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LASL: Torrington Quadrangle
Totals of 756 sediment and 1,119 water samples were collected by a private contractor from 1,677 locations in the Torrington quadrangle during August - September of 1977 as part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) Torrington Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. LASL analyzed each water sample for uranium and each sediment sample for uranium and up to 42 additional elements. The data were released as the Torrington Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-190(80) report.

LASL: Southern Powder River Basin Detailed Study
In June of 1979, LASL collected 946 ground-water samples from parts of the Arminto, Newcastle, and Torrington quadrangles for a detailed study of the Southern Powder River Basin. A total of 175 samples were collected within the Torrington quadrangle. Samples were specifically collected from areas that are "adjacent to or underlain by the Eocene Wasatch and Fort Union formations." These formations are the principal host rocks for several uranium mining districts in the Powder River Basin. The water samples were analyzed for uranium and the data were released in the Southern Powder River Basin Detailed Study GJBX-174(81) report.

ORGDP: Laramie Range Detailed Study
During June, July, and August of 1979, the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) conducted a detailed geochemical survey of the Laramie Range in parts of the Cheyenne and Torrington quadrangles. A total of 802 sediment and 163 ground-water samples were collected and field radiometric data were reported for 103 rock samples. Of these, 398 sediments, 124 ground-waters, and 57 rocks were from the Torrington quadrangle area of the study. The radiometric readings of rock samples were done in the field using scintillometers and a gamma-ray spectrometer. The sediment and water samples were analyzed for multiple elements by ORGDP and the data were reported in the Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) report.

Summary Tables
The following is a list of sample types collected for all NURE studies in the Torrington quadrangle.

These Torrington 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.
• OR1: Oak Ridge Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of sediments for U.
• OR2: Oak Ridge Neutron Activation Analysis of sediments for U.
• OR-MS: Oak Ridge Mass Spectrometry Analysis of sediments for U (One sample only).
• 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

• LA6-DN: Los Alamos Delayed-Neutron Counting Analysis of waters for U.
• LA6-FL: Los Alamos Fluorometry Analysis of waters for U.
• 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.

Rock Samples (Detailed Study only)

• OR-GS: Oak Ridge Gamma Spectrometer Field Analysis for eK(%), eU(ppm), and eTh(ppm).

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Torrington Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Torrington quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Torrington Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-190(80) report plus reformatted records from the ORGDP Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Torrington 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 Torrington 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 Torrington Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-190(80) report. The SITE field contains the corresponding LASL Identification Number used to label the original field maps, field notes, and sample containers.
3. One sediment sample record contained values for the well pump type(WELLPUMP), well use(WELLUSE), and well diameter(WELLDIAM). These parameters were not normally recorded for sediment sample records. The values were removed and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
4. One soil sample record contained a value for the sediment condition(SEDCOND). This parameter was not normally recorded for soil sample records. The value was removed and added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
5. Seven ORGDP Laramie Range sediment records with a QUAD value of 'CHEYENNE' had coordinates that plotted in the Torrington quadrangle. These QUAD values were changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field for each record.
6. An unlikely sample collection date was found for one sample. This date was removed from the SAMPDAT field and the original SAMPDAT value with the most likely correct value was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
7. Three ORGDP Laramie Range stream-sediment samples originally had a latitude of exactly 42°N, the dividing line between the Torrington quadrangle and the Cheyenne quadrangle. The coordinates for these samples were changed slightly to values found in tables on microfiche within the Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) report. This slight change places these samples clearly in the Torrington quadrangle.
8. Two separate ORGDP Laramie Range stream-sediment samples in this quadrangle have the same latitude-longitude coordinates. It is unclear whether this represents a pair of samples collected at the same site or samples collected at separate sites so close together that the coordinate precision was insufficient to distinguish.

Water Records
The Torrington quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Torrington Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-190(80) report plus reformatted records from the LASL Southern Powder River Basin Detailed Study GJBX-174(81) and ORGDP Laramie Range Detailed Study GJBX-100(80) reports. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Torrington quadrangle water data:

1. A LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Torrington 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 Torrington Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-190(80) 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 LASL Southern Powder River Basin Detailed 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 LASL Southern Powder River Basin Detailed Study GJBX-174(81) report.
3. One water record with a STATE value of 'NE' had coordinates that plotted in Wyoming. This STATE value was changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field.
4. One ORGDP Laramie Range water record with a QUAD value of 'CHEYENNE' had coordinates that plotted in the Torrington quadrangle. This QUAD value was changed and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field.
5. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for three 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.
6. Twenty-two water samples in this quadrangle share the same latitude-longitude coordinates with one other sample (11 distinct coordinate sites). These appear to be sites collected during Torrington quadrangle study that were resampled during the LASL Southern Powder River Basin detailed study. A comment in the COORDPRB field identifies each of these pairs.

Rock Records

1. When rock samples were collected, the site descriptive data commonly utilized the same field formats found for stream-sediment samples. When analyzed, the analytical methods were also the same methods used for stream-sediment or soil samples. Because of these similarities, rock sample data were reformatted with and are now reported in the sediment database.
2. Fifty-seven ORGDP Laramie Range records in the Torrington quadrangle were identified in the SAMPTYP field as rock sample data. A closer examination of these records reveals that for eight rocks, the sample data are actually Gamma Spectrometer field analyses for equivalent potassium (eK), equivalent uranium (eU), and equivalent thorium (eTh). It appears that these measurements were taken at the sample site and that no rock sample was actually collected for laboratory analysis. The Gamma Spectrometer field data for these sample sites are listed in the REFORMAT comment field.
3. Forty-nine of the ORGDP Laramie Range rock samples collected in the Torrington quadrangle were not analyzed by any method. However, these sample records do include a scintillometer measurement of the local gamma-ray activity at that sample site. The measured value is recorded in SCIN 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).

Torrington Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,211 records
Torrington Quadrangle Water Data - 1,418 records

Notes for Data Users

The ORGDP Laramie Range Detailed Study 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. The water samples collected for the LASL studies were filtered and acidified in the field before being transported to the lab.

For the Oak Ridge Laramie Range study, 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 +/- 365 feet (111 m) for latitude values and between +/- 280 feet (85 m) to +/- 259 feet (79 m) for longitude values (calculated at latitudes of 40° and 45°N, respectively.)

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Torrington Quadrangle

Torrington Quadrangle NURE Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey produced a summary evaluation report for the Torrington quadrangle [PGJ/F-067(82)]. During this evaluation an additional 274 rock samples were collected and analyzed for U and 43 additional elements. These data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.

Uranium Anomalies in Wyoming
The Bendix Field Engineering Corporation identified and ranked 269 uranium anomalies from 23 quadrangles in and adjacent to Wyoming. These anomalies were based on an evaluation of the NURE HSSR data, aerial radiometric reconnaissance surveys, and to a lesser extent, geologic evaluations. This report [GJBX-3(83)] lists 20 uranium anomalies that were identified in the Torrington quadrangle. No additional geochemical data accompany this report.

Torrington Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Butz, T.R., Mitchell, H.L., Bard, C.S., Helgerson, R.N., and Grimes, J.G., 1980, Hydrogeochemical and stream sediment detailed geochemical survey for Laramie Range, Wyoming: Union Carbide Corporation, Nuclear Division, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn., K/UR-38, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-100(80), 136 p.
• Goodknight, C.S., Ludlam, J.R., Burger, J.A., Dickson, R.E., Dayvault, R.D., Dexter, J.J., and Anderson, J.R., 1982, Uranium anomalies in Wyoming and parts of adjacent states: U.S. Department of Energy, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-3(83), 11 p.
• Purson, J.D., Sandoval, W.F., Minor, M.M., and Mills. C.F., 1981, Detailed Uranium Hydrogeochemical Survey of Ground Water from the Southern Powder River Basin Special Study Area, Wyoming: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-8485-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-174(81), 32 p.
• Seeland, D., 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Torrington quadrangle, Wyoming and Nebraska, with contributions from Christiansen, A.C., Denson, N.M., Granger, H.C., Hammond, D.J., Hills, F.A., Love, J.D., Macke, D.L., Mercer, M., Mudgett, P.B., Reimer, G.M., Santos, E.S., and Sever C.K.: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-067(82), 52 p.
• Shannon, S.S., Jr., Romero, M.T., Simi, O.R., Martell, C.J., Minor, M.M., Hensley, W.K., and Mills, C.S., 1980, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance for the Torrington NTMS quadrangle, Wyoming, including concentrations of forty-two additional elements: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory informal report LA-7514-MS, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-190(80), 105 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Wyoming NURE data
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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

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