USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

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

Texas
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 279 stream-sediment samples within 4 counties along the eastern border of Texas as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sampling effort was completed between August and October of 1978 and included portions of the Palestine, Alexandria, Beaumont, and Lake Charles 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 81 stream-sediment samples were collected within the Palestine quadrangle.) These samples were sent to SRL for analysis of uranium and 16 additional elements. SRL was only able to analyze 26 of the 279 stream-sediment samples collected in Texas; this includes 6 sediment samples within the Palestine quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all Texas sediment samples were released as a separate file in the Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas Data Report [GJBX-104(82)].

Louisiana
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 1,017 stream-sediment samples within 15 parishes of central Louisiana as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sampling effort was completed between August and October of 1978 and included portions of the Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Jackson, Lake Charles, Natchez, Palestine, Shreveport, and Tyler 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (Only 1 sample was collected within the Palestine quadrangle.) These sediment samples were sent to SRL for analysis of uranium and 16 additional elements. SRL was able to analyze only 28 Louisiana stream-sediment samples; none of the SRL Louisiana samples from the Palestine quadrangle were analyzed. The analytical and site location data for all Louisiana sediment samples were released as a separate file in the Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas Data Report [GJBX-104(82)].

SRL: Palestine Quadrangle
SRL did not release a separate report for the Palestine quadrangle.

ORGDP: Alexandria, Natchez, and Palestine Quadrangles
SRL sent several Texas and Louisiana sediment samples to the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) for analysis of uranium and 31 additional elements. ORGDP released the analytical data for 861 samples in the Alexandria, Natchez, and Palestine Quadrangles GJBX-67(82) Data Report. This report includes data for 82 sediment samples from the Palestine quadrangle. The site coding information for this data set was summarized in the GJBX-51(82) report.

Gold Analyses
Data for gold analyses of sediments by SRL neutron activation were released in the GJBX-135(82) summary report. The introduction of that report states:

"This report contains previously unreported neutron-activation analyses of gold in sediment samples determined at SRL. These data were not included in the standard SRL NURE data reports because the gold spectrum was not measured in the original analytical procedure and the report format was designed without the gold analyses being included. Gold analyses became available as the analytical procedure was refined, but the report format was not modified to incorporate these data."

Only those sediment samples that had detectable concentrations of gold by neutron activation analysis were given in the GJBX-135(82) report. Sediment samples with concentrations below detection limits were not reported and can only be ascertained by identifying which samples were actually analyzed by neutron activation at SRL.

ORGDP: Palestine Quadrangle
The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) collected 577 stream-sediment and 714 water samples in the Palestine quadrangle as part of Palestine Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. All field sampling was conducted under contract with the ORGDP by personnel of Geochemex, Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee between October and December of 1978. These samples were analyzed by the ORGDP for uranium and other elements. The analytical data were released as the Palestine Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study GJBX-92(79) Report. (Note: Four Palestine quadrangle well-water sample records found only in the digital data files have coordinates that plot slightly within the adjacent Alexandria quadrangle.)

Summary Tables
Because of the various laboratories and analytical methods used, some samples may have been analyzed once, twice, or not at all. The following table summarizes the analysis of Palestine quadrangle samples.

The following is a list of all sample types collected and reported for NURE studies in the Palestine quadrangle.

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

Sediment Samples

• SR1: Savannah River Neutron Activation Analysis - Neutron Counting of sediments for U.
• SR2: Savannah River Neutron Activation Analysis of sediments for Al, Ce, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Mn, Na, Sc, Sm, Th, Ti, V, and Yb. (Note: Au values were reported later for this method.)
• OR1: Oak Ridge Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of sediments for U.
• OR2: Oak Ridge Neutron Activation Analysis of sediments for U.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.)
• 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.

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Palestine Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Palestine quadrangle sediment data consist of records from the Texas and Louisiana portions of the SRL Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas GJBX-104(82) Data Report combined with records from the ORGDP Palestine, Alexandria, and Natchez Quadrangles GJBX-67(82) Data Report plus reformatted records from the ORGDP Palestine Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-92(79) report. When combining sample records, site descriptive information and coordinates were compared for all corresponding records. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Palestine quadrangle sediment data:

1. The SRL and the ORGDP Laboratory each analyzed the same 6 stream-sediment samples from Texas. Because of overlapping data fields, it was necessary to create two data records for each sample to preserve all the data.
2. The original ORGDP file for the Palestine, Alexandria, and Natchez quadrangles did not include all of the information about the character of the sample location. This missing information includes observations taken at each site on the stream width, depth, and flow, water color, surrounding vegetation, local relief, weather, and possible contaminants. In addition, the longitude coordinate reported in the ORGDP file only had 3 decimal places instead of the 4 decimal places found in the corresponding records from SRL State files. When combining corresponding SRL and ORGDP records, all of the site descriptive data and the longitude values to 4 decimal places from the SRL data files were preserved in the final database.
3. The latitude value for one ORGDP stream-sediment sample was reported as 31°N, the dividing line between the Palestine and Beaumont quadrangles. The data record for this sample was found only in the Palestine Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-92(79) report. Based on the coordinate values found in the field notes on microfiche that accompany this report, the precision for the decimal-degree coordinates at this site was increased to 4 decimal places. This places the sample unequivocally in the Palestine quadrangle.
4. The longitude value for one ORGDP stream-sediment sample was reported as 94°W, the dividing line between the Palestine and Alexandria quadrangles. The data record for this sample was found only in the Palestine Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-92(79) report. Based on the coordinate values found in the field notes on microfiche that accompany this report, the precision for the decimal-degree coordinates at this site was increased to 4 decimal places. This places the sample unequivocally in the Palestine quadrangle.
5. An analysis of latitude-longitude site coordinates identified several stream-sediment samples that were missing coordinates, did not plot within expected state, county, or map boundaries, or had differing coordinates in corresponding records. To correct or confirm sample coordinates, the original field collection maps for De Soto Parish, Louisiana were obtained and re-digitized. The newly re-digitized coordinates were added to the database and the coordinates from the original file(s) were recorded in the COORDPRB comment field. When the newly re-digitized coordinates were not significantly different, that confirmation of the site location was also noted in the COORDPRB comment field.
6. Gold concentrations from the GJBX-135(82) report were added to the appropriate sediment records. A value of -0.01 (<0.01 ppm Au) was added to all other sediment samples determined to have been analyzed by SRL neutron activation. This value was chosen because 0.01 is the lowest reported gold concentration in the entire report.

Water Records
The Palestine quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the ORGDP Palestine Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-92(79) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Palestine quadrangle water data:

1. Although collected as part of the ORGDP Palestine Quadrangle study, four samples were apparently collected just outside of the quadrangle within the adjacent Alexandria quadrangle. The records were found only in the digital data file and were not listed in the ORGDP Palestine Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-92(79) report. Data records for these samples were assigned to the Alexandria quadrangle.
2. The longitude value for one ORGDP well-water sample was reported as 94°W, the dividing line between the Palestine and Alexandria quadrangles. The data record for this sample was found only in the Palestine Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-92(79) report. Based on the coordinate values found in the field notes on microfiche that accompany this report, the precision for the decimal-degree coordinates at this site was increased to 4 decimal places. This places the sample unequivocally in the Palestine quadrangle.

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).

Palestine Quadrangle Sediment Data - 665 records
Palestine Quadrangle Water Data - 714 records

Notes for Data Users

In the eastern United States, SRL collected samples primarily by county or parish. Often, not all counties or parishes within a quadrangle were completely sampled. Sample coverage in the Palestine quadrangle is limited to the De Soto Parish in Louisiana, and to Jasper, Sabine, and Shelby Counties in Texas. These counties and parish are found only along the eastern border of the Palestine quadrangle. The laboratory and analytical methods used also may vary by county such that adjacent counties often have very different analytical coverages.

Most ORGDP water samples were reportedly collected in the field without any filtering or acidification. In the Palestine quadrangle, 8 water samples were filtered in the field through a 0.45 micron membrane filter. (See the SAMPTYP coding explanation in the On-Line Manual for USGS-Reformatted NURE HSSR Data Files for descriptions of different Sample Types). However, all of 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.

For all ORGDP samples, 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 Palestine Quadrangle

Palestine Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation of the Palestine quadrangle was prepared by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, under subcontract to Bendix Field Engineering Corporation [PGJ/F-105(82)]. Totals of 950 substrate, 404 soil, 120 stream sediment, and 51 water samples were collected and analyzed for uranium by fluorometry and for 29 additional elements by an unspecified method. Results from these analyses show that two environments in the Palestine quadrangle are favorable for uranium deposition. These environments include potential uranium deposits of modified Texas roll-type in fluvial channels and associated facies of the Yegua Formation, and potential occurrences along mineralization fronts associated with Elkhart Graben and Mount Enterprise fault system. Data for this study were only found in the tables on microfiche accompanying the report.

Palestine Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Fay, W.M., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Gold analyses by neutron activation from SRL NURE samples: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-141-38, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-135(82), 45 p.
• Fay, W.M., Sargent, K.A., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Data report: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-146-24, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-104(82), 37 p.
• McGowen, M., Basciano, J., Rose, F.G., Jr., and Fisher, W.L., 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Palestine quadrangle, Texas and Louisiana: Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-105(82), 38 p.
• Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1979, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Palestine NTMS Quadrangle, Texas; Uranium Resource Evaluation Project: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-123, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-92(79), 132 p.
• Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1982, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data for Palestine, Alexandria, and Natchez quadrangles, Texas; Louisiana; Mississippi: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-422, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-67(82), 81 p.
• Uranium Resource Evaluation Project, 1982, Supplement to hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance basic data reports K/UR-405 and K/UR-408 through K/UR-443 [GJBX-52(82) through GJBX-88(82)]: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-412, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-51(82), 25 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Texas NURE data
Back to Louisiana 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/ofr-97-0492/quad/q_palest.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:14 EST 2016