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ORGDP: Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles
The Crystal City and Beeville NTMS quadrangles were the first area sampled on a reconnaissance basis for the NURE program by the Union Carbide Corporation-Nuclear Division (UCC-ND) at the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP). Both Phase I and Phase II sampling was done within these quadrangles. Phase I samples were taken at a density of one sediment sample and one ground water sample per 250 square km. Phase II sampling involved taking one sample per 25 square km. Phase I sampling was later abandoned in favor of the more intensive Phase II sampling strategy (GJBX-77(77)). Between January and November of 1976, 634 stream sediment, 944 water, and 329 plant samples were collected from the Crystal City and western half of the Beeville quadrangles for the NURE Program. This includes samples from both Phase I and Phase II sampling efforts. A total of 191 sediment, 492 water and 53 plant samples were collected within the Beeville quadrangle. These samples were analyzed for uranium and additional elements by the ORGDP. The analytical data were released as the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report.

ORGDP: Beeville Quadrangle
An additional 175 stream-sediment samples and 1 rock sample were collected from the Beeville quadrangle from October through late December, 1978 by UCC-ND staff using the Phase II sampling technique. This survey completed sampling of the eastern half of the Beeville quadrangle that was left out by the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey conducted in 1976. These samples were analyzed by the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) for uranium and other elements. The analytical data for these samples plus 189 sediment, 492 water, and 53 plant samples from the earlier Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey were released as the Beeville Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study GJBX-2(80) report.

Summary Tables
Because of the various analytical methods used, some ORGDP samples may have been analyzed once, twice, or not at all. The following table summarizes the analysis of Beeville quadrangle samples.

The following is a list of sample types collected for both NURE studies in the Beeville quadrangle.

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

Sediment (and Rock) Samples

• OR1: Oak Ridge Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of sediments for U.
• OR2: Oak Ridge Neutron Activation Analysis of sediments for U.
• OR3: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of sediments for Ag, Au, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Pt, Sc, Th, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr. (Note: Au values were only reported in the data tables on microfiche. All reported values were below the detection limit of 40 ppm (-40).)
• OR6: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of sediments for Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr.
• OR8: Oak Ridge Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Analysis of sediments for As and Se.

Water Samples

• OR9-FL: Oak Ridge Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of waters for U.
• OR9-MS: Oak Ridge Mass Spectrometry Analysis of waters for U.
• OR10: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of waters for Ag, Au, Al, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Sc, Th, Ti, V, Zn, and Zr. (Note: Au values were only reported in the data tables on microfiche. All reported values were below the detection limit of 4 ppb (-4).)
• OR11: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of waters for Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr. (Note: Only two records were analyzed by this method.)
• 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.)
• OR14: Oak Ridge Turbidimetric Analysis of waters for Sulfate only.
• OR16: Oak Ridge Anion Optical Absorption (Technicon AutoAnalyzer) Analysis of waters for Cl and Sulfate.
• OR17: Oak Ridge Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Analysis of waters for As and Se.

Plant Samples

• OR1-P: Oak Ridge Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of plants for U.
• OR4-P: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of plants for Ag, Al, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Sc, Th, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr.

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Beeville Quadrangle

The Beeville quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report plus reformatted records from the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Beeville quadrangle data:

Sediment Records

1. Four additional sediment samples found only in the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report tables on microfiche were actually collected in adjacent quadrangles. The partial data for these samples were added to the reformatting process for the appropriate quadrangles.
2. Forty-nine sediment records were found in the digital data file but were missing in the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report. Forty-two of these records are from the Beeville quadrangle. A comment noting this problem was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.
3. Two sediment records were not included in the original digital data file for the Crystal City and Beeville quadrangles. These records were manually entered from the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report. Both of these records were for Beeville quadrangle samples.
4. The digital data files from the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report and the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report each included the same 329 sediment records. These pairs of records were compared and, when possible, combined into a single record for each pair.
5. When comparing records found in both studies, different analytical values for U by delayed neutron activation analysis were found for 6 samples. The values found in the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report were added to the U_XX_PPM field for each combined record and noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
6. 179 Beeville quadrangle sediment samples, each reported in the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) and Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) reports, were apparently analyzed by two different ORGDP multielement analysis methods. Because of overlapping data fields, it was necessary to create two data records for each sample to preserve all the data. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
7. Analytical values for gold (AU_PPM) from 146 sediment samples were found in the tables on microfiche accompanying the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report but were missing in the associated digital data files. These values were added to each record and the change noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
8. Three sample records had incomplete or conflicting information about the sample type. Sample type codes for these three samples were added to the SAMPTYP field based on information found in the field notes on microfiche that accompany the reports.

Water Records

1. Three water samples found only in the Crystal City and Beeville Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report tables on microfiche were actually collected in adjacent quadrangles. The partial data for these samples were added to the reformatting process for the appropriate quadrangles.
2. 485 water records were found in the digital data file that were missing in the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report. Of these records, 484 are from the Beeville quadrangle. A comment noting this problem was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.
3. 119 water records were found in the digital data file that were missing in the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report. A comment noting this problem was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.
4. The digital data files from the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report and the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report each included the same 730 water records. These pairs of records were compared and, when possible, combined into a single record for each pair.
5. When comparing records found in both studies, different analytical values for chlorine (CL_PPM), sulfate (SO4_PPM), and the chlorine/sulfate method batch number (CLBATCH) were found for 2 samples. These differences were noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
6. 239 Beeville quadrangle water samples, each reported in the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) and Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) reports, were apparently analyzed by two different ORGDP multielement analysis methods. Because of overlapping data fields, it was necessary to create two data records for each sample to preserve all the data. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
7. Analytical values for gold (AU_PPB) from 245 Beeville quadrangle water samples were found in the tables on microfiche accompanying the Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report but were missing in the associated digital data files. These values were not added to each record for two reasons: (1) All recorded gold values were less then the detection limit of 4 parts-per-billion (ppb), and (2) the AU_PPB field was not included in the USGS-reformatted NURE HSSR water database format due to a significant lack of gold data for all other analytical methods. However, a comment in the REFORMAT field does note the gold value for each of these 245 water samples in the Beeville quadrangle.
8. Seven sample records contained an invalid value of 'G' for the well depth confidence (WLDPTCNF). It appears that the column was miscoded with values from an adjacent field on the original field note sample sheet. The correct values were not found. These values were removed from the WLDPTCNF field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
9. An unlikely sample collection date was found for one sample. This date was removed from the SAMPDAT field and the original SAMPDAT value with the most likely correct value was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
10. Three well-water samples originally had a latitude of exactly 29°N, the dividing line between the Beeville quadrangle and the Seguin quadrangle. The coordinates were changed slightly to values found in tables on microfiche within the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report. This slight change places the samples clearly in the Beeville quadrangle.

Plant Records

1. The Crystal City and Beeville Quadrangles Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-19(77) report includes data for 53 plant samples collected in the Beeville quadrangle. These same records were also reported in the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report.
2. At the time of this Open-File release (v. 1.41), the ORGDP plant data have not been completely reformatted and released for downloading. See the ORGDP Plant Data page for a more detailed description of the data format and plant data availability.

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. A record for 1 rock sample was found in the digital data file but not listed in the Beeville Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-2(80) report. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies this record.
3. The original latitude and longitude coordinates for 1 rock sample collected within the Beeville quadrangle incorrectly placed the sample location in the Milbank quadrangle. Since no correct coordinates were found, the original erroneous coordinates were removed from the LAT and LONG fields and added as a comment to the COORDPRB field. Since the coordinates have been removed, the record for this sample cannot be retrieved on a geographical basis.

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).

Beeville Quadrangle Sediment Data - 544 records
Beeville Quadrangle Water Data - 730 records

Notes for Data Users

The ORGDP water samples were reportedly collected in the field without any filtering or acidification. (See the SAMPTYP coding explanation in the On-Line Manual for USGS-Reformatted NURE HSSR Data Files for descriptions of different Sample Types). However, the samples were filtered later in the laboratory through a 0.45 micron membrane filter before analysis. Therefore, the samples were not true "untreated water" samples and the analytical data may not be directly comparable for other quadrangle water samples of the same SAMPTYP when collected by a different laboratory. Since this was the standard procedure for Oak Ridge, water data from other Oak Ridge quadrangles should be comparable.

Latitude-longitude coordinates were reported in the original data files, as decimal degrees, to only 3 decimal places. Therefore, the precision of these coordinates is limited to +/- 0.001 degrees or +/- 3.6 seconds. This translates to a minimum precision of +/- 363 feet (111 m) for latitude values and between +/- 343 feet (101 m) to +/- 331 feet (97 m) for longitude values (calculated at latitudes of 25° and 30°N, respectively.)

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Beeville Quadrangle

Karnes County, Texas Orientation Study
The Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) conducted a NURE Orientation Study in Karnes County, Texas (located within the Beeville, Crystal City, San Antonio and Seguin quadrangles). This study targeted an area that contains known classic roll-front deposits that had been drilled but not yet mined at the time of the survey. A total of 51 ground-water, 16 stream-water, 16 suspended-sediment, and 38 stream-bed sediment samples were collected in Karnes County. Ground-water samples were analyzed for U by fluorometry and for an additional 30 elements; sediments samples were also analyzed for U and for 5 other elements. Some samples were also analyzed by the ORGDP for uranium by fluorometry and the results match closely with those obtained by SRL. The data (both SRL and ORGDP) are found as tables within the Karnes County, Texas Orientation Study GJBX-130(82) report.

Beeville Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation of the Beeville quadrangle was prepared by Bendix Field Engineering Corporation [PGJ/F-066(82)]. A number of rock samples were collected and analyzed for U by fluorometry and for an additional 30 elements. In addition, 166 well-water samples were collected and analyzed for U by fluorometry and for an additional 5 other elements. Data for this study were only found in tables on the microfiche accompanying the report. The results of this study suggest that there are 14 areas favorable for Texas roll-type uranium deposits within the Beeville quadrangle. These areas include locations within the Whitsett, Catahoula, Oakville, and the Goliad Formations.

Beeville Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Butz, T.R., 1977, Uranium geochemical survey of the Crystal City-Beeville quadrangles, Texas, in Symposium on Hydrogeochemical and Stream-Sediment Reconnaissance for Uranium in the United States: U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-77(77), p. 99-132.
• Droddy, M.J., and Havorka, S.D, 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Beeville quadrangle, Texas: Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-066(82), 22 p.
• Nichols, C.E., Butz, T.R., Cagle, G.W., and Kane, V.E., 1977, Uranium geochemical survey in the Crystal City and Beeville quadrangles, Texas: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-5, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-19(77), 327 p.
• Steele, K.F., 1982, Karnes County, Texas, Area hydrogeochemical and stream uranium orientation study: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-141-18, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-130(82), 14 p.
• Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1980, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Beeville NTMS quadrangle, Texas: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-130, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-2(80), 140 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

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

Page written by Bryan G. Moravec and Steven M. Smith
Contact: Steven M. Smith (smsmith@usgs.gov)
Version 1.20: August 07, 2000
Version 1.30: September 11, 2001
Version 1.41: February 23, 2006

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