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ORGDP: Texas Wide-Spaced Uranium Geochemical Survey
Early in the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program, personnel from the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) sampled several areas with a wide-spaced sample coverage (Phase I sampling). Phase I samples were generally collected in stream basins averaging 250 square kilometers in area and from wells at about a 16 km spacing. The purpose of the Phase I sampling was to define uranium provinces that warranted additional sampling at a higher density (Phase II sampling). These samples were sent to the ORGDP and analyzed for uranium and other elements. For many 1:250,000-scale 2-degree quadrangles, Phase I samples were included with later Phase II samples and utilized in the individual HSSR basic data quadrangle reports. Some Phase I samples were never utilized in basic data quadrangle reporting. ORGDP issued the Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Wide-Spaced Sample Basic Data Release for Texas GJBX-131(81) report for several of these Phase I samples. This report includes data for 261 stream sediment and 406 water samples collected during 1976-77 in the Abilene, Austin, Brownwood, Corpus Christi, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Houston, Llano, San Angelo, Sonora, and Waco quadrangles. The Wide-Spaced Sample Basic Data Release for Texas GJBX-131(81) report only contains data tables for Phase I samples; no explanatory text accompanies this report. The Wide-Spaced Sample Basic Data Release for Texas GJBX-131(81) report includes data records for 2 water samples collected within the borders of the Sonora quadrangle. ORGDP apparently did not collect any Phase II samples in the Sonora quadrangle by the time that NURE funding ended in the early 1980's. Therefore no specific NURE HSSR study exists for this quadrangle.

ORGDP: Trans-Pecos Detailed Geochemical Survey
As part of the NURE program, detailed surveys were initiated to supply comprehensive geochemical data from specific target areas. The Trans-Pecos Detailed Study was designed to characterize the hydrogeochemistry, stream sediment geochemistry and radiometric patterns of known or potential uranium occurrences in southwest Texas. The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) collected 1,434 stream sediment, 14 soil, 509 rock, and 595 ground water samples from 7 project areas within the Del Rio, Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, Marfa, Presidio, and Sonora quadrangles. These samples were analyzed by the ORGDP for uranium and other elements. During sample collection, radiometric readings for eU, eK, and eTh were obtained in the field at several locations. (Almost all of the rock and soil samples as well as a few stream sediment samples appear to be sites where only radiometric readings were taken.) In selected Survey Areas, ORGDP used portable field methods to determine concentrations of uranium, fluorine, sulfate, and total iron in water. In the interpretations and Detailed Study reports, ORGDP also included data from 541 stream sediment and 248 ground water samples collected during earlier Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) studies in the Emory Peak and Presidio quadrangles. The analytical data were released in seven parts as the Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Detailed Geochemical Survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas report.

1. Terrell Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 1: 62 stream sediments and 4 ground waters plus 13 rocks or radiometric readings were collected during January of 1979 within the Del Rio, Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, and Sonora quadrangles. Additional data for 99 stream-sediment and 32 ground-water samples from the Emory Peak Quadrangle NURE HSSR study were included.
2. Solitario Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 2: 165 stream sediments, 1 soil, and 12 ground waters plus 57 rock or radiometric readings and 5 field analyses of water were collected during January of 1979 within the Emory Peak and Presidio quadrangles. Additional data for 355 stream-sediment and 115 ground-water samples from the Emory Peak quadrangle and Presidio quadrangle NURE HSSR studies were included.
3. Sierra Vieja Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 3: 246 stream sediments and 60 ground waters plus 64 rocks or radiometric readings and 30 field analyses of water were collected between February and March of 1979 within the Marfa quadrangle.
4. Tascotal Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 4: 533 stream sediments, 11 soils, and 451 ground waters plus 143 rocks or radiometric readings and 220 field analyses of water were collected between March and April of 1979 within the Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, Marfa, and Presidio quadrangles. Additional data for 87 stream-sediment and 101 ground-water samples from the Emory Peak quadrangle and Presidio quadrangle NURE HSSR studies were included.
5. Chinati Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 5: 122 stream sediments and 24 ground waters plus 78 rocks or radiometric readings were collected between January and February of 1980 within the Marfa and Presidio quadrangles.
6. Stillwell Mountains Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 6: 228 stream sediments, 2 soils, and 10 ground waters plus 142 rocks or radiometric readings were collected between January and February of 1980 within the Emory Peak quadrangle.
7. Dryden Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 7: 78 stream sediments and 34 ground waters plus 12 rocks or radiometric readings were collected during February of 1980 within the Del Rio, Emory Peak, Fort Stockton, and Sonora quadrangles.

Within the Sonora quadrangle, the Trans-Pecos Detailed Studies include:

• Terrell Survey Area (GJBX-29(80)-Part 1): Data are listed for 1 stream-sediment sample.
• Dryden Survey Area (GJBX-29(80)-Part 7): Even though this Survey Area included the southwest corner of the Sonora quadrangle, no Dryden Survey samples were apparently collected within the quadrangle.

Summary Tables
The following is a list of NURE sample types collected in the Sonora quadrangle.

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

Sediment Samples

• OR1: Oak Ridge Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of sediments for U.
• OR2: Oak Ridge Neutron Activation Analysis - Neutron Counting 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.
• 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.
• OR11: Oak Ridge Emission Spectrochemical Analysis of waters for Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zn, and Zr.
• OR15: Oak Ridge Anion Optical Absorption (Technicon AutoAnalyzer) Analysis of waters for Sulfate only.
• OR17: Oak Ridge Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Analysis of Waters for As and Se.

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Sonora Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Sonora quadrangle sediment data consist of one reformatted record from the Trans-Pecos Detailed Study's Terrell Survey Area GJBX-29(80)-Part 1. No problems were found during the reformatting stages for the Sonora quadrangle sediment data.

Water Records
The Sonora quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Wide-Spaced Sample Basic Data Release for Texas GJBX-131(81) report. No problems were found during the reformatting stages for the Sonora quadrangle water data.

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).

Sonora Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1 record
Sonora Quadrangle Water Data - 2 records

Notes for Data Users

The ORGDP water samples were reportedly collected in the field without any filtering or acidification. (See the SAMPTYP coding explanation in the On-Line Manual for USGS-Reformatted NURE HSSR Data Files for descriptions of different Sample Types). However, 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.

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 Sonora Quadrangle

None found.

Sonora Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Butz, T.R., Payne, A.G., Grimes, J.G., Helgerson, R.N., and Bard, C.S., 1979a, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas, Terrell Survey Area: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-29 Part 1, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-29(80), 117 p.
• Butz, T.R., Payne, A.G., Grimes, J.G., Helgerson, R.N., and Bard, C.S., 1979b, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas, Solitario Survey Area: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-29 Part 2, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-29(80), 123 p.
• Butz, T.R., Payne, A.G., Grimes, J.G., Helgerson, R.N., and Bard, C.S., 1979c, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas, Sierra Valley Survey Area: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-29 Part 3, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-29(80), 117 p.
• Butz, T.R., Payne, A.G., Grimes, J.G., Helgerson, R.N., and Bard, C.S., 1979d, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas, Tascotal Survey Area: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-29 Part 4, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-29(80), 127 p.
• Butz, T.R., Wagner, M.E., Grimes, J.G., Bard, C.S., Helgerson, R.N., and Pritz, P.M., 1979a, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas, Chinati Mountains Project Area: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-29 Part 5, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-29(80), 192 p.
• Butz, T.R., Wagner, M.E., Grimes, J.G., Bard, C.S., Helgerson, R.N., and Pritz, P.M., 1979b, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas, Stillwell Project Area: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-29 Part 6, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-29(80), 143 p.
• Butz, T.R., Wagner, M.E., Grimes, J.G., Bard, C.S., Helgerson, R.N., and Pritz, P.M., 1979c, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas, Dryden Project Area: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-29 Part 7, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-29(80), 159 p.
• Grimes, J.G., 1981, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment wide-spaced sample basic data release for Texas: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-47, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-131(81), 77 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Texas 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

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/quad/q_sonora.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:15 EDT 2016