geochemical
NURE
reconnaissance
mapsof NewMexico
As part of the National Uranium Resource location, a chart of concentration increments
Evaluation (NURE), approximately 21,000 and equivalent symbols, a graph of cumustream-sediment
samplesand 13,000ground- lative probability and standard deviation from
water sampleswere collectedin New Mexico the median, a percent frequency bar graph,
f o r u r a n i u m a n d m u l t i - e l e m e n tc h e m i c a l and a summary of basic statistics.
analysis.At the request of the New Mexico
Increment schemes for the geochemical
B u r e a u o f M i n e s a n d M i n e r a l R e s o u r c e s maps (specified by NMBMMR) are intended,
(NMBMMR), the U.S. Departmentof Energy as much as possible, to allow maximum rescontracted Bendix Field Engineering Cor- olution of geologically significant geochemporation to producecomputerplots of NURE ical pattems and to permit recognition of both
geochemicalreconnaissancemaps for each obvious and subtle geochemical anomalies
of the 1" x 2o quadranglesthat cover New that may indicate favorable areas for mineral
Mexico-a total of 1,220 maps that present exploration. When employed collectively (i. e.,
more than 1,000,000bits of data (Fig. 1).
all the geochemical data is interpreted) and
Eachgeochemicalreconnaissance
map in- integrated with geological and geophysical
cludes the following information: quadran- data, the NURE geochemical maps can be an
gle name, element or other parameterplotted important tool in mineral exploration or for
on map (e.g., pH), sample medium (stream mineral-resource assessment. These geosedimentor ground water), analyticallabo- chemical maps also can lead to new insights
ratory (LosAlamosor Oak Ridge),a 1:250,000- in regional leologic, stratigraphic, hyd'rolscale map with distinctive svmbols (maxi- ogic, and environmental studies.
mum of 15;that indicatethe intrementalconIn addition to detecting uranium provcentration of the element at each sample inces, NURE geochemical maps canbe useful
in detecting favorable areas for copper, lead,
zinc, nickel, cobalt, chromium, vanadium,
manganese, iron, and silver(?) mineralization; also molvbdenum can be detected in
southern New-Mexico. Unfortunately, gold,
tin, tungsten, and niobium maps are of relatively little value because NURE sampling
technioues and analvtical methods were optimized for uranium.-Cuidelinest'orusing NURE
Reochemicalreconnaissancemaps of New Mexico
iNNaeN4vn Open-file Report 218) is included with map orders or may be purchased
before any maps are ordered.
Blueline prints of NURE geochemical maps
can be purchased from the NMBMMR Information, Resource, and Service Center for
$3.00 per map. To order, photocopy Fig. 1;
circle which quadrangle and element symbol(s) you want to purchase. (Use a different
photocopy for each quadrangle ordered.) Be
sure to distinguish the appropriate sample
medium (stream sediment or ground water).
For each quadrangle there is also a set of
sample-location maps that can be purchased
for $3.00/map.
-RichardChamberlinand
VirginiaMcLemore
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The spring meeting of the New Mexico
GeologicalSocietywill be held on Friday,
Aprrl26, 1985,in the Macey Center, New
Mexico Tech, Socorro, from 9 to 5. The
annual businessmeeting will be held that
day from 1 to 2 p.m Symposiaor technical
sessionsthat cover many aspectsof New
Mexico geology are planned for a morning
and aftemoon session.A cocktailparty and
banquet will follow the day's activities.
Information on registration/ accommodation, and other activities planned for
this meeting will be mailed to NMGS
members this month. Inquiries should be
directedto: G. S. Austin, GeneralChairman, NMBMMR, Campus Station, Socorro, NM 87801;(505)835-5125.
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i*ii;ii,.b,\
ilo.
ro8.
A d d i t i o n o lm o p s n o l
r e p r e s e n l e db y p o l l e r n s
ore listedwithinindividuol
quodrongles.
R o m o nl e l l e r s : s l r e o m s e d i m e n td o t o m o p s
l l o l i c l e l t e r s :g r o u n d woter doto mops
M o p s c o m m o ni o o l l q u o d r o n q l e s :
S t r e o ms e d i m e n t s -A g , A l ,B o ,8 e ,C o , C e , C o , CCr u, ,F e ,H f ,
K , L o , L i, M g ,M n ,N o ,N b ,N i , p b , S c , S r , T h ,, T
Ui,V , Z n , K / N o ,
M g / C o , A l / M 9 , Z n/ C u , U / r h
Ground woters- U,pH, conduchylly (Cf)
A d d i t i o n om
l ops
S t r e o ms e d i m e n t-s A u , B i , C d , C t , CLsu, , R b , S b , S n , W
S l r e o m s e d i m e n l s -B , M o , P , Y , Z r
Groun d wole rs - Ag, Al, 8, 8o, Co,Ce,Co,Cr, Cu,Fe,K, Li, Mg,
Mn, Mo, No, Nb, Ni, P,Sc,Si,Sr,Th,Tr,V,y, Zn, Zr
FIGURE l-Index
map for NURE geochemical reconnaissance maps of New Mexico. The "GJBX" number
is,the reference to the bpen-file Re-port(s)that conta in(s) the original, tabula ted data for eactr quadra ngle.
These are available for examination at NMBMMR. The number in the lower right corner of eich
quadrangle represents the laboratory or laboratories responsible for collecting and lnalyzing the samples: 1, Los Alamos National Laboratory; 2, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Pllnt; 3, both 1 and 2.
1985l{ewMexico
Geological
lieldconference
Society
The 1985New Mexico Geological Society fall field conferencewill be held September 26-28 in east-cenhalNew Mexico
(Santa Rosa-TucumcariCountry). Emphasis will be on the stratigraphy, sedimentology,and paleontology of Mesozoic
rocks and the Ogallala Formation and on
the oi-I,gas, and uranium resourcesof upper Paleozoic-Mesozoicrocks. Contributed paperson this areafor the guidebook
are welcome.For more information contact the conference organizer: S. Lucas,
Departmentof Geology,University of New
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131; telephone: 5051277-1646.
Nm MexicoGeologyFebruary1985
77