U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Surface water data and geographic relation to Tertiary age intrusions
and hydrothermal alteration in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison
National Forests (GMUG) and intervening Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
lands

By

Dana J. Bove^1^, and Daniel H. Knepper^1^

Open-File Report 00-271

2000

This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) editorial standards or with the North
American Stratigraphic Code. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is
for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S.
Government. Although these data have been used by the USGS and have been
successfully imported into various software programs, no warranty,
expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to how successfully or
accurately the data can be imported into any specific application
software running on any specific hardware platform. The fact of
distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no
responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection therewith.

^1^U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado

**INTRODUCTION**

In recent years, land managers have focused on a prioritization process
for the study and possible remediation of watersheds affected by
historic mining activity. However, the initial prioritization process
has commonly been hampered by the lack of available reconnaissance water
geochemistry and related geologic data. During the course of a U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resource Program assessment of the
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) and
intervening Bureau of Land Management(BLM) lands, federal land managers
have reiterated their need for such geospatial databases to allow
preliminary scoping of surface water quality within mining affected
watersheds. In response to this request, we have compiled all known and
available water quality data covering the mined portions of all but the
extreme western parts of the GMUG study area. As many surface waters
within the GMUG watersheds are known to have pre-mining baseline levels
of high acidity and anomalous metal content, we have also included
geospatial data depicting Tertiary age intrusions and remotely sensed
zones of hydrothermal alteration and iron oxidation, which may locally
have some spatial relationship to these pre-mining baseline conditions.
A geospatial database depicting mines, prospects, and mineralized areas
within GMUG study area (Wilson and others, USGS, unpub. data), will also
soon be available in a USGS open-file report.

This report covers a large part of western Colorado and includes surface
water geochemical data from eight different sources (points), a
compilation of Tertiary age intrusions (polygons and lines), two geotiff
files showing areas of hydrothermally altered rock, and nine U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) Digital Raster Graph (DRG) files for
topographic bases. Water geochemistry data compiled for this publication
focuses on areas that fall both within the GMUG forests and intervening
BLM lands. Water geochemistry data reflects sampling of water affected
and unaffected by mining-related activity. Although the presence of
mines or draining adits is commonly reported in these data sets, there
has been no attempt to discriminate between "mining-related" and
"pre-mining, baseline representative" samples.

Water geochemistry and intrusion data presented in this report have been
made available in both Arcview shape(\*.shp) and ARC/INFO interchange
(\*.e00) formats; topographic basemaps (DRG's) and areas of hydrothermal
alteration are presented as geotiff files (\*.tif). There are also eight
ArcExplorer 1.1 (ESRI) project files in the root directory of this
CD_ROM, with associated views depicting the spatial extent of these
eight water datasets. Water data in these project files show pH and
thematic representations of zinc concentration, as these are two of the
more important factors considered in remediation studies. These data are
overlain upon layers depicting Tertiary age intrusions and topographic
base maps (DRG's). The project views are only intended as preliminary
views of the associated data and by no means constitute a finished map
product.. Users of these project files are encouraged to portray the
associated files in any way so desired and use the limited GIS
capacities of the ArcExplorer program. Users of the data in this
publication are directed to a digital USGS report (Wilson and others, in
press) that includes pertinent GIS coverages of mines, prospects, and
mineralized areas in the GMUG study area. These data are available in
Arcview shape (\*.shp) and ARC/INFO interchange (\*.e00) format ensuring
ease of use with data presented in this report.

**METHODOLOGY**

Previously unpublished water geochemical data surrounding the Mount
Emmons area, near Crested Butte, Colorado (see ofrview.pdf; amaxwater),
were provided courtesy of the Cyprus Amax Minerals Company and were
collected by Climax Exploration geochemists in the late 1970\'s. A more
areally restricted data set in the Redwell Basin area (Wanty and others,
USGS, unpub. data) immediately north of Mount Emmons (see ofrview.pdf;
redwell), was collected in the summer of 1997 by a team of U.S.
Geological Survey geochemists and geologists; as part of the same
project; stream and spring samples from drainages surrounding Red
Mountain, near Lake City, Colorado were also collected and are included
in this report (see ofrview.pdf; redmtn). An extensive dataset was
culled from USGS surface water data (Mast and others, unpub. data) from
the upper Animas River, Mineral Creek, and Cement Creek basins in the
vicinity of Silverton, Colorado (see ofrview.pdf; amlgmug). These data
were collected as part of an ongoing Abandoned Mines Lands (AML) study
in this area. Water quality data from the Red Mountain Pass area, north
of Silverton, Colorado (see ofrview.pdf; idarado), were compiled from
documents furnished by the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE) Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
(HMWMD). These documents (Colorado Department of Health, 1986a-c;
Colorado Department of Health 1991a-b; Colorado Department of Health,
1995) were part of administrative reports related to CDPHE litigation
versus the Idarado Mining and Milling Complex. A subsequent CDPHE report
(Colorado Department of Health, 1992) details mine and mill tailing
remediation work completed after the above water data was collected;
sample localities affected by this remediation work are noted in the
dataset. Specifics regarding data quality, as well as sampling and
analytical methods are detailed in the metadata of this report (see
metawat.txt).

The intrusion layers (compint_utm.\* and gmugdike.\*) were compiled from
17 different source maps ranging in scale from 1:24,000 to 1:250,000.
Polygons and polylines were digitized on a Calcomp tablet from good
quality paper or base stable mylar maps. Where noted in the metadata of
this report, intrusion boundaries were generalized and approximated
across surficial cover. Information such as isotopic age, map source,
and geographic names, are found within the attribute fields of these
files. Detailed information on data quality, map projection, and
processing descriptions are found in the metadata of this report (see
metaint.txt).

Remotely sensed, broad -band spectral data (lake-silver_crc.tif;
ruby_crc.tif) representing areas of hydrothermal alteration and iron
oxidation were derived from Landsat Thematic images. Spectral
reflectance data in the near and infrared range were analyzed using the
ER Mapper software program with ratios prepared for band5/band7 and
band3/band1. Like all other data layers in this report, the processed
ratio image was georeferenced to UTM zone 13. The resulting mosaiced
image was clipped to portions of the GMUG study area, and superimposed
on USGS digital raster graphs. Further information on processing data
can be accessed in the metadata of this report (see metarast.txt).

**ARCEXPLORER**

ArcExplorer is included on this CD because it is a useful tool for
viewing the spatial data on this disk, especially for those without the
use of GIS software. ArcExplorer uses the same data files as Arcview
although a project, or group of files, uses the .AEP extension instead
of the .APR used by Arcview. The eight project files included in this
report depict the spatial extent of the included water datasets and
point to source shape files in the subdirectory \\shape and to digital
raster graph files (DRG\'s) in the subdirectory \\drgs. The project
views depict pH along with thematic representations of zinc
concentration, as these are two of the more important factors considered
in remediation studies. These data are overlain upon layers depicting
Tertiary age intrusions and topographic base maps (DRG's). Any of the
other layers (termed "themes" by the ArcExplorer and Arcview programs)
that use the same projection may be added or removed from these
projects. Note: for an unknown reason, the alteration geotiff files (see
\\alteration subdirectory)\_although in same projection as above
mentioned shape files_can not be viewed simultaneously with these shape
files in ArcExplorer. However, they can be viewed together in all other
GIS packages tested (Arcview, Mapinfo, and ERDAS Imagine).

ESRI\'s ArcExplorer 1.1 can be installed from the CD_ROM version of this
publication by opening the self_extracting file aeclient.exe, or it can
be downloaded free from the ESRI homepage\_ http://www.esri.com. After
viewing the file ofrview.pdf (root directory), locate an ArcExplorer
project file representing a particular area of interest, open the
ArcExplorer program, and then select File/Open Project to select that
particular project area of interest. All of the layers (or "themes")
will appear in the legend on the left of the map. Any Arcview compatible
file in the same projection may be added by clicking Theme/Add Theme.
Turn layers on and off by checking the box on the left edge. To query a
single layer, click on the explanation label to make the layer active
(it will highlight it in a raised box). Then chose Theme/Theme
Properties. Select Classification Options and a Field from the drop down
boxes. The descriptions for abbreviated attribute field headings (i.e.
ZN_UG/L=dissolved zinc concentration in micrograms per liter) are found
in the file metawat.txt in the directory \\metadata. Please also be
advised that geospatial data extends beyond the margins of the opening
view of these project files. For further instructions on using
ArcExplorer, consult the program's HELP menu.

Alternatively, Arcview users may open the Arcview project files in the
Arcview directory. Use of ArcExplorer is not recommended for current GIS
users because it is much less versatile.

**CONTENTS OF THE CD-ROM OR WEB PAGE **

Main Directory

readme1.txt Text file showing the contents and a brief description of
this report.

OF00-271.DOC This document, Open-File 00-271, in MS Word format.

OF00-271.WP This document, Open-File 00-271, in WordPerfect 5.1 format.

OF00-271.pdf This document, Open-File 00-271, in pdf fomat.

ofrview.pdf File is an overview of the location and extent of water
datasets included in this publication on a topographic base map.

mapunit.txt Text file contains notes and descriptions of map units for
the files compint_utm.e00, compint_utm.shp, gmugdike.e00, and
gmugdike.shp in the subdirectory /shape.

aeclient.exe Extractable ArcExplorer program.

ArcExplorer Project Files

amaxwater.aep water samples and intrusions in the area surrounding Mount
Emmons, near Crested Butte, Colorado.

amlgmug.aep water samples and intrusions in the Animas River Basin, near
Silverton, Colorado.

idarado.aep water samples and intrusions in the vicinity of Red Mountain
Pass, near Silverton, Colorado.

kirkwater1.aep water samples and intrusions in the Ophir area, Colorado.

kirkwater2.aep water samples and intrusions in the Capitol City area,
Colorado.

lakecity.aep water samples and intrusions in the Henson Creek and Lake
Fork of the Gunnison River drainages.

redmtn.aep water samples and intrusions surrounding Red Mountain, near
Lake City, Colorado.

redwell.aep water samples and intrusions in Redwell Basin, near Crested
Butte, Colorado.

wrdgmug.aep water samples and intrusions throughout western Colorado.

\\shape Contains the original shape files of point water quality data
and Tertiary age intrusions (lines and polygons). Shape file names have
suffix attached to designate point, line, or polygon coverage (i.e.
amlgmug_point.shx).

water samples and intrusions throughout western Colorado.

amaxwater.shp Water geochemical data from several drainages near Crested
Butte, Colorado

amlgmug.shp Water geochemical data from the upper Animas River watershed
near Silverton Colorado

compint_utm.shp Tertiary age intrusions (polygons)

gmug_dikes.shp Tertiary age dikes (lines)

idarado.shp Water geochemical data from the Red Mountains area north of
Silverton, Colorado.

kirkwater.shp Small water geochemical dataset from the Ophir and
Wetterhorn Peak areas, southwestern, Colorado.

lakecity.shp Water geochemical data from the Lake City area, Colorado.

redmtn.shp Water geochemical data from the Alpine Gulch and areas
surrounding Red Mountain, near Lake City, Colorado.

redwell.shp Water geochemical data from Redwell Basin, near Crested
Butte, Colorado

wrdgmug.shp Water geochemical data from much of western Colorado.

\\export Contains the above shape files exported as ARC/INFO interchange
files (\*.e00).

amaxwater.e00 Water geochemical data from several drainages near Crested
Butte, Colorado

amlgmug.e00 Water geochemical data from the upper Animas River watershed
near Silverton Colorado

compint_utm.e00 Tertiary age intrusions (polygons)

gmug_dikes.e00 Tertiary age dikes (lines)

idarado.e00 Water geochemical data from the Red Mountains area north of
Silverton, Colorado.

kirkwater.e00 Small water geochemical dataset from the Ophir and
Wetterhorn Peak areas, southwestern, Colorado.

lakecity.e00 Water geochemical data from the Lake City area, Colorado.

redmtn.e00 Water geochemical data from the Alpine Gulch and areas
surrounding Red Mountain, near Lake City, Colorado.

redwell.e00 Water geochemical data from Redwell Basin, near Crested
Butte, Colorado

wrdgmug.e00 Water geochemical data from much of western Colorado.

\\drgs Contains assortment of U.S. Geological Survey digital raster
graphs(DRG; \*.tif) and associated world files (\*.tfw) in UTM
projection used as topographic bases for the above mentioned ArcExplorer
project files. DRG files have been renamed for purposes of geographic
reference. File names in parentheses are original file names.

lakesancristobal.tif Lake San Cristobal 1:24,000 quadrangle
(O37107h3.tif)

montrose100k.tif Montrose 1:100,000 quadrangle (F38107A1.tif)

ohbejoy.tif Oh-be-joyful 1:24,000 quadrangle (O38107H1.tif)

ophir.tif Ophir 1:24,000 quadrangle (O37107G7.tif)

paonia100k.tif Paonia 1:100,000 quadrangle (F38107E1.tif)

silverton.tif Silverton 1:24,000 quadrangle (037107G6.tif)

silvton100k.tif Silverton 1:100,000 quadrangle (F37107E1.tif)

uncomppk.tif Uncompahgre Peak 1:24,000 quadrangle (037107H7.tif)

drgcomp.tif Compilation of nine 1:100,000 DRG's covering much of the
GMUG area

\\alteration Remotely sensed alteration data on topographic base. Note:
For unknown reason, alteration geotiff files-although in same projection
as above mentioned shape files-can not be viewed simultaneously with
these shape files in ArcExplorer. However, they can be viewed together
in all other GIS packages testes (Arcview, Mapinfo, and ERDAS Imagine).

lake-silver_crc.tif Remote sensing alteration data in the Lake City and
Silverton, Colorado areas

ruby_crc.tif Remote sensing alteration data in the Crested Butte and
Mount Emmons area, Colorado.

\\metadata Contains metadata for this report

metawat.txt Metadata file, which is a spatial data description file
containing projection, lineage, authorship, and other data for the water
data files.

metaint.txt Metadata file, which is a spatial data description file
containing projection, lineage, authorship, and other data for the
intrusions data files.

metarast.txt Metadata file, which is a spatial data description file
containing projection, lineage, authorship, and other data for the
alteration data and DRG composite.

**References Cited**

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report not available\]

Colorado Department of Health, 1995, Colorado v. Idarado, et. al.:
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