OFR 97-492: Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study

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National Geochemical Database—Reformatted Data from the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program

By Steven M. Smith
Version 1.40 (2006)

Brief History and Description of Data

[See History of NURE HSSR Program for a summary of the entire program.]

LASL: Cheyenne Quadrangle
Totals of 600 sediment and 1,137 water samples were collected from 1,497 locations in the Cheyenne quadrangle by three different parties using standardized field procedures developed by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) as part of the LASL Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. Professional Consultants, Incorporated, collected samples from the western half of the quadrangle during June and July of 1976. Mowater Services collected additional samples from selected locations during December 1976 and June 1977 to complete coverage in the western half. Bendix Field Engineering Corporation collected samples from the eastern half of the quadrangle between September and October of 1977. All of these samples were analyzed by LASL for uranium and the data released in the LASL Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-106(78) report.

ORGDP: Cheyenne Quadrangle
LASL sent 598 sediment and 884 water samples from the Cheyenne quadrangle to the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) for multielement analyses. These data were released by ORGDP in the ORGDP Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-324(81) report.

ORGDP: Laramie Range Detailed Study
During June, July, and August of 1979, the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) conducted a detailed geochemical survey of the Laramie Range in parts of the Cheyenne and Torrington quadrangles. A total of 802 sediment and 163 ground-water samples were collected and field radiometric data were reported for 103 rock samples. Of these, 404 sediments, 39 ground-waters, and 46 rocks were from the Cheyenne quadrangle area of the study. The radiometric readings of rock samples were done in the field using scintillometers and a gamma-ray spectrometer. The sediment and water samples were analyzed for multiple elements by ORGDP and the data were reported in the Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) report.

Summary Tables
The following is a list of sediment and water sample types collected for all NURE studies in the Cheyenne quadrangle.

Summary of Cheyenne quadrangle sample types.
Sediment Sample Type Number of Samples Water Sample Type Number of Samples
Wet Streams 256 Streams 166
Dry Streams 551 Wells 877
Wet Springs 54 Springs 107
Dry Springs 17 Natural Ponds 8
Wet Natural Ponds 10 Artificial Ponds 18
Dry Natural Ponds 42    
Wet Artificial Ponds 18    
Dry Artificial Ponds 56    
Rocks 46    
Total Sediments 1,050 Total Waters 1,176

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

Sediment Samples

Water Samples

Rock Samples (Detailed Study only)


Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Cheyenne Quadrangle

The Cheyenne quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the LASL Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-106(78) report combined with records from the ORGDP Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR GJBX-324(81) report plus reformatted records from the ORGDP Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison, combining, and reformatting stages for the Cheyenne quadrangle data:

Sediment Records

  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 Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-106(78) and ORGDP Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) reports. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
  3. The LASL and the ORGDP Laboratory each analyzed and reported data records for the same 598 sediment samples from the Cheyenne quadrangle. Because there were no overlapping data fields, these corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
  4. One sediment sample record contained a value for the well water depth(WWTRDPTH). This parameter was not normally recorded for sediment sample records. The value was removed and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
  5. One sample record contained an invalid value for the scintillometer reading(SCIN) of -3. Although the most likely source of this error is an unwanted negative sign, this could not be confirmed in published sources. This value was removed from the SCIN field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
  6. One sediment sample record contained an invalid value in the stream channel character(STRCHANL) field. This value was likely miscoded or entered incorrectly. The correct value was not found. This value was removed from the field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field for the record.
  7. One sediment record with a STATE value of 'WY' had coordinates that plotted in Nebraska. This STATE value was changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field.
  8. One sample, identified in the ORGDP sample type(OSAMPTYP) as a rock, has additional site descriptive information that appears to identify the sample as a wet stream sediment. During the reformatting process the sample was given values in the SAMPTYP, SAMPSRC, and SEDCOND fields for a wet stream-sediment sample. However, the OSAMPTYP value was not removed. This record is also identified by a comment in the REFORMAT field.
  9. 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.
  10. Two ORGDP Laramie Range stream-sediment samples originally had a latitude of exactly 42°N, the dividing line between the Cheyenne quadrangle and the Torrington quadrangle. The coordinates for these samples were changed slightly to values found in tables on microfiche within the Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) report. This slight change places these samples clearly in the Cheyenne quadrangle.
  11. Four separate ORGDP Laramie Range stream-sediment 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.

Water Records

  1. The LASL Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-106(78) report indicates that 1,138 water samples, including 96 spring water samples, were collected. However, the appendices in the report and the digital data files only include information for 95 springs and a total of 1,137 water samples.
  2. A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-106(78) and ORGDP Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) reports. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
  3. The LASL and the ORGDP Laboratory each analyzed and reported data records for the same 884 water samples from the Cheyenne quadrangle. Because there were no overlapping data fields, these corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
  4. One water sample record contained an invalid value in the vegetation type(VEGTYPE) field. This value was likely miscoded or entered incorrectly. The correct value was not found. This value was removed from the field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field for the record.
  5. One water record with a STATE value of 'WY' had coordinates that plotted in Nebraska. This STATE value was changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field.
  6. Eighteen water records with a STATE value of 'NE' had coordinates that plotted in Wyoming. These STATE values were changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.
  7. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for three 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 LASL Cheyenne well-water samples have the same latitude-longitude coordinates. It is unclear whether this represents a pair of samples collected at the same site, samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish, or the entry of bad coordinates for one or both samples.

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. Forty-six ORGDP Laramie Range records in the Cheyenne quadrangle were identified in the SAMPTYP field as rock sample data. A closer examination of these records reveals that for six rocks, the sample data are actually Gamma Spectrometer field analyses for equivalent potassium (eK), equivalent uranium (eU), and equivalent thorium (eTh). It appears that these measurements were taken at the sample site and that no rock sample was actually collected for laboratory analysis. The Gamma Spectrometer field data for these sample sites are listed in the REFORMAT comment field.
  3. Forty of the ORGDP Laramie Range rock samples collected in the Torrington quadrangle were not analyzed by any method. However, these sample records do include a scintillometer measurement of the local gamma-ray activity at that sample site. The measured value is recorded in SCIN field.
  4. One rock sample contained a value for the concentration of phosphate (PO4_PPM). ORGDP did not commonly analyze rocks for phosphate. This sample was also missing a value for the scintillometer measurement(SCIN) of the local gamma-ray activity at that sample site even though the measurement was mentioned in the COMMENT field. The value of the missing scintillometer reading and the unusual phosphate analysis were exactly the same. This appears to be a case where the scintillometer value was entered into the wrong database field. During reformatting, the value was removed from the PO4_PPM field and added to the SCIN field. This change was documented in the REFORMAT comment field.

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).

Cheyenne Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,150 records
Cheyenne Quadrangle Water Data - 1,176 records


Notes for Data Users

When the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation collected samples from the eastern half of the Cheyenne quadrangle, only 25 sediment samples were collected. Thus the eastern half is under represented in the Cheyenne quadrangle sediment data. A total of 575 sediment samples were collected by the other contractors in the western half of the quadrangle.

Unlike the LASL Cheyenne quadrangle water samples, the ORGDP Laramie Range Detailed Study 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 Laramie Range Detailed Study 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 +/- 365 feet (111 m) for latitude values and between +/- 280 feet (85 m) to +/- 259 feet (79 m) for longitude values (calculated at latitudes of 40° and 45°N, respectively.) Latitude/Longitude values are reported to the nearest second on field records on microfiche accompanying the GJBX-324(81) report.


Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Cheyenne Quadrangle

Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Cheyenne quadrangle by the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation [PGJ/F-115(82)]. An additional 148 rock and 84 water samples were collected and the multielement analytical data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report. These appendices also include an additional 38 gamma-ray spectrometer determinations.

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 11 uranium anomalies that were identified in the Cheyenne quadrangle. No additional geochemical data accompany this 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 Cheyenne quadrangle include the Laramie (7 samples).


Cheyenne Quadrangle NURE Bibliography


Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Wyoming NURE data
Back to Nebraska NURE data
Back to Colorado 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

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