USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

About USGS /  Science Topics /  Maps, Products & Publications /  Education / Publication: FAQ

LASL: Northern Part of the Powder River Basin
Totals of 966 sediment and 1,178 water samples were collected from 1,685 locations in portions of the Sheridan, Gillette, and Arminto quadrangles between March and July and in October of 1976 as part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. These samples were analyzed by LASL for uranium and the data released in the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report. Of these samples, 252 sediment and 167 water samples were collected within the northeast quarter of the Arminto quadrangle (the area east of 107°7'30"W longitude and north of 43°30'N latitude).

LASL: Arminto Quadrangle
Totals of 999 sediment and 404 water samples were collected from the remainder of the Arminto quadrangle during August - October of 1976 and August - November of 1977. These sediment samples plus 250 of the Northern Powder River Basin sediment samples were analyzed by LASL for uranium and up to 42 additional elements while the water samples plus 166 of the Northern Powder River Basin water samples were analyzed for uranium and up to 12 additional elements. The data were released as the Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report.

LASL: Southern Powder River Basin Detailed Study
In June of 1979, LASL collected 946 ground water samples from parts of the Arminto, Newcastle, and Torrington quadrangles for a detailed study of the Southern Powder River Basin. A total of 166 samples were collected within the Arminto quadrangle. Samples were specifically collected from areas that are "adjacent to or underlain by the Eocene Wasatch and Fort Union formations." These formations are the principle host rocks for several uranium mining districts in the Powder River Basin. The water samples were analyzed for uranium and the data were released in the Southern Powder River Basin Detailed Study GJBX-174(81) report.

Summary Tables
The following is a list of sample types collected for NURE studies in the Arminto quadrangle.

These Arminto 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.
• LA2: Los Alamos Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of sediments for Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pb, Sn, and W.
• LA4: Los Alamos Arc-Source Emission Spectrography Analysis of sediments for Be and Li.
• 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.

Water Samples

• LA6-DN: Los Alamos Delayed-Neutron Counting Analysis of waters for U.
• LA6-FL: Los Alamos Fluorometry Analysis of waters for U.
• LA7: Los Alamos Plasma-Source Emission Spectrography Analysis of waters for Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, and Zn.

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Arminto Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Arminto quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report combined with data from corresponding records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report. When combining sample records, site descriptive information and coordinates were compared for all corresponding records. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Arminto 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. The correlation of the two LASL Identification Numbers for samples in the Arminto quadrangle was first solved by comparing records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report with those from the Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report. Later a LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Arminto quadrangle sediment samples and the values were confirmed. 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 Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers and reported in the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report.
3. Corresponding records for 250 sediment samples were found in both the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) and Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) reports. Each set of corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record.
4. When combining corresponding sediment records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) and Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) reports, some differences between corresponding records were found in the water level(WTRLEVEL) or longitude(LONG) fields. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field. However, when values for these fields were missing in records from the Gillette Quadrangle study but present in records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin study, the Powder River Basin study values were added to the combined record. These changes were also noted in the REFORMAT or COORDPRB comment fields.
5. Four sediment sample records contained values for the well pump type(WELLPUMP). This parameter was not normally recorded for sediment sample records. The values were removed from each record and added as a comment to the corresponding REFORMAT field.
6. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for eight 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.

Water Records
The Arminto quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report combined with data from corresponding records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report plus reformatted records for water samples from the Southern Powder River Basin Detailed Study GJBX-174(81) report. When combining sample records, site descriptive information and coordinates were compared for all corresponding records. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Arminto quadrangle water 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. The correlation of the two LASL Identification Numbers for samples in the Arminto quadrangle was first solved by comparing records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report with those from the Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report. Later a LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Arminto quadrangle water samples and the values were confirmed. 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 Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers and reported in the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report.
3. Corresponding records for 166 water samples were found in both the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) and Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) reports. Each set of corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record.
4. When combining corresponding water records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) and Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) reports, some differences between corresponding records were found in the water level(WTRLEVEL), comment code(COMMENTS), or well diameter(WELLDIAM) fields. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Arminto Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-3(80) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin NURE HSSR study GJBX-94(77) report was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field. However, when values for these fields were missing in records from the Gillette Quadrangle study but present in records from the Northern Part of the Powder River Basin study, the Powder River Basin study values were added to the combined record. These changes were also noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
5. Eight water samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one other sample (4 distinct coordinate sites). These appear to be sites collected during Arminto quadrangle study that were resampled during the LASL Southern Powder River Basin detailed study. A comment in the COORDPRB field identifies each of these pairs.

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).

Arminto Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,251 records
Arminto Quadrangle Water Data - 737 records

Notes for Data Users

None at this time.

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Arminto Quadrangle

Arminto Quadrangle NURE Summary
The Bendix Field Engineering Corporation produced a summary evaluation report for the Arminto quadrangle [PGJ/F-018(82)]. During this evaluation an additional 19 sediment samples were collected and analyzed for U and a few other elements, and 169 water samples were collected and analyzed for uranium and radon. These data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.

Uranium Anomalies in Wyoming
The Bendix Field Engineering Corporation identified and ranked 269 uranium anomalies from 23 quadrangles in and adjacent to Wyoming. These anomalies were based on an evaluation of the NURE HSSR data, aerial radiometric reconnaissance surveys and, to a lesser extent, geologic evaluations. This report [GJBX-3(83)] lists 9 uranium anomalies that were identified in the Arminto quadrangle. No additional geochemical data accompany this report.

Copper Mountain, Wyoming
The Bendix Field Engineering Corporation was involved in a detailed study of a small area around Copper Mountain, Wyoming (about 40 square miles on the western edge of the Arminto quadrangle) to investigate methods for identifying mineral halos associated with a known uranium deposit in the supergene-epithermal environment of fractured Precambrian granitic rocks [GJBX-201(82)]. The text discusses the results of (a) 2 continuous airborne geochemical surveys using methods developed by Barringer Research, Inc.; (b) a lithogeochemical (rock chip) survey; (c) a stream sediment survey (66 samples); (d) a paleostream bank sediment survey (52 samples) to evaluate pre-mining geochemical signatures; (e) a subregional soil survey; (f) a detailed soil survey; and (g) the sampling of 5' composites from drill cores. Although included tables give statistical summaries and figures show element distribution, none of the raw data for these samples were found or referenced in the text. A second report for the Copper Mountain Study [GJBX-223(82)] has some selected results for the analysis of 27 rock samples. These data were released only as a appendix table on microfiche accompanying the report.

Arminto Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Damp, J., and Brown, L., 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Arminto quadrangle, Wyoming: Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-018(82), 61 p.
• Goodknight, C.S., Ludlam, J.R., Burger, J.A., Dickson, R.E., Dayvault, R.D., Dexter, J.J., and Anderson, J.R., 1982, Uranium anomalies in Wyoming and parts of adjacent states: U.S. Department of Energy, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-3(83), 11 p.
• Madson, M.E., Ludlam, J.R., and Fukui, L.M., 1982, Copper Mountain, Wyoming, intermediate-grade uranium resource assessment project final report: U.S. Department of Energy, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-223(82), 44 p.
• Morgan, T.L., 1979, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance data release for the Arminto NTMS quadrangle, Wyoming, including concentrations of forty-three additional elements: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-7510-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-3(80), 177 p.
• Morris, W.A., 1977, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the northern part of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-6654-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-94(77), 80 p.
• Purson, J.D., Sandoval, W.F., Minor, M.M., and Mills. C.F., 1981, Detailed uranium hydrogeochemical survey of ground water from the Southern Powder River Basin Special Study Area, Wyoming: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-8485-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-174(81), 32 p.
• Sayala, D., Lindgren, J., and Babcock, L., 1982, An exploration systems approach to the Copper Mountain area uranium deposits, central Wyoming: U.S. Department of Energy, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-201(82), 602 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Wyoming NURE data
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning NURE HSSR Data
Home Page: USGS National Geochemical Database - NURE HSSR data

Page written by Steven M. Smith (smsmith@usgs.gov)
Version 1.10: July 29, 1999
Version 1.20: August 07, 2000
Version 1.30: September 11, 2001
Version 1.41: February 23, 2006

AccessibilityFOIAPrivacyPolicies and Notices
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/1997/492/quad/q_armnto.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:25 EST 2016