OFR 97-492: Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study
National Geochemical Database—Reformatted Data from the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program
By Steven M. Smith
Version 1.40 (2006)
Brief History and Description of Data
[See History of NURE HSSR Program for a summary of the entire program.]
LASL: Wolf Point Quadrangle
Totals of 1,196 sediment and 732 water samples were collected from the Wolf Point quadrangle between April and June of 1977 as part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) study. The samples were analyzed by LASL for uranium and up to 42 additional elements. The analytical data were released on microfiche by Bendix Field Engineering Corporation as the Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-16(82) report.
Summary Tables
The following is a list of sample types collected for the Wolf Point quadrangle study.
Summary of Wolf Point quadrangle sample types.
| Wet Streams |
75 |
Streams |
64 |
| Dry Streams |
1,045 |
Wells |
609 |
| Wet Springs |
50 |
Springs |
54 |
| Dry Springs |
21 |
Natural Ponds |
4 |
| Wet Natural Ponds |
4 |
Artificial Ponds |
1 |
| Wet Artificial Ponds |
1 |
|
|
| Total Sediments |
1,196 |
Total Waters |
732 |
These Wolf Point 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.
Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Wolf Point Quadrangle
The Wolf Point quadrangle sediment and water data consist of reformatted records from the Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-16(82) report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Wolf Point quadrangle data:
Sediment Records
- 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.
- No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Wolf Point quadrangle 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 Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-16(82) report.
- Unlikely sample collection dates were found for six 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.
- Two sediment sample records contained values for the Well Pump Type(WELLPUMP), Well Use(WELLUSE), or Well Diameter(WELLDIAM). 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.
Water Records
- No LASL Identification Number translation key was found for the Wolf Point quadrangle 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 Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-16(82) report.
- Thirty-eight water records were not included in the original digital data file for the Wolf Point quadrangle. These records were manually entered from the Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE HSSR study GJBX-16(82) report.
- 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.
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).
Wolf Point Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,196 records
Wolf Point Quadrangle Water Data - 732 records
Notes for Data Users
None at this time.
Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Wolf Point Quadrangle
None found.
Wolf Point Quadrangle NURE Bibliography
- Zinkl, R.J., Shettel, D.L., Jr., Langfeldt, S.L., Hardy, L.C., D'Andrea, R.F., Jr., Minor, M.M., McInteer, C., Hansel, J.N., and Broxton, D.E., 1982, Uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Wolf Point NTMS quadrangle, Montana: U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-16(82), 133 p.
Links Within Open-File Report 97-492
Back to Montana NURE data
Back to North Dakota 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 1.00: September 11, 1998
Version 1.10: July 29, 1999
Version 1.20: August 07, 2000
Version 1.30: September 11, 2001
Version 1.41: February 23, 2006
