USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

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

Estancia Valley Pilot Survey
Early in the NURE Program, the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) conducted a high-density pilot sampling survey of the Estancia Valley in central New Mexico under contract with Prof. Douglas G. Brookins, Department of Geology, University of New Mexico. This study included portions of the Albuquerque, Fort Sumner, Santa Fe, and Socorro 2° quadrangles. Samples of water and sediment were collected from almost 3,000 locations between July and November of 1975. In addition to samples collected by standard LASL methods, additional water samples were collected from 279 locations using different filtering and acidification techniques to study the effects of water treatment methods and 100 sediment samples were used in a sieving study. In some cases, samples of different types were given the same LASL sample number and coordinates when collected within 300 m of each other. Examples given include where a dry stream enters a wet pond or where a dry stream enters a wet stream. All of the samples were sent to LASL for uranium analyses. The data for 2,992 sediment and 505 water samples were released with the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report. Of those reported, 830 sediment and 171 water samples were collected within the Socorro quadrangle.

LASL: Socorro Quadrangle
Totals of 1,223 sediment and 558 water samples were collected within the Socorro quadrangle as part of the LASL Socorro Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. A private subcontractor and the University of New Mexico, under the direction of LASL, collected samples from the quadrangle during May - June of 1976, and January - April of 1978. These samples plus 161 sediment samples and 92 water samples from the Estancia Valley study were analyzed by LASL for uranium and up to 42 additional elements and the analytical data were released as the LASL Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report.

LASL: Pie Town Special Study
During June of 1979, LASL conducted a detailed geochemical survey of well waters from an area around Pie Town within parts of the St. Johns and Socorro quadrangles. LASL collected 300 well water samples and measured carbonate and bicarbonate concentrations in the field by a titration method. (Of these samples, 62 were collected within the Socorro quadrangle). After LASL analyzed the samples for uranium, they were sent to Lawrence Livermore Laboratories and analyzed for 23 additional elements. All of the analytical data were released in the LASL Pie Town Area Special Study GJBX-23(81) report.

Summary Tables
The following is a list of NURE sediment and water sample types collected for all studies within the Socorro quadrangle.

These Socorro 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.
• LL2-ES: Lawrence Livermore Optical Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of waters for Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mo, Na, P, Si, Ti, V, and Zn (Note: Table 3, in the published report, gives analytical detection limits for this method and includes B, Co, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, U, and Zr but no data for these elements were found in the data files) (Pie Town Area study only).

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Socorro Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Socorro quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report plus reformatted records from the Socorro portion of the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Socorro 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 Socorro 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 Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. 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 Estancia Valley Pilot 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 the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report.
4. The number of samples listed in the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) abstract and report do not agree with the number of samples found in the data table appendices or the digital data released on tape.
5. LASL included 161 sediment samples from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study in the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study. These samples were reanalyzed for multiple elements by the same methods used for the quadrangle study. Because there were no overlapping data fields, the corresponding records from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) and Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) reports were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
6. When combining the 161 corresponding sediment records from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) and Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) reports, some differences between corresponding records were found in the stream channel character(STRCHANL), water level(WTRLEVEL), or water temperature(WTRTEMP) fields. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field. However, when values for these fields were missing in records from the Socorro Quadrangle study but present in records from the Estancia Valley study, the Estancia Valley study values were added to the combined record. These changes were also noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
7. When combining corresponding sediment records from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) and Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) reports, differences in latitude(LAT) and longitude(LONG) coordinates were found for 158 sediment samples. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. Therefore when differences were found, the coordinate values from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report was retained in the fields and the differing values from the earlier report were added as a comment to the COORDPRB field.
8. After combining and adding all the records from the Socorro Quadrangle study and the Estancia Valley study, it was noted that 35 sediment samples reported only in the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report had the same SITE values as records found in the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. For these records, the LASL Lab Identification number(LASLID) was updated to the 1-letter+5-digit value found in the LASL Identification Number translation key and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field. In addition, 31 of these records had slight differences in latitude(LAT) and longitude(LONG) coordinates for the SITE. When differences were found, the coordinate values from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report was retained in the fields and the differing values from the earlier report were added as a comment to the COORDPRB field.
9. When combining corresponding sediment records from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) and Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) reports, it was found that the reported concentrations of uranium were slightly different for 145 samples. Rather than discarding one of the values in the combined records, this concentration of uranium (analyzed by delayed neutron activation analysis) from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report was added to the extra uranium field (U_XX_PPM).
10. 257 sediment samples from the Socorro portion of the Estancia Valley Pilot Study share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with up to two other samples (127 distinct coordinate sites). These represent different samples collected at approximately the same sites.
11. Six 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.
12. 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.

Water Records
The Socorro quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report plus reformatted records from the Socorro portion of the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report plus reformatted records from the Socorro portion of the Pie Town Area Special Study GJBX-23(81) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Socorro quadrangle water data:

1. A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Socorro 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 Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
2. No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Estancia Valley Pilot Study or Pie Town Area Special Study water 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 the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) and Pie Town Area Special Study GJBX-23(81) reports.
3. LASL included 92 water samples from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study in the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study. These samples were reanalyzed for uranium by the same methods used for the quadrangle study. Because there were no overlapping data fields, the corresponding records from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) and Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) reports were compared and combined into a single composite record for each sample.
4. When combining the 92 corresponding water records from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) and Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) reports, some differences between corresponding records were found in the stream channel character(STRCHANL), water level(WTRLEVEL), sediment type(SEDTYPE), sediment color(SEDCOLR), or stream flow code(STRFLOWC) fields. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. Therefore when differences were found, the value from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report was retained in the field and the differing value from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field. However, when values for these fields were missing in records from the Socorro Quadrangle study but present in records from the Estancia Valley study, the Estancia Valley study values were added to the combined record. These changes were also noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
5. When combining corresponding water records from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) and Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) reports, differences in latitude(LAT) and longitude(LONG) coordinates were found for 89 water samples. These differences appear to be due to corrections added to the later Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. Therefore when differences were found, the coordinate values from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report was retained in the fields and the differing values from the earlier report were added as a comment to the COORDPRB field.
6. After combining and adding all the records from the Socorro Quadrangle study and the Estancia Valley study, it was noted that 5 water samples reported only in the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report had the same SITE values as records found in the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report. For these records, the LASL Lab Identification number(LASLID) was updated to the 1-letter+5-digit value found in the LASL Identification Number translation key and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field. In addition, 2 of these records had slight differences in latitude(LAT) and longitude(LONG) coordinates for the SITE. When differences were found, the coordinate values from the Socorro Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-12(81) report was retained in the fields and the differing values from the earlier report were added as a comment to the COORDPRB field.
7. Two water records were not included in the original LASL digital data file for the Estancia Valley Pilot Study. These records were manually entered into database from the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report.
8. Three Estancia Valley Pilot Study water samples were apparently analyzed twice by different uranium methods. For each of these samples, the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report contained two separate records. These records were each combined into a single record with both analyses preserved in different uranium analysis fields.
9. The original Pie Town Area Special Study digital file did not include any multielement data. These data were hand entered from appendices in the Pie Town Area Special Study GJBX-23(81) report. The appendices also included data for carbonate and bicarbonate concentrations in waters. Because of the limited number of carbonate and bicarbonate values in the entire NURE HSSR water database, no additional field were added to the format for these values. These data were entered only as a comment in the REFORMAT field for each Pie Town Area Special Study record.
10. One sample record contained an invalid value for the rock type(ROCKTYP) field. This value was likely miscoded or entered incorrectly. The correct value was not found. This value was removed from the field and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field for the record.
11. Thirty well water samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one other sample (15 distinct coordinate sites). These appear to be sites collected during Socorro quadrangle study that were resampled during the Pie Town Area Special Study. A comment in the COORDPRB field identifies each of these pairs.
12. Four water samples from the Socorro portion of the Estancia Valley Pilot Study share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with another sample (2 distinct coordinate sites). These represent different samples collected at approximately the same sites.

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).

Socorro Quadrangle Sediment Data - 2,069 records
Socorro Quadrangle Water Data - 791 records

Notes for Data Users

None at this time.

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Socorro Quadrangle

Estancia Valley Pilot Survey
The additional data for the described water treatment and sediment sieving studies were not included in the Estancia Valley Pilot Study GJBX-21(77) report. These data have not been found in other NURE reports, either.

Socorro Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Socorro quadrangle by the U.S. Geological Survey [PGJ/F-068(82)]. An additional 76 rock, 669 stream-sediment, and 279 water samples were collected and analyzed as a part of this evaluation process. These analytical data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.

Tularosa Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Tularosa quadrangle by Berge Exploration, Inc. of Denver, Colorado [GJQ-014(82)]. As part of the evaluation process, an additional 87 water samples from streams, springs, and wells and 333 rock samples were collected. (Note: Eleven of these samples were collected just outside of the Tularosa quadrangle: 1 well water and 3 rock samples were collected in the Las Cruces quadrangle; 2 spring water and 4 rock samples were collected in the Socorro quadrangle; and 1 rock sample was collected in the Clifton quadrangle.) Most samples were analyzed for eU and eTh by gamma ray spectroscopy and for uranium by fluorometric analysis. Some of the rock samples were also analyzed for additional elements. All of these analytical data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.

North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study
The SRL in contract with the Department of Geology of the University of North Carolina conducted a special study to investigate the association of uranium deposits with granitic source or host rocks. The analytical results from 441 samples of 92 plutons were released in the North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study GJBX-221(82) report. See the North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study for the data and a more detailed description of this study. Plutons that were apparently sampled in the Socorro quadrangle include the Capriote (3 samples); Ladron(7); Manzanita (6); Monte Largo(3); Ojita(6); Priest(4); and South Sandia (5).

Socorro Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Berry, V.P., Nagy, P.A., Spreng, W.C., Barnes, C.W., and Smouse, DeForrest, 1981, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Tularosa quadrangle, New Mexico: U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJQ-014(82), 22 p.
• Morgan, T.L., George, W.E., Hensley, W.K., Thomas, G.J., and Langhurst, A.L., 1981, Uranium hydrogeochemical survey of well waters from an area around Pie Town, Carton County, west-central New Mexico, including concentrations of twenty-three additional elements: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-8017-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-23(81), 49 p.
• Olsen, C.E., 1977, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment pilot survey of the Estancia Valley, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, San Miguel, and Torrance Counties, New Mexico: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-6650-MS Part 1, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-21(77), 117 p.
• Pierson, C.T., Wenrich, K.J., Hannigan, B.J., and Machette, M.N., 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Socorro quadrangle, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-068(82), 45 p.
• Planner, H.N., Fuka, M.A., Hanks, D.E., Hansel, J.M., Minor, M.M., Montoya, J.D., and Sandoval, W.F., 1981, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance for the Socorro NTMS quadrangle, New Mexico, including concentrations of forty-two additional elements: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-8001-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-12(81), 145 p.
• Price, Van, Fay, W.M., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Neutron activation and other analytical data for plutonic rocks from North America and Africa: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-221(82), 47 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to New Mexico 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/ofr-97-0492/quad/q_socrro.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:15 EST 2016