OFR 97-492: Hardin Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study
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: Hardin Quadrangle
Totals of 1,241 sediment and 1,000 water samples were collected from the Hardin quadrangle as part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) Hardin Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. The quadrangle was sampled in 5 blocks during 4 field seasons.
- June 1976 - Most of the quadrangle east of 106.5°W.
- October to November 1976 - Central southern part of the quadrangle: 45°N to 45.25°N and 106.5°W to 107.25°W.
- March to April 1977 - Quadrangle area north of the Crow Indian and Northern Cheyenne Reservations: Approximately 45.75°N to 46°N and 106.5°W to 108°W.
- May 1977 - Southern strip of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation: 45.25°N to 45.375°N and 106.5°W to 107°W.
- August to December 1978 - Crow Indian Reservation: Approximately 45°N to 45.75°N and 107°W to 108°W.
- Never apparently sampled - Most of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation: Approximately 45.375°N to 45.75°N and 106.375°W to 107°W.
The samples were sent to the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant for uranium and multielement analyses. The analytical data were released in the Hardin Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-372(81) report.
Summary Tables
The following is a list of sample types collected for the Hardin quadrangle study.
Summary of Hardin quadrangle sample types.
| Wet Streams |
506 |
Streams |
495 |
| Dry Streams |
452 |
Wells |
270 |
| Wet Springs |
179 |
Springs |
172 |
| Dry Springs |
7 |
Natural Ponds |
17 |
| Wet Natural Ponds |
24 |
Artificial Ponds |
46 |
| Dry Natural Ponds |
8 |
|
|
| Wet Artificial Ponds |
51 |
|
|
| Dry Artificial Ponds |
14 |
|
|
| Total Sediments |
1,241 |
Total Waters |
1,000 |
These Hardin quadrangle samples were analyzed by one or more of the following methods:
Sediment Samples
- OR2: Oak Ridge Neutron Activation Analysis of sediments for U.
- 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
- OR9-FL: Oak Ridge Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of waters for U.
- OR9-MS: Oak Ridge Mass Spectrometry 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 Hardin Quadrangle
The Hardin quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the Hardin Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-372(81) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Hardin quadrangle data:
Sediment Records
- 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.
- No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Hardin 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 Hardin Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-372(81) report.
- Two sample records contained unlikely values for the recorded air temperature(AIRTEMP). These values were -17 and -20. Although the most likely source of this error is unwanted negative signs, this could not be confirmed in published sources. These values were removed from the AIRTEMP field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
- Five sediment sample records contained values for the Well Pump Type(WELLPUMP), Well Diameter(WELLDIAM), and Well Water Depth(WWTRDPTH). 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.
- Unlikely sample collection dates were found for four 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.
- One wet stream-sediment sample has a latitude of exactly 45°N, the dividing line between the Hardin quadrangle and the Sheridan quadrangle. This coordinate value was not changed but a comment was added to the COORDPRB field.
- One wet artificial pond-sediment sample has a latitude of exactly 46°N, the dividing line between the Hardin quadrangle and the Forsyth quadrangle. This coordinate value was not changed but a comment was added to the COORDPRB field.
Water Records
- No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Hardin 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 Hardin Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-372(81) report.
- The ORGDP Laboratory apparently analyzed three well-water samples twice. Because of overlapping data fields, it was necessary to create two data records to preserve all the data for each sample.
- Four water 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 quadrangle report. 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.
- Two sample records contained unlikely values for the recorded air temperature(AIRTEMP). These values were -17 and -20. Although the most likely source of this error is unwanted negative signs, this could not be confirmed in published sources. These values were removed from the AIRTEMP field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
- Unlikely sample collection dates were found for five 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.
- One stream-water sample has a latitude of exactly 45°N, the dividing line between the Hardin quadrangle and the Sheridan quadrangle. This coordinate value was not changed but a comment was added to the COORDPRB field.
- One artificial pond-water sample has a latitude of exactly 46°N, the dividing line between the Hardin quadrangle and the Forsyth quadrangle. This coordinate value was not changed but a comment was added to the COORDPRB 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).
Hardin Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,241 records
Hardin Quadrangle Water Data - 1,003 records
Notes for Data Users
None at this time.
Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Hardin Quadrangle
None found.
Hardin Quadrangle NURE Bibliography
- Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1981, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Hardin quadrangle, Montana: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-364, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-372(81), 199 p.
Links Within Open-File Report 97-492
Back to Montana NURE data
Back to Wyoming 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 1.00: September 11, 1998
Version 1.10: July 29, 1999
Version 1.20: August 07, 2000
Version 1.30: September 11, 2001
Version 1.41: February 23, 2006
