OFR 97-492: Grand Junction 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: Grand Junction Quadrangle
Totals of 1,514 sediment and 272 water samples were collected from 1,563 locations in the Grand Junction quadrangle during July-September 1977 (east of 109°W longitude) and June-July 1978 (west of 109°W longitude). Sediment samples were analyzed by LASL for uranium and up to 42 additional elements. Water samples were analyzed by LASL for uranium only. These data were released in the Grand Junction Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study GJBX-264(81) report.

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

Summary of Grand Junction quadrangle sample types.
Sediment Sample Type Number of Samples Water Sample Type Number of Samples
Wet Streams 156 Streams 155
Dry Streams 1,218 Wells 22
Wet Springs 76 Springs 95
Dry Springs 64    
Total Sediments 1,514 Total Waters 272

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

Sediment Samples

Water Samples



Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Grand Junction Quadrangle

The Grand Junction quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the Grand Junction Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-264(81) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Grand Junction 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. No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Grand Junction quadrangle 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 Grand Junction Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-264(81) report.
  3. 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.
  4. Six sediment sample records contained values for the well pump type(WELLPUMP) or well use(WELLUSE). These parameters were not normally recorded for sediment sample records. The values were removed from each record and added as a comment to the corresponding REFORMAT field.
  5. Forty-five sediment records with a STATE value of 'UT' had coordinates that plotted in Colorado. These STATE values were changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.
  6. An unlikely air temperature measurement was found for one sample. This value was removed from the AIRTEMP field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.

Water Records

  1. No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Grand Junction quadrangle water 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 Grand Junction Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-264(81) report.
  2. 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.
  3. Three water records with a STATE value of 'UT' had coordinates that plotted in Colorado. These STATE values were changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.


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).

Grand Junction Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,514 records
Grand Junction Quadrangle Water Data - 272 records



Notes for Data Users

None at this time.



Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Grand Junction Quadrangle

None found.



Grand Junction Quadrangle NURE Bibliography



Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Colorado NURE data
Back to Utah 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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