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LASL: San Juan Mountains Study Area
Geochemical samples were collected during May-July 1976 as part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) San Juan Mountains NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. This rectangular study area encompassed parts of the Cortez, Durango, Moab, and Montrose quadrangles. A total of 1,982 sediment and 1,706 water samples were collected from 1,995 sites and analyzed for uranium. These data were published in the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report. The Moab quadrangle part of the San Juan Mountains study was the area between 38°N to 38.5°N latitude and 108°W to 108.375°W longitude and contained 200 sediment and 163 water samples from 203 locations.

LASL: Moab Quadrangle
The remainder of the Moab quadrangle was sampled during August-September 1977 (108.375°W to 109°W longitude) and May-September 1978 (west of 109°W longitude). These additional 1,564 sediment and 288 water samples (from 1,607 locations) were also analyzed for uranium content. At a later date, these samples and most of the San Juan Mountains study samples were reanalyzed by multielement methods for up to 43 additional elements. The data from all Moab quadrangle samples collected and analyzed were released in the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. In this quadrangle report the original San Juan Mountains study samples were given new ID numbers and in some records, errors were apparently corrected.

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

These Moab 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.
• 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 Moab Quadrangle

The Moab quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report combined with records from the Moab portion of the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Moab quadrangle data:

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. The correlation of the two LASL Identification Numbers for samples in the Moab quadrangle was first solved by comparing records from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report with those from the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. Later a LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Moab quadrangle sediment samples and the values were confirmed. Additional 1-letter+5-digit LASL Identification Number values were found in the translation key for the 1,370 sediment samples collected in the quadrangle after the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study. 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 Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers and reported in the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report.
3. Corresponding records for 191 sediment samples were found in both the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) and Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) reports. Each set of corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record.
4. When combining corresponding sediment records from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) and Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) reports, some differences between corresponding records were found in the scintillometer reading(SCIN), stream channel character(STRCHANL), or vegetation density(VEGDENS) fields. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field. These changes were also noted in the REFORMAT comment fields.
5. When combining corresponding sediment records from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) and Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) reports, differences in latitude(LAT) and longitude(LONG) coordinates were found for 162 sediment samples. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report was added as a comment to the COORDPRB field.
6. Two 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.
7. 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.
8. One sediment record with a STATE value of 'UT' had coordinates that plotted in Colorado. This STATE value was changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field.
9. Two stream sediment samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one other sample (1 distinct coordinate site). It is unclear whether this represents a set of samples collected at the same site or single samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish locations.

Water Records

1. The correlation of the two LASL Identification Numbers for samples in the Moab quadrangle was first solved by comparing records from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report with those from the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. Later a LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Moab quadrangle water samples and the values were confirmed. Additional 1-letter+5-digit LASL Identification Number values were found in the translation key for the 1,370 sediment samples collected in the quadrangle after the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study. 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 Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers and reported in the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report.
2. Corresponding records for 154 water samples were found in both the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) and Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) reports. Each set of corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record.
3. When combining corresponding water records from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) and Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) reports, some differences between corresponding records were found in the scintillometer reading(SCIN), stream channel character(STRCHANL), vegetation density(VEGDENS), sediment color(SEDCOLR), or sediment type(SEDTYPE) fields. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field. These changes were also noted in the REFORMAT comment fields.
4. When combining corresponding water records from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) and Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) reports, differences in latitude(LAT) and longitude(LONG) coordinates were found for 129 water samples. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Moab Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-146(79) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the San Juan Mountains NURE HSSR study GJBX-22(77) report was added as a comment to the COORDPRB field.
5. 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.
6. One water record with a STATE value of 'UT' had coordinates that plotted in Colorado. This STATE value was changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field.
7. Two stream water samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one other sample (1 distinct coordinate site). It is unclear whether this represents a set of samples collected at the same site or single samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish locations.

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).

Moab Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,764 records
Moab Quadrangle Water Data - 451 records

Notes for Data Users

None at this time.

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Moab Quadrangle

Moab Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Moab quadrangle by the U.S. Geological Survey [PGJ/F-056]. An additional 131 rock samples were collected from the quadrangle and analyzed for uranium, thorium and 43 other elements. These data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.

Geochemistry of Uranium & Thorium in Mineralized Shales and Sandstones
The Pennsylvania State University undertook a study of the geochemistry of uranium and thorium in shales and sandstones from the Catskill Formation in Pennsylvania and the Morrison and adjoining formations in the Uravan mineral belt of Colorado [GJBX-126(80)]. The objectives of this project were to investigate the following questions:

1. Are sandstone-type uranium deposits accompanied by regional uranium anomalies in the host sediments?
2. What are the relations of uranium to thorium and other major and trace elements in sedimentary rocks, and how can these relations be used to improve methods for identifying uranium anomalies?
3. Are the ground-water conduits through which U was transported to sandstone-type uranium ore bodies enriched or depleted in uranium?
4. Is the U and Th content of zircons and other resistant accessory minerals a useful guide to uranium provinces in sedimentary rocks?

A total of 371 rock samples were collected from 6 uranium occurrences within Pennsylvania (Harrisburg and Newark quadrangles) and 102 rock samples were collected from 7 uranium occurrences in the Uravan mineral belt of Colorado (Cortez and Moab quadrangles). The results of analyses for major element oxides plus Ba, Cr, La, Sr, Sm, Th, U, V, and equivalent U are recorded as appendices within the report.

Moab Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Campbell, J.A., Franczyk, K.J., Lupe, R.D., and Peterson, Fred, 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Moab quadrangle, Colorado and Utah: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-056(82), 68 p.
• Goff, S.J., Warren, R.G., George, W.E., Duchane, D.V., Minor, M.M., Simi, O.R., Martell, C.J., Hensley, W.K., and Pirtle, D.J., 1979, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Moab NTMS quadrangle, Utah/Colorado, including concentrations of forty-three additional elements: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-7509-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-146(79), 201 p.
• Maxwell, J.C., 1977, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance in the San Juan Mountains, southwestern Colorado: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-6651-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-22(77), 104 p.
• Rose, A.W., Pirc, S., Tole, M.P., Bell, C.A., Keith, M.L., and Pilione, L.J., 1980, Regional and local anomalies of uranium and thorium in rocks near sandstone-type uranium deposits in Pennsylvania and Colorado: U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-126(80), 140 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

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