OFR 97-492: Craig Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study
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: Craig Quadrangle
Totals of 1,732 sediment and 1,234 water samples were collected from 1,743 locations between June and September 1977 as part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) Craig Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. The samples were analyzed for uranium content and reanalyzed later by multielement methods for up to 43 additional elements. The data were released in the Craig Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-76(79) report.
LASL: Craig and Rawlins Quadrangles Detailed Study
A follow-up, detailed geochemical survey by LASL collected an additional 1,199 stream sediment samples within Craig, Colorado (1,115 samples) and the adjacent Rawlins, Wyoming (84 samples) quadrangles during July and August 1979. The objective of this study was to evaluate the uranium potential of the Browns Park and North Park formations east of the Maybell-Lay Uranium District, Colorado and southeast of the Baggs Uranium District, Wyoming. The samples were analyzed for uranium content and reanalyzed later by multielement methods for up to 45 additional elements. The data from these detailed study samples were released in the LASL Craig and Rawlins Quadrangles Detailed Study GJBX-216(81) report.
Summary Tables
The following is a list of NURE sample types collected in the Craig quadrangle.
Summary of Craig quadrangle sample types.
| Wet Streams |
1,798 |
Streams |
1,084 |
| Dry Streams |
907 |
Springs |
150 |
| Wet Springs |
142 |
|
|
| Total Sediments |
2,847 |
Total Waters |
1,234 |
These Craig 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. (Craig Quadrangle Study samples only.)
- 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.
- 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 Craig Quadrangle
Sediment Records
The Craig quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Craig Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-76(79) report plus reformatted records from the Craig quadrangle portion of the LASL Craig and Rawlins Quadrangles Detailed Study GJBX-216(81) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Craig quadrangle sediment data:
- 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.
- A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Craig 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 Craig Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-76(79) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
- No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the LASL Craig and Rawlins Quadrangles Detailed Study sediment 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 LASL Craig and Rawlins Quadrangles Detailed Study GJBX-216(81) report.
- One sediment sample record contained an invalid value in the sediment type(SEDTYPE) 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.
- Unlikely sample collection dates were found for two 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.
- One stream-sediment sample has a latitude of exactly 41°N, the dividing line between the Craig quadrangle and the Rawlins quadrangle. This coordinate value was not changed but a comment was added to the COORDPRB field.
- One stream-sediment sample has a longitude of exactly 106°W, the dividing line between the Craig quadrangle and the Greeley quadrangle. This coordinate value was not changed but a comment was added to the COORDPRB field.
- Six sediment samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one other sample (3 distinct coordinate sites). These appear to be sites collected during Craig quadrangle study that were resampled during the Craig and Rawlins detailed study. A comment in the COORDPRB field identifies each of these pairs.
Water Records
The Craig quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Craig Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-76(79) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the reformatting stages for the Craig quadrangle water data:
- A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Craig 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 Craig Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-76(79) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
- 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.
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).
Craig Quadrangle Sediment Data - 2,847 records
Craig Quadrangle Water Data - 1,234 records
Notes for Data Users
None at this time.
Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Craig Quadrangle
Craig Quadrangle Multivariate Statistical Analyses
The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory conducted multivariate statistical analyses of the Craig quadrangle NURE HSSR data to evaluate the potential for strategic and other commercially important mineral resources. The interpretations of these procedures were reported in the GJBX-145(80) report. No additional geochemical data accompany this report.
Craig Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Craig quadrangle by the U.S. Geological Survey [PGJ/F-017(82)]. An additional 468 stream sediment, 102 ground water and 44 surface water samples were collected from selected areas of the quadrangle, except for an area of the Wasatch formation described in the report. The samples were analyzed for uranium and 34 other elements. The analytical 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 11 uranium anomalies that were identified in the Craig quadrangle. No additional geochemical data accompany this report.
Mt. Ethel Pluton Study
The Bendix Field Engineering Corporation conducted a detailed follow-up study to evaluate the uranium potential of the northeastern part of the Mt. Ethel pluton within the Park Range. Thirteen new stream-sediment and two new rock samples were collected and analyzed for U by fluorometry, Th by ICP-AES, and 36 elements by emission spectroscopy. These data are listed in an appendix to the report [GJBX-1(84)].
Craig Quadrangle NURE Bibliography
- Bolivar, S.L., Hill, D.E., Sandoval, W., Trujillo, L., Bunker, M.E., Waterbury, G.R., Talcott, C.L., Minor, M.M., and Cheadle, J., III, 1979, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Craig NTMS quadrangle, Colorado, including concentrations of forty-three additional elements: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-7506-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-76(79), 238 p.
- Beyth, M., McInteer, C., Broxton, D.E., Bolivar, S.L., and Luke, M.E., 1980, Multivariate statistical analysis of stream sediments for mineral resources from the Craig NTMS quadrangle, Colorado: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-8328-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-145(80), 64 p.
- Craig, L.C., Hail, W.J., Jr., Luft, S.J., Boudette, E.L., and Snyder, G.L., 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Craig quadrangle, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-017(82), 117 p.
- Dexter, J.J., and Blackburn, W.H., 1984, Evaluation of uranium anomalies in the northeastern part of the Mount Ethel Pluton, northern Park Range, Colorado, in Goodknight, C.S., compiler, Reports on field investigations of uranium anomalies: U.S. Department of Energy, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-1(84), p. III1-III18.
- 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.
- Shannon, S.S., Jr., Gallimore, D.L., Martell, C.J., Hensley, W.K., Jackson, C.K., and Macdonell, C.J., 1981, Detailed uranium geochemical stream sediment survey data release for the selected portions of the Craig NTMS quadrangle, Colorado, and Rawlins NTMS quadrangle, Wyoming, including concentrations of forty-five additional elements: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-8481-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-216(81), 132 p.
Links Within Open-File Report 97-492
Back to Colorado NURE data
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
