USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

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

LASL: Rawlins Quadrangle
Totals of 1,281 sediment and 570 water samples were collected from 1,369 locations in the Rawlins quadrangle by a private contractor using standardized field procedures developed by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL). Samples were collected between May and July of 1976, December 1976 and January 1977, and in June of 1977 as part of the Rawlins Quadrangle Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Study. All of these samples were analyzed by LASL for uranium and the data released in the LASL Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-81(78) report.

ORGDP: Rawlins Quadrangle
LASL sent 1,279 sediment and 454 water samples from the Rawlins quadrangle to the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) for multielement analyses. These data were released by ORGDP in the ORGDP Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-308(81) 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 Rawlins quadrangle.

These Rawlins 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.
• 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. (Detailed Study samples only).
• 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. (Detailed Study samples only).
• OR7: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of sediments for Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr.

Water Samples

• LA6-DN: Los Alamos Delayed-Neutron Counting Analysis of waters for U.
• LA6-FL: Los Alamos Fluorometry Analysis of waters for U.
• 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.)

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Rawlins Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Rawlins quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the LASL Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-81(78) report combined with corresponding records from the ORGDP Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-308(81) report plus reformatted records from the Rawlins 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 Rawlins quadrangle sediment 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. A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Rawlins 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 LASL Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-81(78) and ORGDP Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-308(81) reports. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
3. 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.
4. The LASL and the ORGDP Laboratory each analyzed and reported data records for the same 1,279 sediment samples from the Rawlins quadrangle. Because there were no overlapping data fields, these corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
5. Two sample records contained an invalid value for the scintillometer reading(SCIN) of -6 or -7. Although the most likely source of this error is an unwanted negative sign, this could not be confirmed in published sources. This value was removed from the SCIN field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field for each record.
6. Four sediment sample records contained an invalid value in the rock color(ROCKCLR), stream flow code(STRFLOWC), vegetation type (VEGTYPE), stream channel character(STRCHANL), water level(WTRLEVEL), or water color (WTRCOLR) fields. These values were likely miscoded or entered incorrectly. The correct values were not found. These values were removed from the respective fields and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field for each affected record.
7. 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.
8. An unlikely sample collection hour was found for one sample. This value was removed from the SAMPHR field and the original SAMPHR value with the most likely correct value was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.

Water Records
The Rawlins quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the LASL Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-81(78) report combined with corresponding records from the ORGDP Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-308(81) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Rawlins quadrangle water data:

1. A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Rawlins 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 LASL Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-81(78) and ORGDP Rawlins Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-308(81) reports. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
2. The LASL and the ORGDP Laboratory each analyzed and reported data records for the same 454 water samples from the Rawlins quadrangle. Because there were no overlapping data fields, these corresponding records were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
3. One sample record contained an invalid value for the scintillometer reading(SCIN) of -7. Although the most likely source of this error is an unwanted negative sign, this could not be confirmed in published sources. This value was removed from the SCIN field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
4. Two water sample records contained an invalid value in the vegetation density (VEGTYPE) or water level(WTRLEVEL) fields. These values were likely miscoded or entered incorrectly. The correct values were not found. These values were removed from the respective fields and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field for each affected record.
5. 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.
6. Three records in the digital data files for this quadrangle had at least one analytical result value of 99999. These values were confirmed in the published reports. It is not clear if these values represent a valid value, a null value, or a value indicating that the analytical result was greater than the upper limit of determination. These values were left in the data record and noted in the REFORMAT comment 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).

Rawlins Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,365 records
Rawlins Quadrangle Water Data - 570 records

Notes for Data Users

None at this time.

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Rawlins Quadrangle

Rawlins Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Rawlins quadrangle by the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation [PGJ/F-019(82)]. An additional 472 rock samples were collected as part of this assessment and the multielement 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 20 uranium anomalies that were identified in the Rawlins quadrangle. No additional geochemical data accompany this report.

Great Divide Basin Potential Tonnage Assessment
The Bendix Field Engineering Corporation conducted a study to determine tonnage of potential uranium resources in fine-grained carbonaceous rocks from the Great Divide Basin area, which includes parts of the Casper, Lander, Rawlins, and Rock Springs quadrangles. This assessment was based primarily on data from some 600 boreholes. The report of this study [GJBX-225(82)] also includes appendices on microfiche that list data for analyses of drill core or cuttings for uranium (231 samples by fluorometric chemical analysis) and 18 selected elements (160 samples by emission spectroscopy analysis).

Rawlins Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Burger, J.A., Roe, L.M., II, Hacke, C.M., and Mosher, M.M., 1982, Uranium resources in fine-grained carbonaceous rocks of the Great Divide Basin, south-central Wyoming: U.S. Department of Energy, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-225(82), 45 p.
• Dribus, J.R., and Nanna, R.F., 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Rawlins quadrangle, Wyoming and Colorado: Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-019(82), 116 p.
• 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.
• Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1981, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Rawlins quadrangle, Wyoming: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-344, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-308(81), 161 p.
• Weaver, T.A., Morris, W.A., and Trexler, P.K., 1978, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Rawlins NTMS quadrangle, Wyoming: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-7179-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-81(78), 73 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Wyoming NURE data
Back to Colorado 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

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