OFR 97-492: Ritzville Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study
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This page is currently being rewritten to the Version 1.41 format.
[See History of NURE HSSR Program for a summary of the entire program.]
Totals of 1,070 sediment and 951 water samples were collected in the Ritzville quadrangle between June and July of 1979 as part of the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) Ritzville Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. These samples were analyzed by SRL for uranium and other elements (16 additional elements in sediments and 9 in waters) and the analytical data were released in the Ritzville NURE HSSR quadrangle GJBX-162(80) report. The samples were then sent to other laboratories including Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) for "supplemental analyses" of 23 elements in sediments and 31 elements in waters. The supplemental analytical data were not released in a separate report.
In 1982, SRL released a summary report and data files for 50 quadrangles in the Western United States. This report, GJBX-132(82), contains both the SRL analytical data and the supplemental analytical data from the Ritzville quadrangle but the concentration values often differ from those reported in the GJBX-162(80) quadrangle report. The introduction section of the GJBX-132(82) summary report states:
"The data in the present report may not be identical to those reported previously. This is due to the use of different "scrub" procedures for the preparation of the data for release. The differences should be minor."
However, during the reformatting process several major differences were discovered between the two data sets for the water samples.
SRL analyses of light hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, propane, and butane) in ground waters were released in the GJBX-131(82) summary report for 44 western quadrangles and 3 eastern quadrangles within the United States. This report includes data for 732 of the Ritzville quadrangle ground water samples.
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.
In August - October of 1979, Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected totals of 697 sediment, 124 water, and 1,000 plant samples in the Ritzville quadrangle as part the detailed geochemical survey of the Midnite Mine area. These samples were analyzed for multiple elements by SRL and the data were reported in the Midnite Mine Detailed Study GJBX-150(82) report.
In 1982, ORGDP released the data from supplementary analyses of a selection of the SRL water samples from the Midnite Mine and Kettle Falls detailed studies in the GJBX-177(82) abbreviated report (on microfiche only). This report includes the supplemental data for up to 29 elements in 122 of the Midnite Mine water samples. The site coding information for this data set was summarized in the GJBX-164(82) report.
The following is a general listing of all sediment and water sample types collected and reported for NURE studies in the Ritzville quadrangle. The actual number of records in the NEW-FORMAT NURE data files may be greater because of the multiple records needed to preserve all the data.
| Sediment Sample Type | Number of Samples | Water Sample Type | Number of Samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Streams | 123 | Streams | 125 |
| Dry Streams | 1,213 | Wells | 786 |
| Soils | 421 | Springs | 159 |
| Other (may include mine tailings) | 10 | Lakes | 1 |
| Other | 4 | ||
| Total Sediments | 1,767 | Total Waters | 1,075 |
These Ritzville quadrangle samples were analyzed by one or more of the following methods:
Sediment Samples
Water Samples
Plant Samples
The data in the NEW-FORMAT NURE data files consist of records from all of the above reports. In order to reduce the number of records, a decision was made to primarily use the data from the GJBX-132(82) western U.S. summary report. The rationale for choosing this data set was that (1) it represents a later compilation of the data and (2) it should be more consistent across quadrangle boundaries because of the common "scrubbing procedure." Every record was checked against the "equivalent" record in the earlier GJBX-162(80) quadrangle report and any major differences were noted in the REFORMAT comment field. The different but unused quadrangle report records were combined and saved as extra files which may be accessed below.
For the sediment data file, the SRL analyses and the supplemental analyses were combined into a single record for each sample. Unfortunately, in the water data file the SRL analyses and supplemental analyses could NOT be combined because of overlapping determinations for 5 elements. Each water sample may therefore have 2 separate records - one for the SRL analysis and one for the supplemental analysis. Occasionally, an additional supplemental analysis record may also exist for some samples.
During the reformatting process, several problems were discovered between the water results reported in the GJBX-132(82) western U.S. summary report and the GJBX-162(80) quadrangle report.
These problems could not be satisfactorily resolved during the reformatting process. Note: the unused water data from the GJBX-162(80) quadrangle report were saved as an extra data file for water which may be accessed below.
Hydrocarbon data from the GJBX-131(82) report were added to fields in the appropriate ground water records and this addition was noted for each record in the REFORMAT comment field.
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.
Records from the Midnite Mine Detailed Study GJBX-150(82) report were reformatted and added to the NEW-FORMAT NURE data files. Data records for the plant samples were reformatted and saved as an extra data file accessible below. Several plant samples have at least 2 records with slightly differing analytical values. A partial description of fields unique to this plant file is given below in the Midnite Mine Detailed Study plant data format.
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 websites, 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).
Ritzville Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,760 records
Ritzville Quadrangle Water Data - 2,135 records
Unused set of quadrangle sediment records - ritzvlsx.dbf.gz
Unused set of quadrangle water records - ritzvlwx.dbf.gz
Midnite Mine Detailed Study Plant Data - midnit_p.dbf.gz
Many records contain analytical values with insignificant digits. Most data should only have 2 or 3 significant digits and differences after the second or third digit should be ignored.
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Ritzville quadrangle by the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation (BFEC) of Grand Junction, Colorado [PGJ/F-041(82)]. Additional samples of 407 rocks (including 62 rocks from a previous study that is referenced in the report) and 87 waters collected from the quadrangle were evaluated to "identify geologic environments and delineate areas that exhibit characteristics favorable for the occurrence of uranium deposits." The water samples and 368 of the rock samples were analyzed for uranium oxide by fluorometry. For the rock samples, 72 were analyzed for up to 25 elements by emission spectroscopy or atomic absorption, and 275 were analyzed by gamma spectroscopy for equivalent K, U, and Th. These data were released only in the summary report--the uranium oxide, eK, eU, eTh data as microfiche appendices, and the multi-element data in tables placed throughout the report.
Explanations are only included for fields unique to this study. For the explanation of common fields consult the On-Line Manual for New-Format NURE HSSR Data Files. After each field name is a format code. A format code of (N) means that the field is formatted as a numeric field. A format code of (A5) means that the field is formatted as a 5 character Alpha field.
Common name for the plant from which the sample was collected. Most samples were collected from Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees. Other plants include alders, aspen, firs, spruce, willows, bushes, fruit trees, and deciduous trees.
The specific part of the plant that was collected. Listed parts include Needles and Leaves.
Uranium concentration of the ashed sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Uranium concentration of the dried sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Beryllium concentration of the ashed sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Beryllium concentration of the dried sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Cobalt concentration of the ashed sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Cobalt concentration of the dried sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Copper concentration of the ashed sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Copper concentration of the dried sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Lithium concentration of the ashed sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Lithium concentration of the dried sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Magnesium concentration of the ashed sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Magnesium concentration of the dried sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Molybdenum concentration of the ashed sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Molybdenum concentration of the dried sample, reported in parts per million (ppm). Determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Negative value = Not detected or less than listed value. Blank = Not analyzed. Significance of 0 (zero) values not determined.
Back to Washington NURE data
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning NURE HSSR Data
Home Page: USGS National Geochemical Database - NURE HSSR data
Page written by Andrew W. Holt and Steven M. Smith
Contact: 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 1.40: January 13, 2006
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