6-digit integer Identification Number (LASLID) starting with 000001. After 1977, most LASL sites were reassigned a new 1-letter+5-digit Identification Number starting with A00001. All LASL samples and the early LASL reports use the 6-digit integer LASLID. Most of the later reports only use the 1-letter+5-digit LASLID. Although both sets of numbers were usually assigned sequentially, they do not correspond one to one with each other: 100001 does not equal C00001, etc. Whenever possible, the 1-letter+5-digit LASL Identification Number was saved in the LASLID field. When the corresponding 6-digit site number could be determined from sample number translation key lists or other sources, this Identification Number was saved in the SITE field.
2. A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Tularosa quadrangle sediment samples. The 1-letter+5-digit LASL Identification Number was saved in the LASLID field and the corresponding 6-digit site number was manually added to the SITE field. Therefore, the LASLID field contains the Identification Number found in the LASL Tularosa NURE HSSR study GJBX-104(78) and ORGDP Tularosa Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-326(81) reports. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
3. No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the San Andres-Oscura Mountains Detailed Survey sediment and rock samples. The 6-digit LASL Identification Number found in LASLID was also added to the SITE field. Therefore, the value found in the LASLID and SITE fields is same LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers as well as the value published in the San Andres-Oscura Mountains Detailed Survey GJBX-215(81) report.
4. The LASL and the ORGDP Laboratory each analyzed and reported data records for the same 1,847 sediment samples from the Tularosa quadrangle. Because there were no overlapping data fields, these corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
5. Four sediment sample records contained an invalid value in the rock type(ROCKTYP), sediment type (SEDTYPE), stream channel character(STRCHANL), or water level(WTRLEVEL) fields. These values were likely miscoded or entered incorrectly. The correct values were not found. These values were removed from the respective fields and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field for each affected record.
6. Two sediment sample records contained values for the well pump type(WELLPUMP), well use(WELLUSE), or well diameter(WELLDIAM). These parameters were not normally recorded for sediment sample records. The values were removed from each record and added as a comment to the corresponding REFORMAT field.
7. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for twenty samples. These dates were removed from the SAMPDAT field. For each record, the original SAMPDAT value and the most likely correct value was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
8. Two separate sediment samples in this quadrangle have the same latitude-longitude coordinates. It is unclear whether this represents a pair of different samples collected at the same site or samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish.

Water Records
The Tularosa quadrangle water data consist of records from the early LASL Tularosa NURE HSSR study GJBX-104(78) report combined with records from the ORGDP multielement Tularosa Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-326(81) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Tularosa quadrangle water data:

1. A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Tularosa quadrangle water samples. The 1-letter+5-digit LASL Identification Number was saved in the LASLID field and the corresponding 6-digit site number was manually added to the SITE field. Therefore, the LASLID field contains the Identification Number found in the LASL Tularosa NURE HSSR study GJBX-104(78) and ORGDP Tularosa Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-326(81) reports. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
2. The LASL and the ORGDP Laboratory each analyzed and reported data records for the same 284 water samples from the Tularosa quadrangle. Because there were no overlapping data fields, these corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
3. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for five samples. These dates were removed from the SAMPDAT field. For each record, the original SAMPDAT value and the most likely correct value was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
4. Four separate water samples in this quadrangle have the same two latitude-longitude coordinates. It is unclear whether this represents pairs of samples collected at the same site or samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish.

Rock Records

1. When rock samples were collected, the site descriptive data commonly utilized the same field formats found for stream-sediment samples. When analyzed, the analytical methods were also the same methods used for stream-sediment or soil samples. Because of these similarities, rock sample data were reformatted with and are now reported in the sediment database.
2. The text of the San Andres-Oscura Mountains Detailed Survey GJBX-215(81) report lists 32 rock samples (24 samples of Precambrian granite and 8 samples of Tertiary intrusive rhyolite) but the data appendix and digital data file have analytical data for 33 rock samples. The extra rock sample is identified as 'unknown'.

Download The Data

The NURE HSSR data are now available online in two databases: The sediment database (also includes data for soils and some rocks) at http://tin.er.usgs.gov/nure/sediment/ and the water database at http://tin.er.usgs.gov/nure/water/. From these two web sites, NURE HSSR data can be selected, examined, summarized, and downloaded by political boundaries (State and County), by quadrangle (1:250,000-scale, 1:100,000-scale, and 1:63,360-scale for Alaska or 1:24,000-scale for the Lower 48 States), and by hydrologic unit (drainage region, subregion, river basin, or sub-basin). Selected data can be downloaded as a dBase file, a shapefile, an HTML table, or ASCII text (tab- or comma-delimited).

Tularosa Quadrangle Sediment Data - 2,794 records
Tularosa Quadrangle Water Data - 338 records

Notes for Data Users

None at this time.

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Tularosa Quadrangle

Tularosa Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Tularosa quadrangle by Berge Exploration, Inc. of Denver, Colorado [GJQ-014(82)]. As part of the evaluation process, an additional 87 water samples from streams, springs, and wells and 333 rock samples were collected. (Note: Eleven of these samples were collected just outside of the Tularosa quadrangle: 1 well water and 3 rock samples were collected in the Las Cruces quadrangle; 2 spring water and 4 rock samples were collected in the Socorro quadrangle; and 1 rock sample was collected in the Clifton quadrangle.) Most samples were analyzed for eU and eTh by gamma ray spectroscopy and for uranium by fluorometric analysis. Some of the rock samples were also analyzed for additional elements. Another 50 selected rock, panned-concentrate, and stream-sediment samples collected by the USGS as part of the Black Range Primitive Area mineral resource study (Ericksen and others, 1970) were obtained by Berge Exploration and reanalyzed for U by fluorometric analysis. All of these analytical data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.

North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study
The SRL in contract with the Department of Geology of the University of North Carolina conducted a special study to investigate the association of uranium deposits with granitic source or host rocks. The analytical results from 441 samples of 92 plutons were released in the North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study GJBX-221(82) report. See the North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study for the data and a more detailed description of this study. Plutons that were apparently sampled in the Tularosa quadrangle include the Capitol Peak (5 samples); Mockingbird Gap(8); Oscura Gray(4); and Oscura Red(5).

Tularosa Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Berry, V.P., Nagy, P.A., Spreng, W.C., Barnes, C.W., and Smouse, DeForrest, 1981, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Tularosa quadrangle, New Mexico: U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJQ-014(82), 22 p.
• Broxton, D.E., 1978, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Tularosa NTMS quadrangle, New Mexico: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-7217-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-104(78), 85 p.
• Ericksen, G.E., Wedow, Helmuth, Jr., Eaton, G.P., and Leland, G.R., 1970, Mineral resources of the Black Range Primitive Area, Grant, Sierra, and Catron Counties, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1319-E, p. E1-E162.
• LaDelfe, C.M., Apel, C.T., Hansel, J.M., Fuka, M.A., Denton, M.M., and Cheadle, J.M., III, 1981, Detailed geochemical survey data release for the San Andres-Oscura Mountains Special Study Area, New Mexico: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-8016-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-215(81), 88 p.
• Price, Van, Fay, W.M., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Neutron activation and other analytical data for plutonic rocks from North America and Africa: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-221(82), 47 p.
• Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1981, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Tularosa quadrangle, New Mexico: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-370, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-326(81), 189 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

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Page written by Steven M. Smith (smsmith@usgs.gov)
Version 1.10: July 29, 1999
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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/quad/q_tulars.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:16 EDT 2016