OFR 97-492: Emory Peak 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.]

ORGDP: Emory Peak Quadrangle
Totals of 499 stream-sediment, 2 rock, and 197 water samples were collected from the Emory Peak quadrangle as part of the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. Field sampling was conducted by ORGDP personnel between February and April of 1978. These samples were analyzed by the ORGDP for uranium and other elements. The analytical data were released as the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report.

ORGDP: Trans-Pecos Detailed Geochemical Survey
As part of the NURE program, detailed surveys were initiated to supply comprehensive geochemical data from specific target areas. The Trans-Pecos Detailed Study was designed to characterize the hydrogeochemistry, stream sediment geochemistry and radiometric patterns of known or potential uranium occurrences in southwest Texas. The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) collected 1,434 stream sediment, 14 soil, 509 rock, and 595 ground water samples from 7 project areas within the Del Rio, Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, Marfa, Presidio, and Sonora quadrangles. These samples were analyzed by the ORGDP for uranium and other elements. During sample collection, radiometric readings for eU, eK, and eTh were obtained in the field at several locations. (Almost all of the rock and soil samples as well as a few stream sediment samples appear to be sites where only radiometric readings were taken.) In selected Survey Areas, ORGDP used portable field methods to determine concentrations of uranium, fluorine, sulfate, and total iron in water. In the interpretations and Detailed Study reports, ORGDP also included data from 541 stream sediment and 248 ground water samples collected during earlier Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) studies in the Emory Peak and Presidio quadrangles. The analytical data were released in seven parts as the Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Detailed Geochemical Survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas report.

  1. Terrell Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 1: 62 stream sediments and 4 ground waters plus 13 rocks or radiometric readings were collected during January of 1979 within the Del Rio, Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, and Sonora quadrangles. Additional data for 99 stream-sediment and 32 ground-water samples from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study were included.
  2. Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2: 165 stream sediments, 1 soil, and 12 ground waters plus 57 rock or radiometric readings and 5 field analyses of water were collected during January of 1979 within the Emory Peak and Presidio quadrangles. Additional data for 355 stream-sediment and 115 ground-water samples from the Emory Peak quadrangle and Presidio quadrangle NURE HSSR studies were included.
  3. Sierra Vieja Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 3: 246 stream sediments and 60 ground waters plus 64 rocks or radiometric readings and 30 field analyses of water were collected between February and March of 1979 within the Marfa quadrangle.
  4. Tascotal Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 4: 533 stream sediments, 11 soils, and 451 ground waters plus 143 rocks or radiometric readings and 220 field analyses of water were collected between March and April of 1979 within the Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, Marfa, and Presidio quadrangles. Additional data for 87 stream-sediment and 101 ground-water samples from the Emory Peak quadrangle and Presidio quadrangle NURE HSSR studies were included.
  5. Chinati Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 5: 122 stream sediments and 24 ground waters plus 78 rocks or radiometric readings were collected between January and February of 1980 within the Marfa and Presidio quadrangles.
  6. Stillwell Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 6: 228 stream sediments, 2 soils, and 10 ground waters plus 142 rocks or radiometric readings were collected between January and February of 1980 within the Emory Peak quadrangle.
  7. Dryden Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 7: 78 stream sediments and 34 ground waters plus 12 rocks or radiometric readings were collected during February of 1980 within the Del Rio, Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, and Sonora quadrangles.

Within the Emory Peak quadrangle, the Trans-Pecos Detailed Studies include:

Summary Tables
The following is a list of NURE sample types collected in the Emory Peak quadrangle.

Summary of Emory Peak quadrangle sample types.
Sediment Sample Type Number of Samples Water Sample Type Number of Samples
Wet Streams 10 Wells 269
Dry Streams 1,034 Springs 20
Soils 3    
Rocks 246    
Total Sediments 1,293 Total Waters 289

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

Sediment (and Rock) Samples

Water Samples


Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Emory Peak Quadrangle

The Emory Peak quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report and reformatted records from the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study's Terrell Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 1; Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2; Tascotal Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 4; and Stillwell Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 6 reports. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Emory Peak quadrangle data:

Sediment Records

  1. Ninety-nine records from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report sediment samples were also found in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Terrell Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 1 report. These corresponding records were compared and combined into a single record for each sample. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
  2. 311 records from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report sediment samples were also found in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2 report. These corresponding records were compared and combined into a single record for each sample. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
  3. Fifty-two records from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report sediment samples were also found in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Tascotal Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 4 report. These corresponding records were compared and combined into a single record for each sample. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
  4. Ten sediment records were found in the digital data file but were missing in the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report. A comment noting this problem was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.
  5. Twenty-three records for Stillwell Mountains Survey Area sediment samples collected in the Emory Peak quadrangle were found in the digital data file but were not listed in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Stillwell Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 6 report. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies these records.
  6. 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.
  7. ORGDP usually assigned a MAPCODE value to each record to identify the 1:250,000-scale quadrangle in which the sample was collected. Within the Emory Peak quadrangle, 2 sediment records had MAPCODE values that did not correspond with the quadrangle identified from the latitude and longitude coordinates of the sample. It is assumed that the MAPCODE values were in error but this was not confirmed. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
  8. Three sample records had incomplete or conflicting information about the sample type. Sample type codes for these samples were added to the SAMPTYP field based on information found in the field notes on microfiche that accompany the reports.
  9. One sample record contained an impossible value for the concentration of potassium (K_PCT) of 256%. Although the most likely source of this error is a missing decimal point, this could not be confirmed in published sources. This value was removed from the K_PCT field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
  10. Four Emory Peak quadrangle records were identified in the SAMPTYP field as either sediment sample data (3 records) or soil sample data (1 record). A closer examination of these records reveals that 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 sediment sample or soil sample was actually collected for laboratory analysis. The Gamma Spectrometer field data for these sample sites are listed in the REFORMAT comment field.
  11. Two of the soil samples collected in the Emory Peak 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.
  12. Fourteen stream-sediment samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with another (7 distinct coordinate sites). It is unclear whether this represents sets of samples collected at the same seven sites or single samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish locations.
  13. Five Emory Peak quadrangle sediment samples had latitude-longitude coordinates that plotted slightly across the international border in Mexico. All of these coordinates were changed to values found in tables on microfiche within the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2 or Stillwell Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 6 reports. The original coordinates were saved and the change was noted in COORDPRB comment field for each record.
  14. The latitude and longitude coordinates for 1 stream-sediment sample collected within the Emory Peak quadrangle were not found in the data during the reformatting process. The record for this sample cannot be retrieved on a geographical basis.

Water Records

  1. Thirty-two records from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report water samples were also found in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Terrell Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 1 report. These corresponding records were compared and combined into a single record for each sample. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
  2. Eighty-seven records from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report water samples were also found in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2 report. These corresponding records were compared and combined into a single record for each sample. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
  3. Sixty-seven records from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report water samples were also found in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Tascotal Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 4 report. These corresponding records were compared and combined into a single record for each sample. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
  4. Six records for Solitario Survey Area water samples collected in the Emory Peak quadrangle were found in the digital data file but were not listed in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2 report. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies these records.
  5. Thirty-seven records for Tascotal Survey Area water samples collected in the Emory Peak quadrangle were found in the digital data file but were not listed in the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Tascotal Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 4 report. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies these records.
  6. 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.
  7. Seventy-four water samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one other sample (37 distinct coordinate sites). Many of these appear to be pairs of water samples collected at the same site using different combinations of filtration and acidification. The different sample types can be distinguished using the SAMPTYP or WTRTREAT fields. For others, it is unclear whether this represents sets of samples collected at the same sites or single samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish locations.
  8. Three Emory Peak quadrangle spring-water samples had latitude-longitude coordinates that plotted slightly across the international border in Mexico. All of these coordinates were changed to values found in tables on microfiche within the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-6(79) report. The original coordinates were saved and the change was noted in COORDPRB comment field for each record.

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. 246 Emory Peak quadrangle records were identified in the SAMPTYP field as rock sample data. A closer examination of these records reveals that for 75 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. 166 of the rock samples collected in the Emory Peak 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. Two Emory Peak quadrangle rock samples had latitude-longitude coordinates that plotted slightly across the international border in Mexico. All of these coordinates were changed to values found in tables on microfiche within the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2 or Stillwell Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 6 reports. The original coordinates were saved and the change was noted in COORDPRB comment field for each record.
  5. The latitude and longitude coordinates for 2 rock samples collected within the Emory Peak quadrangle were not found in the data during the reformatting process. The records for these 2 samples 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).

Emory Peak Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,290 records
Emory Peak Quadrangle Water Data - 289 records


Notes for Data Users

Except for 43 water samples that were treated in the field (SAMPTYPs 06, 08, and 28), most of 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.)

Three stream-sediment and two rock samples collected in the Emory Peak quadrangle were not analyzed by any method.


Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Emory Peak Quadrangle

Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation of the Emory Peak quadrangle was prepared by the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation and the University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology [PGJ/F-110(82)]. Totals of 509 rock and 77 other samples were collected and analyzed for uranium by fluorometry and for 29 additional elements. Results from these analyses infer that four environments are favorable for uranium deposition. These environments include the basal conglomerates and lacustrine-lignite deposits within the Pruett Formation, fluorite deposits at the contacts between alkali rhyolite intrusions and Cretaceous carbonate rocks, and alkaline rhyolitic to syenitic intrusions. The karst area near Dryden exhibits some radiometric anomalies and anomalous uranium, molybdenum, selenium, and arsenic concentrations in stream sediments. Data for this study were only found in tables on the microfiche accompanying the report.


Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE Bibliography


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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