readme.txt file A compilation of spatial digital databases for selected U.S. Geological Survey nonfuel mineral resource assessments for parts of Idaho and Montana By Mary H. Carlson (1), Michael L. Zientek (2), J. Douglas Causey (2), Helen Z. Kayser (3), Gregory T. Spanski (4), Anna B. Wilson (4), Bradley S. Van Gosen (4), and Charles M. Trautwein (5) 2007 Open-File Report 2007-1101, version 1.0 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. (1) CACI, 904 W. Riverside Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201 (2) U.S. Geological Survey, 904 W. Riverside Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201 (3) Information Systems Support, Inc., 904 W. Riverside Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201 (4) U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 (5) U.S. Geological Survey, EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57198 INTRODUCTION This report compiles selected results from 13 USGS mineral resource assessment studies conducted in Idaho and Montana into consistent spatial databases that can be used in a geographic information system. The 183 spatial databases represent areas of mineral potential delineated in these studies and include attributes on mineral deposit type, level of mineral potential, certainty, and a reference. Two different methodologies were used to determine mineral potential; a qualitative ranking and a quantitative method, referred to in this publication as non 3-part and 3-part, respectively. These datasets include assessment results of mineral potential for the Absaroka-Beartooth study area within the Custer and Gallatin National Forests in Montana; the Challis National Forest in Idaho; the Dillon BLM Resource Area in Montana; the Gallatin National Forest in Montana; the Helena National Forest in Montana; national forest roadless areas in Idaho; the Payette National Forest in Idaho; the Pryor Mountains area within the Custer National Forest in Montana; and the Butte, Challis, Choteau, Dillon, and Wallace 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. The data contained in the spatial databases are based on published information: no new interpretations are made. This digital compilation is part of an ongoing effort to provide mineral resource information formatted for use in spatial analysis. In particular, this is one of several reports prepared to address U.S. Forest Service needs for science information as forest management plans are revised in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Each spatial database is accompanied by FGDC-compliant metadata. REVISIONS AND UPDATES There are no plans at this time to revise and update the GIS in this publication if and when new data become available. FILE AND DATA FORMATS Text files (.txt) may be viewed without special software. Adobe Portable Document Format files (.pdf) can be viewed with Acrobat Reader, a free application available from Adobe Systems, Inc. Spatial databases require GIS software such as ArcReader, ArcView or ArcInfo. The spatial data files can be directly accessed by these applications. ArcView and ArcInfo are licensed applications that must be purchased. The vector spatial databases are coverages and interchange files compiled in ArcInfo (version 9.1, ESRI, 1999-2005), a commercial GIS, in geographic coordinates (decimal degrees) with the North American Datum of 1927. FILE ORGANIZATION Top level files: readme.txt -ö file that describes the product and its digital components (this file) of2007-1101.pdf ö- Report, appendix, and illustrations 3-part_lineonly_master_metadata.htm -- Description of spatial databases for the 3-part mineral resource assessments that only contain linear data. 3-part_master_metadata.htm -- Description of spatial databases for the 3-part mineral resource assessments that contain both linear and areal data. non_3-part_master_metadata.htm -- Description of spatial databases for the non 3-part mineral resource assessments that contain both linear and areal data. Top level directories: \Export\ -- Spatial databases in ArcGIS ArcGIS export (interchange) format. (These files MUST be processed before using in a GIS.) \Spatial\ -- Spatial databases in ArcGIS coverage format. (These files may be used in ArcGIS without further processing.) Contents of the \Spatial\3-part subfolders for three-part form mineral resource assessments: \absaroka -- Absaroka-Beartooth study area, Custer and Gallatin National Forests, Montana list of coverages: aba_dvnsg polymetallic veins abalkpgeg alkaline gabbro-syenite-hosted copper-gold-PGE deposits abalsufeg Algoma/Superior iron abauagtg gold-silver-tellurium veins abausknsg gold-bearing skarn abbcevnsg polymetallic veins abbuscrg Bushveld chromite deposits abdispgeg discordant PGE abepivng epithermal vein ablodeaug Homestake Au abmrpgeg Merensky Reef platinum-group elements (PGE) abpegmatg pegmatite deposits abplacaug placer gold deposits abporcug porphyry copper abpppgeg Picket Pin PGE abredcrg Red Lodge chromite abserpasg serpentine-hosted asbestos abstnicug Stillwater nickel-copper abstracrg PGE-enriched stratiform chromitite aburang uranium deposits \dillon -- Dillon BLM Resource Area list of coverages: drabdrgtg bedrock garnet dragarplg garnet placer dratalcg talc deposits draulmafg mafic or ultramafic rock \gallatin -- Gallatin National Forest (exclusive of the Absaroka-Beartooth study area) list of coverages: galalksyg alkaline gabbro-syenite hosted copper-gold-PGE deposits galauagtg gold-silver-telluride vein galauskng gold-bearing skarn galchromg mafic/ultramafic-hosted chromite galcorung corundumösillimanite deposits galepivng epithermal vein deposits galnicug magmatic Ni, Cu, PGE deposits galpegmag pegmatite deposits galphospg upwelling-type phosphate deposits galpmvbmg polymetallic replacement galpmvg polymetallic veins galporcug porphyry copper galserpag serpentine-hosted asbestos galtaleqg talc associated with dolomitic rocks galtalshg talc associated with ultramafic rocks galvermg vermiculite deposits galxznpbg sedimentary exhalative zinc-lead deposits \helena -- Helena National Forest list of coverages: hnfauplag placer gold hnfauskng gold skarn hnfauvnsg Cretaceous gold-bearing vein hnfclimog Climax molybdenum hnfexhaug York-type exhalative (?) gold deposits hnfeznpbg sedimentary exhalative zinc-lead deposits hnfgoldg gold deposits hnfhagaug hot-spring gold-silver hnflimdog limestone and dolomite hnfpmrplg polymetallic replacement hnfpolvng polymetallic vein hnfporcug porphyry copper hnfquadug epithermal vein, quartz adularia hnfredcug sediment-hosted copper, redbed type hnfwskrng tungsten- (molybdenum) skarn \idinit -- National Forest Roadless Areas in Idaho list of coverages: id1clfmog Cretaceous low-fluorine porphyry molybdenum deposits id1ctevg Comstock epithermal vein id1pqvnlg polymetallic quartz vein and lode (mixed base- and precious metal veins) id1rbsdpg radioactive black sand placers id1tlfmog Tertiary low-fluorine porphyry molybdenum deposits id2clfmog Cretaceous low-fluorine porphyry molybdenum id2ctevng Comstock epithermal veins id2polvng polymetallic veins id2pqvnlg polymetallic quartz vein and lode (mixed base- and precious metal veins) id2tpomog Tertiary low-fluorine porphyry molybdenum id2znpbsg Zn-Pb skarn deposits id3bcocug sediment-hosted (Blackbird-type) cobalt-copper deposits id3losaug low-sulfide gold deposits id3plaaug placer gold id3pqvnlg polymetallic quartz vein and lode (mixed base- and precious metal veins) id3rbsdpg radioactive black sand placers id3stvolg stratabound volcanogenic deposits (Kuroko massive sulfide) id3wskarg tungsten skarn id4ctevng Comstock epithermal veins id4metkyg metamorphic kyanite id4plaaug placer gold id4polvng polymetallic veins id4pqvnlg polymetallic quartz vein and lode (mixed base- and precious metal veins) id5kphlag upwelling type phosphate deposits \payette -- Payette National Forest list of coverages: pnfauagvg gold-silver mixed-metal veins (mixed base- and precious-metal veins) pnfauskng gold-bearing skarn pnfbaritg barite layers and veins pnfcuagpg copper-silver polymetallic vein pnfdcuagg disseminated copper-silver pnfddgsg distal disseminated gold-silver pnfdissbg disseminated antimony (simple Sb) deposits pnfgypsug gypsum and anhydrite pnfhsaug hot spring gold-silver pnfhshgg hot spring mercury deposits pnfkurokg Kuroko zinc-copper massive sulfide (Kuroko massive sulfide) pnflosaug low sulfide Au-quartz veins pnfmmvcug copper-gold mixed-metal veins pnfmnlvg manganese layer and veins (Franciscan-type volcanogenic manganese) pnfplyvng polymetallic layers and veins pnfporcug porphyry copper-molybdenum pnfsbvnsg antimony veins (simple Sb deposits) pnfskncug copper skarn pnfsknfeg iron skarn pnfwskarg tungsten skarn pnfwveing Tungsten veins ö quartz-huebnerite (W veins) pnfznpbsg Zinc-lead skarn \pryor -- Pryor Mountains, Custer National Forest list of coverages: pryhplimg high-purity limestone pryurvang uranium-vanadium (solution-collapse breccia pipe uranium deposits) Contents of the \Spatial\non_3-part subfolders for non-three-part form mineral resource assessments: \butte250 -- Butte 1Ą x 2Ą quadrangle list of coverages: buporphg porphyry/stockwork deposits of copper, molybdenum, and tungsten buskarng skarn gold, silver, copper, tungsten, and iron bustockg stockwork/disseminated deposits of gold and silver buveing vein deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, and manganese \challis250 -- Challis 1Ą x 2Ą quadrangle list of coverages: ch250argg stratabound syngenetic dep. of precious and base metals in argillite and micritic limestone ch250aupg gold placer ch250bcfg stratabound, stratiform, breccia-controlled fluorspar deposits in carbonate rocks ch250bpmg mixed base- and precious-metal vein ch250bspg radioactive black sand placer ch250cmog Cretaceous molybdenum stockworks ch250cog stratabound syngenetic cobalt copper ch250epig precious-metal deposits in epiclastic sediments ch250fvng fluorspar vein ch250hgrg mercury replacement ch250pbvg lead-silver-zinc-antimony-tin vein ch250pmvg precious-metal vein ch250pskg polymetallic skarn ch250rhyg precious-metal deposits hosted by high level rhyolites ch250rplg replacement deposits of base and precious metals ch250stug stratiform uranium in sedimentary rocks ch250stvg stratabound vanadium ch250tmog Tertiary molybdenum stockworks ch250tufg precious metal deposits in volcanic tuffs ch250uvng uranium vein ch250wvrg tungsten vein and replacement \challisnf -- Challis National Forest list of coverages: chnfauplg gold placers chnfbkshg polymetallic veins in black-shale terrane chnfbmvng base metal veins chnfbrecg fluorspar breccia manto deposits chnfcarbg polymetallic veins in carbonate terrane chnfflvng fluorspar veins chnfibpmg irregular replacements of base and precious metals chnfjaspg sediment-hosted, jasperoid-associated, precious-metal deposits chnfpmvng precious-metal veins chnfpskng polymetallic skarn deposits chnfquarg polymetallic veins in quartzite terrane chnfrbspg radioactive black sand placer chnfrhyog high-level, rhyolite-hosted, precious-metal deposits chnfstmog stockwork molybdenum deposits chnfstrvg stratiform vanadium deposits chnfstsyg stratabound syngenetic deposits of precious and base metals chnftextg polymetallic veins in Tertiary extrusive terrane chnftuffg precious-metal deposits in volcanic tuffs chnfunkng The presence of mineralization is suggested but definitive data is not available to indicate the type or kind. chnfurang vein uranium deposits chnfwsvng tungsten stockwork and vein deposits \choteau250 -- Choteau 1Ą x 2Ą quadrangle list of coverages: chotaulog gold lode deposits chotaupg gold placer deposits chotbarvg vein deposits of barite chotcumog porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits chotgrbdg greenbed copper-silver deposits chotheleg stratabound lead-zinc and copper-silver deposits in calcareous quartzite of the Helena Formation chotmagg titaniferous magnetite deposits chotpbzng fracture filling and replacement lead-zinc deposits chotpsilg copper-lead-zinc mineralized veins associated with Proterozoic Z sills chotquarg stratabound copper-silver deposits in gray quartzite chottintg polymetallic vein deposits associated with Tertiary intrusives \dillon250 -- Dillon 1Ą x 2Ą quadrangle list of coverages: dichlorig chlorite deposits dichromig chromite deposits digraphig graphite deposits diironfmg bedded iron-formation dinickelg nickel deposits diporphg porphyry copper and molybdenum diqplacrg placer gold and silver in modern stream valleys diskarng skarn deposits distcuagg Belt-type stratabound copper-silver deposits disupbzng Sullivan-type stratabound lead-zinc-silver ditalcg talc deposits ditplacrg placer gold and silver in Tertiary sediments diveing vein and replacement deposits of base and precious metals, barite and fluorspar dixaubasg exhalative deposits of gold and base metals diyecocug Blackbird-type cobalt-copper-gold \wallace250 -- Wallace 1Ą x 2Ą quadrangle list of coverages: wa250aupg placer gold wa250esdg epithermal silver wa250mvg mesothermal veins wa250pgmg platinum group metal wa250pmtg porphyry molybdenum tungsten wa250scsg stratabound copper-silver deposits wa250sslg Sullivan type stratabound lead-zinc-silver SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows - Intel Pentium or Xeon processor, 800 MHz minimum, 1.0GHz or higher recommended - Microsoft Windows XP, or Windows 2000, - 256 MB minimum of RAM, 512 MB or higher recommended - VGA color monitor that can display 256 colors (16.7 million colors recommended) UNIX - Almost any UNIX workstation should be capable of manipulating these files. All platforms - Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Browser version 7.0 or greater. Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 or higher. GIS software capable of reading ArcInfo coverages, such as such as ArcView, or ArcInfo is needed to take full advantage of the GIS-capabilities of this publication. QUICK START 1. The ArcInfo coverages in the directory \Spatial\ can be opened using ArcInfo or ArcView; however, look-up tables (*.REF) must be joined to the coverages in order to associate original source reference information to polygons and arcs. The table relationships and attribute definitions are described in the report. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Technical reviews by Karen Bolm and Barry Moring greatly improved this report. Pamela D. Derkey prepared master metadata files to describe the spatial data. This report and any updates to it are only available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1101/ The bibliographical reference for this publication is: Carlson, M.H., Zientek, M.Z., Causey, J.D., Kayser, H.Z, Spanski, G.T., Wilson, A.B., Van Gosen, B.S., and Trautwein, C.M., 2007, A compilation of spatial digital databases for selected U.S. Geological Survey nonfuel mineral resource assessments for parts of Idaho and Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1101, 33 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1101/.