USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

About USGS /  Science Topics /  Maps, Products & Publications /  Education / Publication: FAQ

Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey
The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) conducted a pilot study of a area in northwestern Texas for the purpose of determining:

1. Trace elements which are indicative of various types of uranium mineralization.
2. Relationships between samples of stream water, stream sediment, and tree branches, and the relative importance of these sample types.
3. Range of geochemical concentrations from mineralized areas to background area.
4. Adequacy of laboratory sensitivity for analysis of necessary elements in the various types of samples.

For this study, 133 sediment, 1 rock, 197 water, and 116 plant samples were collected in parts of the Lubbock, Brownfield, and Big Spring 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. Of these, 132 stream-sediment, 1 rock, 191 water, and 113 botanical samples were collected within the Lubbock quadrangle. These samples were sent to ORGDP and analyzed for uranium and additional elements. A few water samples were analyzed twice by different multielement methods. The analytical data were released as part of the Northwest Texas Pilot Study GJBX-60(76) report.

ORGDP: Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey
Early in the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program, personnel from the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) sampled several areas with a wide-spaced sample coverage (Phase I sampling). Phase I samples were generally collected in stream basins averaging 250 square kilometers in area and from wells at about a 16 km spacing. The purpose of the Phase I sampling was to define uranium provinces that warranted additional sampling at a higher density (Phase II sampling). These samples were sent to the ORGDP and analyzed for uranium and other elements. For many 1:250,000-scale 2-degree quadrangles, Phase I samples were included with later Phase II samples and utilized in the individual HSSR basic data quadrangle reports. Some Phase I samples were never utilized in basic data quadrangle reporting. ORGDP issued the Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey in the Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles, Texas GJBX-73(78) report for several of these Phase I samples. This report includes data for 287 stream-sediment, 1 rock, 529 water, and 161 botanical samples collected between July and November of 1976 in the Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring quadrangles. Data for one stream-sediment and three water samples collected in the Llano quadrangle were also included in this report. The Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report includes data records for 41 stream-sediment, 84 water, and 129 botanical samples collected within the borders of the Lubbock quadrangle.

ORGDP: Lubbock Quadrangle
Totals of 602 stream-sediment and 994 ground-water samples were collected from the Lubbock quadrangle as part of the ORGDP Lubbock Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. Field sampling was conducted by ORGDP personnel between December 1978 and March 1979. These samples were analyzed by the ORGDP for uranium and other elements. The analytical data were released as the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) 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 Lubbock quadrangle samples.

The following is a list of NURE sample types collected in the Lubbock quadrangle.

These Lubbock 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 - Neutron Counting of Sediments for U.
• OR4: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of sediments for Ag, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Pt, Sc, Th, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr.
• 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.
• OR9-DN: Oak Ridge Neutron Activation Analysis - Neutron Counting of waters for U.
• OR10: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of waters for Ag, Al, Au, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Sc, Th, Ti, V, Zn, and Zr.
• 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, and Zr.
• 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 Lubbock Quadrangle

The Lubbock quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report and reformatted records from the Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey GJBX-60(76) report plus records from the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Lubbock quadrangle data:

Sediment Records

1. A total of 133 records for sediment samples collected for the Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey GJBX-60(76) report were also included in the digital data file for the Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report. These duplicate records were compared and, when necessary, combined to form a single record containing all data. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
2. The Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report included data for one sediment sample apparently collected in the Llano quadrangle.
3. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for seven 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. Two stream-sediment samples originally had a latitude of exactly 33°N, the dividing line between the Lubbock quadrangle and the Big Spring quadrangle. The coordinates for these samples were changed slightly to values found in tables on microfiche within the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) report. This slight change places these samples clearly in the Lubbock quadrangle.
5. One stream-sediment sample originally had a longitude of exactly 100°W, the dividing line between the Lubbock quadrangle and the Wichita Falls quadrangle. The coordinates for this sample were changed slightly to values found in tables on microfiche within the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) report. This slight change places the sample clearly in the Lubbock quadrangle.
6. Thirty-nine stream-sediment samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one or two other samples (19 distinct coordinate sites). It is unclear whether this represents sets of samples collected at the same nineteen sites or single samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish locations.

Water Records

1. A total of 217 records for water samples collected for the Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey GJBX-60(76) report were also included in the digital data file for the Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report. These duplicate records were compared and, when necessary, combined to form a single record containing all data. A comment in the REFORMAT field identifies each of these records.
2. Twenty-four water samples from the Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey GJBX-60(76) report and the Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report 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. Twenty-three of these samples are located within the Lubbock quadrangle.
3. The Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report included data for 3 water samples apparently collected in the Llano quadrangle.
4. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for twelve 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.
5. One water record was incomplete. Additional data were added to this record from tables in the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) report. This record was also mistakenly included in Sherman quadrangle digital data files. All versions of this record were compared and combined. The final composite record is identified by a comment in the REFORMAT field.
6. Records for 127 water samples had values for dissolved oxygen listed in the sample COMMENT field. Since the USGS-Reformatted NURE HSSR Data Files have a field for dissolved oxygen (O_DISS), these values were manually entered from the COMMENT field into the O-DISS field.
7. Three well-water samples originally had a latitude of exactly 33°N, the dividing line between the Lubbock quadrangle and the Big Spring quadrangle. The coordinates for these samples were changed slightly to values found in tables on microfiche within the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) report. This slight change places these samples clearly in the Lubbock quadrangle.
8. Three well-water samples originally had a latitude of exactly 34°N, the dividing line between the Lubbock quadrangle and the Plainview quadrangle. The coordinates for these samples were changed slightly to values found in tables on microfiche within the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) report. This slight change places these samples clearly in the Lubbock quadrangle.
9. Thirty-six water samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one or two other samples (17 distinct coordinate sites). It is unclear whether this represents sets of samples collected at the same seventeen sites or single samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish locations.
10. The latitude and longitude coordinates for 2 water samples collected within the Lubbock quadrangle were obviously incorrect. Corrected coordinates for these samples were found in the field notes on microfiche accompanying the Lubbock Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-151(79) report. These coordinates were corrected and the original coordinates were added as a comment to the COORDPRB field.

Plant Records

1. The Northwest Texas Pilot Study GJBX-60(76) report includes data for 113 plant samples collected in the Lubbock quadrangle.
2. The Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring Quadrangles Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey GJBX-73(78) report includes data for 129 plant samples collected in the Lubbock quadrangle. 113 of these samples were previously reported in the Northwest Texas Pilot Study GJBX-60(76) report.
3. Sixteen of the plant samples collected in the Lubbock quadrangle were not analyzed by any method.
4. 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.

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).

Lubbock Quadrangle Sediment Data - 776 records
Lubbock Quadrangle Water Data - 1,292 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 +/- 364 feet (111 m) for latitude values and between +/- 317 feet (97 m) to +/- 300 feet (91 m) for longitude values (calculated at latitudes of 30° and 35°N, respectively.)

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Lubbock Quadrangle

Lubbock Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation of the Lubbock quadrangle was prepared by the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation [GJQ-012(81)]. A total of 564 rock samples were collected and analyzed for uranium by fluorometry and for 29 additional elements. Results from these analyses infer that seven areas are favorable for uranium deposition. Several uranium occurrences are present in some of these areas. Favorable areas include two subsurface areas in the Dockum Group, and one subsurface area in the Ogallala Formation. Outcrops that exhibit uranium favorability are located in the lacustrine facies of the Tule Formation and fluvial-deltaic facies of the Dockum Group. Data for this study were only found in the tables on microfiche accompanying the report.

Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey
An interpretive report from the Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey GJBX-60(76) report was published as GJBX-93(77). The Pilot Survey was to prepare for a subsequent reconnaissance geochemical survey in northwest Texas and western Oklahoma. In this area, the most valuable sample type for identifying potential uranium mineralization in northwest Texas was determined to be well water. This report is an extract from the original paper, and it is restricted to a discussion of well water results only. No additional geochemical data were reported.

Lubbock Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• McGowen, J.H., Seni, S.J., Andersen, R.L., and Thurwachter, J.E., 1981, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Lubbock quadrangle, Texas: Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJQ-012(81), 48 p.
• Nichols, C.E., Butz, T.R., Cagle, G.W., and Kane, V.E., 1977, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Wide Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey in the Plainview, Lubbock, and Big Spring quadrangles, Texas: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-10, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-73(78), 231 p.
• Nichols, C.E., Kane, V.E., and Cagle, G.W., 1977, Regional geochemical model for groundwater associated with uranium mineralization in northwest Texas: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-9, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-93(77), 29 p.
• Nichols, C.E., Kane, V.E., Browning, M.T., and Cagle G.W., 1976, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Northwest Texas Pilot Geochemical Survey: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-1, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-60(76), 231 p.
• Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1979, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Lubbock NTMS quadrangle, Texas: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K-TL-129, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-151(79), 156 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

AccessibilityFOIAPrivacyPolicies and Notices
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/1997/492/quad/q_lubbck.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:27 EDT 2016