Digital Databases and CD-ROM 

for the Animas River Watershed

By Tracy C. Sole, Matthew Granitto, Carl L. Rich, David W. Litke, and 

Richard T. Pelltier

Chapter G of

Integrated Investigations of Environmental Effects of Historical 

Mining in the Animas River Watershed, San Juan County, Colorado

Edited by Stanley E. Church, Paul von Guerard, and Susan E. Finger

Professional Paper 1651

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Contents

Abstract .....................................................................................................................................................1081

Introduction...............................................................................................................................................1081

Purpose and Scope ........................................................................................................................1083

Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................1083

Base Cartographic Data .........................................................................................................................1083

Site Data ....................................................................................................................................................1084

Sample-Site Data ............................................................................................................................1084

Mine-Related Site Data .................................................................................................................1087

Geoscientific Data ...................................................................................................................................1088

Geologic Data ..................................................................................................................................1088

Geochemical Data ..........................................................................................................................1088

Biological Data ................................................................................................................................1088

Geophysical Data ............................................................................................................................1088

Relational Database ................................................................................................................................1089

Contents of Database .....................................................................................................................1089

Database Structure ........................................................................................................................1089

Data Viewer Software .............................................................................................................................1095

Animas River Watershed CD-ROM .......................................................................................................1096

Figures

 1. Map showing geographic extent of Animas River watershed study area ....................1082

 2. Map showing distribution of Animas River watershed study sample sites 

in nine-quadrangle area ........................................................................................................1085

 3–6. Diagrams showing:

 3. Tables in relational database and relationships between tables ............................1087

 4. Select query qselFerricreteChem1 in Query Design view ........................................1093

 5. Crosstab query qctabFerricreteChem2 in Query Design view .................................1094

 6. Crosstab query ctabFerricreteChem2 exported as an XLS file ................................1095

Tables

 1. Base cartographic data coverages in the Animas River watershed 

GIS database ...........................................................................................................................1083

 2. Elevation and elevation-derived grids in the Animas River watershed 

GIS database ...........................................................................................................................1084

 3. File names for Site Data in various formats .......................................................................1086

 4. Geoscientific data in the Animas River watershed GIS database .................................1090
Abstract

During the U.S. Geological Survey Animas River 

watershed Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative between 1996 

and 2001, scientists collected diverse data that describe and 

characterize the geology, geophysics, geography, biology, 

mining, and water quality of the Animas River watershed. The 

environmental effects of more than 100 years of mining along 

with a complex geologic history in this area have brought to 

light several fundamental questions regarding the relationships 

between the products and features left behind from hardrock 

mining, weathering processes of geologic units, and water 

quality. Team scientists produced and compiled many layers 

of spatial digital data to support the multiple objectives of the 

Animas River watershed project. Base cartographic data covering the project study area were used to provide geographic 

reference for display of scientific information and results. The 

accompanying compact disc (CD-ROM) contains these data 

and provides users with capabilities for viewing these data 

layers and for utilizing the information for user-defined purposes. The data not only are useful for cartographic displays of 

scientific results, but also can be used for watershed characterization, investigative analysis, and modeling.

Introduction

This chapter is a summary and description of the digital 

data that were generated as part of the Animas River watershed study, and which are placed on the CD-ROM that accompanies this volume.

The Animas River watershed study area is located about 

40 miles north of Durango, Colo. Our multidisciplinary study 

has resulted in numerous digital data layers, which have been 

used to produce maps and images included and cited in other 

chapters of this volume. Team scientists analyzed rock, sediment, water, and biota. The data of other Federal and State 

agencies were incorporated where needed, as well as data from 

previous USGS studies. Different types of remote-sensing 

information were gathered from several platforms, including 

helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and satellites.

An integral part of this chapter is a description of the 

relational database, the geographic information systems 

(GIS) database, and the map, image, and graphics products 

created during the Animas River watershed study. The databases and graphics products are contained on the accompanying CD-ROM, and these digital data are described and listed 

in tables as part of this text chapter. The relational database 

contains the biologic, hydrologic, geochemical, and geologic 

sample-site data collected for the Animas River watershed 

study, and an inventory and description of mine-related sites. 

These same data are provided as data layers and associated 

tables in the GIS database, in both vector and raster formats. 

In addition, the CD-ROM provides data viewing software that 

allows basic spatial analysis of the digital data layers.

The base cartographic data cover the Telluride, Ironton, 

Handies Peak, Ophir, Silverton, Howardsville, Engineer 

Mountain, Snowdon Peak, and Storm King Peak 7.5-minute 

quadrangles at a level of detail similar to that of U.S. Geological 

Survey 1:24,000-scale topographic maps. The geoscientific 

data also exist within these same nine quadrangles. Most of the 

sample sites fall within the project-defined watershed boundary 

(wshdbnd), but there are also some sample-site data in other 

portions of the Animas River watershed, and a few outside 

the Animas River watershed. Nine sites are outside the ninequadrangle area.

The data are available on the CD-ROM in native software 

platform formats, and in several other formats including DOS 

ASCII text file (TXT), ESRI shapefile, ESRI interchange file 

(E00), dBASE (DBF) file, Adobe Portable Document format 

(PDF), and georeferenced tagged image file format image file 

(GeoTIFF) formats. The x,y coordinates of the ArcInfo coverages, ESRI shapefiles, and GeoTIFF image files are in UTM 

(Universal Transverse Mercator) meters, zone 13, and are 

projected to the common datum of North American Datum of 

1927 (NAD27). The FieldSite table in the relational database 

also contains the longitude and latitude values of the field site 

locations in decimal degrees, also in NAD27.

Chapter G

Digital Databases and CD-ROM for the 

Animas River Watershed

By Tracy C. Sole, Matthew Granitto, Carl L. Rich, David W. Litke, and Richard T. Pelltier
The following sections describe the data in three categories, including (1) base cartographic data, (2) sample-site data 

and mine-related site data, and (3) data layers pertaining to 

geologic, geochemical, biologic, and geophysical information. 

(This third group of data layers is collectively referred to in this 

chapter as “Geoscientific Data.”) A brief description of the data 

is followed by summary tables that provide relevant information about individual data files. This data synopsis is followed 

by an explanation of the relational database. The chapter 

concludes with a description of the data viewer software that 

is provided on the CD-ROM and an explanation of the content 

and format of the CD-ROM.

California

Mountain

former Lake

 Emma

Elk Park

Minera l

Cree

k

Animas

River

Cem

ent Creek

Chattanooga Eureka

Silverton

Animas

Forks

Howardsville

0

0 1

1 2 MILES

2 KILOMETERS

Ohio x

Peak

Storm x

Peak

x

Vermillion

Peak

3,792 m x x Galena

Peak

x

x 

Anvil

 Mountain

x Red 

 Mountain #3

x Lookout Peak

x

Sultan 

Peak

Study area

boundary

Animas River

watershed 

study area

C O L O R A D O

Figure 1. Geographic extent of Animas River watershed study area.

1082 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Digital Databases for the Animas River Watershed 1083

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this study was to design a relational 

database and a GIS database to aid scientists in evaluating 

the effects that mining and weathering processes have on the 

ecosystem health of the Animas River watershed study area. 

The relational database was designed and implemented to 

store sample and analyses information in a format that permits 

simple to complex queries. The GIS coverages were created 

to permit data to be viewed, analyzed, and plotted.

The objectives of this study are to:

• Integrate the thousands of rock, water, and biology 

data items initially stored in flat files into a relational 

database

• Archive spatial data in a vector GIS database

• Provide metadata for the digital data collected for 

the Animas River watershed project.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the assistance of Paul Martin, 

Rick Poss, Stewart Wright, Steve Howard, Earl Wilson, 

Maria McCormick, Steve Methven, Martin Chourre, and 

Eric Wong in the creation of the base cartographic data for 

the Animas River watershed GIS database.

Base Cartographic Data

The base cartographic data were initially collected 

from the nine 7.5-minute U.S. Geological Survey topographic 

maps mentioned previously. Data were scanned or digitized 

from stable-base separates for each pertinent 7.5-minute 

topographic map. Digital line graph (DLG) files were created, 

and then converted to ArcInfo coverages. The coverages were 

then revised where possible using 1998 one-meter resolution 

digital orthophoto quadrangles (DOQ).

Base cartographic layers created as just described 

include hydrography, roads and trails, railroads, miscellaneous 

transportation, hypsography (vector topographic contours), 

administrative and political boundaries, and cultural features. 

The hydrography and roads and trails layers were revised 

using DOQ files as just described. The remaining layers were 

not altered, and thus their content reflects the content of the 

7.5-minute topographic maps.

Inactive mines and mine-related features were of utmost 

importance to this study, and are described separately later in 

this chapter, and in detail in the chapter, “Mine Inventory and 

Compilation of Mine-Adit Chemistry Data” (Church, Mast, 

and others, this volume, Chapter E5). The Animas River watershed study area boundary layer was created using the administrative boundaries, hypsography, and hydrography layers.

The base cartographic data vector layers exist on the 

Animas River watershed CD-ROM as Arc Interchange files 

in the \animas_cd\gis_db\basecart\e00 directory, and as ESRI 

shapefiles in the \animas_cd\gis_db\basecart\shape directory. A 

complete list of base cartographic data coverages is in table 1. 

Due to shapefile naming restrictions, the names of some of 

the shapefiles are abbreviated versions of their corresponding 

ArcInfo coverage names. For a complete listing of the shapefile 

names, see the \animas_cd\gis_db\basecart\README.txt file 

on the CD-ROM which accompanies this volume.

The coverages listed in table 1 contain data that lie 

entirely within the nine-quadrangle area. The Administrative 

Boundaries theme contains national forest and wilderness 

boundaries but does not include private inholding boundaries. 

The Political Boundaries theme contains county and incorporated boundaries that represent the only political boundaries 

that exist in the nine-quadrangle area.

Table 1. Base cartographic data coverages in the Animas River watershed GIS database.

Coverage name Theme File name Data format

ADMINBND Administrative Boundaries adminbnd.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

HYDRO Hydrography hydro.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

HYPSO Hypsography hypso.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

MINE_TOPO_PTS Mine-related Point Features from Topographic Maps mine_topo_pts.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

MISC_CUL Miscellaneous Culture Features misc_cul.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

MISC_CUL_PTS Miscellaneous Culture Point Features misc_cul_pts.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

MISCTR Miscellaneous Transportation Features misctr.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

PLACE_NAMES Place Names place_names.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

POLBND Political Boundaries polbnd.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

RAILRDS Railroads railrds.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

QUADS Quadrangle Boundaries quads.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

Q9OUTLINE Outline of nine-Quadrangle Area q9outline.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

ROADS Roads roads.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

WSHDBND Watershed Boundary wshdbnd.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage

SUBBASINS Subbasins subbasins.e00 ArcInfo vector coverage
A typical USGS DLG Miscellaneous Culture Features 

file would contain the contents of the Miscellaneous Culture 

Features theme, the Miscellaneous Culture Point Features 

theme, and the Mine-related Point Features from Topographic 

Maps theme. Because of the importance of mine-related sites 

to this study, mine-related sites were separated from the other 

cultural point features and stored in a separate coverage called 

MINE_TOPO_PTS. This coverage contains all mine-related 

point features exactly as they are shown on the 7.5-minute 

topographic maps. A separate coverage, MINE_SITES, which 

was created using the digital orthophoto quadrangle files and 

a wide variety of other sources, is described briefly in this 

chapter under the SITE DATA section, and in greater detail in 

Church, Mast, and others (this volume).

Other related base cartographic data in the GIS database include an elevation grid created by converting USGS 

10-meter Digital Elevation Model (DEM) files into individual 

grids and mosaicking them together, and individual Digital 

Raster Graphic (DRG) files of the topographic maps. Slope 

grids in percent and degrees, and aspect and shaded-relief 

grids were also derived from the elevation grid. All of the 

elevation-related grids are listed in table 2. The elevation 

and elevation-derived grids exist on the CD-ROM in the 

\animas_cd\gis_db\basecart\elev\grids directory as a compressed tar file (elev.tar.gz), which, when uncompressed, 

produces an entire ArcInfo workspace containing all of the 

elevation-related grids. The elevation and elevation-derived 

data also exist as GeoTIFF and TIFF files on the Animas River 

watershed CD-ROM in the \animas_cd\gis_db\basecart\elev\

images directory.

For more detailed information describing the sources, 

creation and content of the base cartographic data in the 

Animas River watershed GIS database, see the metadata 

located on the accompanying CD-ROM, in the \animas_cd\

gis_db\basecart\meta directory.

Site Data

Site characterization, analysis, and monitoring were the 

primary objectives of the research of this project. Rock, sediment, water, and biological samples were collected, measured, 

and analyzed, and an inventory of mine-related sites and 

descriptions was compiled. All data were integrated spatially, 

using a GIS, and conceptually, using a relational database, to 

produce a coherent organization of project data.

There are three sets of site data. Two are sample-site 

data and the third is mine-related site data; they are field sites, 

analysis sites, and mine sites. Field sites are all the sites that 

were sampled by project scientists; they number 2,014. Analysis sites are groupings of field sites. These are field sampling 

sites that are considered by project scientists to be co-located 

for analysis purposes; there are 1,648 analysis sites. Mine sites 

represent both inactive mines and other mine-related features; 

they number 374.

The conceptual structure of the implementation of the 

site data differs from the GIS data files to the relational database. The three data sets are provided as ArcInfo export files 

of coverages as well as ESRI shapefiles and DBF files. In the 

Access database the Field Sites and Mine Sites all are contained in a single table (Site). Associations between the GIS 

data files Field Sites (field_sites) and Mine Sites (mine_sites) 

were defined and represented in the relational database as 

relationships, rather than as individual Access tables.

Sample-Site Data

Figure 2 shows the distribution of the sample sites for 

the Animas River watershed study which lie within the ninequadrangle area. Most sites are in the Animas River watershed; a few are outside of the Animas River watershed, and 

nine sites are outside the nine-quadrangle area. For detailed 

locations of specific sample sites, see the appropriate chapter 

of this volume or extract the FIELD_SITES data from the 

accompanying CD-ROM.

The sample-site data and mine-related site data exist in a 

number of different formats on the accompanying CD-ROM. 

The site data file names and associated formats are shown in 

table 3. Because of the differences in the allowed lengths of 

file names and attribute names, some of the ArcInfo, ESRI 

shapefile, and DBF file names and attribute names are abbreviated versions of those that exist in the analogous relational 

(Access) database tables. These differences are delineated in the 

README.txt file on the Animas River watershed CD-ROM in 

the \animas_cd\gis_db\sitedata directory.

Table 2. Elevation and elevation-derived grids in the Animas River watershed GIS database.

Grid name Theme File name Data format

ELEVATION Elevation elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

ELEV_60MINT Reclassified Elevation elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

HILSHD Shaded Relief elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

SLOPE_DEGREE Slope in Degrees elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

SLOPEDEG_CLS Reclassified Slope elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

SLOPE_PERCENT Percent Slope elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

SLOPEPCT_CLS Reclassified Slope elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

ASPECT Slope Aspect elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

ASP_CLASS2 Reclassified Aspect elev.tar.gz ArcInfo grid

1084 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Digital Databases for the Animas River Watershed 1085

The coverage, file, and attribute names used in the 

remainder of this section are from the ArcInfo GIS database. 

Access relational database table and attribute names are 

used in the “Relational Database” section later in this 

chapter.

The sample data exist in the GIS database as two point 

feature data layers (FIELD_SITES and ANALYSIS_SITE) 

and 15 associated tables. The FIELD_SITES data layer 

contains one point feature for each sample site. Attributes for 

each site include a unique identifier called SITENUMBER, 

various information provided by the person who collected the 

sample(s) at the site, and location information. A table called 

FSLOC_MASTER contains the attributes ELEVATION, UNIT 

(stratigraphic unit), LITH (lithology), and AGE (geologic 

age), for each sample site. Values for these attributes were 

assigned by using the GIS to perform spatial overlays with the 

FIELD_SITES coverage and the appropriate base cartographic 

and geologic coverages.

Figure 2. Distribution of Animas River watershed study sample sites in nine-quadrangle area.

Ophir

Telluride Ironton

Silverton Howardsville

Handies Peak

Engineer Mounta Snowdon Peak Storm King Peak in

37o37'30" 37o37'30"

38o00'

107o52'30" 107o30'

38o00'

107o52'30" 107o30'
Sample sites that are considered co-located for purposes 

of spatial analysis are assigned the same value for an identifier called AMLI_ANALYSIS_ID. Because the location 

chosen to represent the “analysis site” is not always exactly 

the same as that of the sample sites that are logically considered to be co-located there, a second point feature data 

layer, ANALYSIS_SITE, is used to contain the locations of 

the analysis sites. The same attributes that were added to the 

FIELD_SITES data layer using spatial overlay were also 

added to the ANALYSIS_SITE data layer.

Because the AMLI_ANALYSIS_ID exists in the attribute tables for both the FIELD_SITES and ANALYSIS_SITE 

data layers, the two can be related to each other and to other 

data tables containing actual sample data and results. The 

relationship between the two point feature data layers is oneto-many, since more than one field site can have the same 

AMLI_ANALYSIS_ID. In order to aid GIS users not familiar 

with techniques for dealing with one-to-many relationships, 

the attribute table for the ANALYSIS_SITE data layer also 

contains the SITENUMBERs of the field sites associated with 

each analysis site.

A table called FS_MS_ASSOCS contains a list of field 

sites that are associated with specific mine-related sites. For 

a complete description of the inventory of mining-related 

sites created for this study, see Church, Mast, and others (this 

volume).

The other tables contain the actual sample data and results, 

as well as various characteristics of the samples and results. 

These tables were initially created using Microsoft Access and 

then converted to INFO files and DBF files for inclusion in the 

GIS database. These tables are described in the “Relational 

Database” section of this chapter. Effective use of the data 

in many of these tables requires dealing with one-to-many 

relationships. The relationships between the tables are shown 

in figure 3, and are explained in the “Relational Database” 

section of this chapter. An Adobe Portable Document format 

document (relationship.pdf) containing a complete diagram of 

the relationships of all the files in the Animas River watershed 

relational database exists on the accompanying CD-ROM in 

the \animas_cd\rel_db directory. Because effective use of the 

sample-site data requires an understanding of these relationships, this diagram is important for users of the GIS database, 

as well as for users of the relational database.

Table 3. File names for Site Data in various formats.

Export files for ArcInfo 

coverages or Info files

 Shapefiles or

 dBASE files Access tables ASCII tables

analysis_site.e00 

(coverage)

anlysite.shp SpatialAnalysisSites SpatialAnalysisSites.txt 

analytic_meth.e00

(Info file) 

an_meth.dbf AnalyticMethod AnalyticMethod.txt 

field_sites.e00

(coverage) 

fldsite.shp Site Site.txt 

fs_ms_assocs.e00

(Info file)

fmsassoc.dbf FieldSiteMineSiteAssocs FieldSiteMineSiteAssocs.txt 

fsloc_master.e00

(Info file)

fslocmst.dbf FieldSiteLocationMaster FieldSiteLocMaster.txt

lab_name.e00

(Info file) 

labname.dbf LabName LabName.txt 

msloc_master.e00 

(Info file)

mslocmst.dbf MineSiteLocationMaster MineSiteLocMaster.txt 

mine_sites.e00 

(coverage)

minesite.shp Site Site.txt 

parameter.e00 

(Info file)

parametr.dbf Parameter Parameter.txt 

project.e00 

(Info file)

project.dbf Project Project.txt 

qual_result.e00 

(Info file)

qualres.dbf QualitativeResult QualitativeResult.txt 

result1.e00

(Info file) 

result1.dbf Result Result.txt 

result2.e00

(Info file) 

result2.dbf Result Result.txt 

result3.e00

(Info file) 

result3.dbf Result Result.txt 

sample.e00

(Info file) 

sample.dbf Sample Sample.txt 

sample_media.e00

(Info file) 

sampmed.dbf SampleMedia SampleMedia.txt 

1086 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Digital Databases for the Animas River Watershed 1087

The FIELD_SITES and ANALYSIS_SITE coverages 

exist on the Animas River watershed CD-ROM as export 

files in the \animas_cd\gis_db\sitedata\e00 directory. These 

coverages and tables also exist as ESRI shapefiles and DBF 

files, respectively, in the \animas_cd\gis_db\sitedata\shape 

and \animas_cd\gis_db\sitedata\dbf directories.

Mine-Related Site Data

An inventory of inactive mines and mine-related sites in 

the Animas River watershed study area was compiled from 

existing State and Federal sources. The data include significant 

mines, mills, and mill tailings sites. This inventory of minerelated data provides detailed site characterization, including 

flowing adits, as well as the size and distribution of mine and 

mill waste.

In some cases, multiple shafts, adits, prospects, and 

mined areas of disturbance were located at a given site, 

but in each case a single point location was chosen to best 

represent the entire site. Several points were used, however, to represent some mine sites that are composed of 

multiple levels. The location of each mine-related site was 

verified where possible with digital orthophoto quadrangle 

(DOQ) images, and by persons with local knowledge of 

the area.

Three hundred and seventy-four mine-related sites are 

stored in an ArcInfo coverage called MINE_SITES, which 

exists on the Animas River watershed CD-ROM as an Arc 

Interchange export file in the \animas_cd\gis_db\sitedata\e00 

directory. A detailed description of the mine inventory data is 

in Church, Mast, and others (this volume).

In addition, the MINE_SITES coverage and related 

tables are also available on the Animas River watershed 

CD-ROM as an ESRI shapefile and DBF files, respectively, in 

the \animas_cd\gis_db\sitedata\shape and \animas_cd\gis_db\

sitedata\dbf directories. The mine-related site data are also part 

of the Animas River watershed relational database, which is 

described later in this chapter.

Figure 3. Tables in relational database and relationships between tables.
Geoscientific Data

Geologic Data

The geology of the Animas River watershed study area 

is described in Yager and Bove (this volume, Chapter E1). 

These data overlap the areas of the Ironton, Handies Peak, 

Ophir, Silverton, and Howardsville 1:24,000-scale topographic 

maps. The combined data files produce a generalized geologic 

map of the study area. All of the data are provided in both Arc 

Interchange format and ESRI Shapefile format.

These data consist of the following:

1. A geology coverage (geo.e00, geop.shp, and geol.shp). 

This file is provided with both polygon and line attributes.

2. A faults coverage (faults.e00 and faults.shp). Included in 

this fault coverage are combined fault and vein structures.

3. A veins and fissures coverage (veins.e00 and veins.shp). 

This coverage shows mineralized and nonmineralized or 

altered veins and fissures in the geologic map area.

4. An andesitic dikes coverage (a_dike.e00 and a_dike.shp). 

The a_dike file shows dikes of andesitic (52–68 percent 

SiO2

) composition.

5. A rhyolitic dikes coverage (r_dike.e00 and r_dike.shp). 

The r_dike file shows dikes of rhyolitic (>68 percent 

SiO2) composition.

6. A caldera coverage (sjcald.e00 and sjcald.shp). This coverage defines the boundary of the San Juan caldera.

These data files are provided in Arc Interchange format in 

the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\geology\e00 directory, as well 

as in ESRI shapefile format in the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\

geology\shape directory.

In addition, the CD-ROM contains six oversize map 

products, presented as PDF (portable document format), 

that were generated from data pertinent to the Animas River 

watershed study. These maps are provided in the \animas_cd\

gis_db\geosci\plates directory. Each is listed in the contents of, 

and described in, a specific chapter, but most are referenced in 

several chapters throughout the volume. Plate 1, called pl_1.pdf 

in the \geosci\plates directory, is an integrated, generalized 

geologic map; it is described in Yager and Bove (this volume). 

Plate 2 is also from Yager and Bove (this volume); it is a map 

showing ferricrete, manganocrete, and bog iron occurrences 

and related bogs and springs in the study area region; its image 

is called pl_2.pdf. Plates 3 and 4 are a total-field magnetic map 

and apparent conductivity map, respectively, of the watershed 

study area, and are associated with Smith and others (this 

volume, Chapter E4). They are called pl_3.pdf and pl_4.pdf. 

Plate 5, pl_5.pdf, is a map of surficial geologic deposits along 

Cement Creek and is from Vincent and others (this volume, 

Chapter E16). Plate 6, pl_6.pdf, presents the stratigraphy 

of channel and flood-plain deposits in a trench near the 

Eureka townsite; it is from Vincent and Elliott (this volume, 

Chapter E22).

Two oversize data tables, too large to be included 

in the printed book, are also included in the \animas_cd\

gis_db\geosci\ directory on the CD-ROM, in a folder called 

\animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\tables. One is an expanded version of table 1 in Jones, Chapter C, giving cumulative 

production history of mining by year in San Juan County, 

Colo. The second is an appendix to Anderson, Chapter E20, 

and is a large table of effects of mining on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the study area; it includes strategies for monitoring. These items are included as both .xls 

and .pdf files.

Geochemical Data

In addition to the streambed and water geochemistry site 

data, which are provided in the Access database, both generalized and detailed hydrothermal alteration assemblages have 

been developed as the result of integration of the geologic 

data described previously with the results of the aqueous 

geochemical data (alt_gen.e00, alt_genl.shp, alt_genp.shp, 

and alt_det.e00, alt_detl.shp, alt_detp.shp). These data highlight the contrasting types of mineralization and hydrothermal alteration in the Animas River watershed study area. 

The files are provided in both Arc Interchange format in the 

\animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\geochem\e00 directory as well as ESRI 

shape file format in the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\geochem\shape 

directory.

A detailed description of the hydrothermal alteration data 

is in Bove and others (this volume, Chapter E3).

Biological Data

Fish survey studies resulted in a data set that shows 

locations of species survival in the tributaries of the Animas 

River (ani_fish.e00 and ani_fish.shp). The fish sampling was 

conducted in 1992 by the Colorado Department of Health 

and Environment Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) 

with additional help and information provided by Mike Japhet 

of the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Durango, Colo. 

This file is provided in Arc Interchange export format in the 

\animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\biologic\e00 directory and in ESRI 

shapefile format in the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\biologic\shape 

directory.

Geophysical Data

Electromagnetic and magnetic anomaly geophysical data 

were collected over the Animas River watershed study area. 

The primary goal of the geophysical data is to aid the mapping of surface and subsurface lithology and structure in the 

study area.

1088 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Digital Databases for the Animas River Watershed 1089

The electromagnetic and magnetic anomaly data are 

described in Smith and others (this volume, Chapter E4). The 

chapter by McDougal and others (this volume, Chapter E13), 

provides a description of geophysical signatures of mapped 

geologic structures and identifies possible unmapped structures 

based on these geophysical signatures. Images of these data 

are available in the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\geophys\geotiff 

directory.

Vector files that define the extent of the airborne geophysical surveys are available in ArcInfo export format 

(gp_poly.e00) in the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\geophys\e00 

directory, and in ESRI shapefile format (gp_poly.shp) in the 

\animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\geophys\shape directory.

The images provided on the CD-ROM were derived from 

grids of data collected along closely spaced (200 m and 400 m) 

flightlines as part of a high-resolution airborne geophysical 

survey over the Animas River watershed area. The 200 m flight 

spacing is in the western section of the geophysical study area. 

The closer spacing was chosen to highlight features of the 

Cement and Mineral Creek drainages.

Images relating to the magnetic anomaly data include a 

reduced-to-pole magnetic anomaly map (rtp_mag.tif), a highpass magnetic anomaly map (rtp_mag_hipass.tif), a low-pass 

magnetic anomaly map (rtp_mag_lowpass.tif), a high-pass 

horizontal magnetic gradient map (HGM_hipass.tif), and a lowpass horizontal magnetic gradient map (HGM_lowpass.tif). The 

high-pass and low-pass images emphasize magnetic anomalies 

caused by lateral variations in magnetic properties of rocks 

from surface elevations to approximate depths of 200 m. They 

are the result of a filter that was applied to the reduced-to-pole 

data. From these data, a predictive model of geologic structures 

was calculated (HGM_hipass_model.tif).

Images that portray apparent conductivity of rocks as 

measured from the airborne geophysical survey are provided 

on the CD-ROM. The images represent conductivity of rocks 

at three frequencies resulting in different depths of penetration. They illustrate the electrical structure of the Earth. The 

image produced using the highest frequency (34,960 Hz) 

shows conductivities of rock at depths from the topographic 

surface of a few to 10 m (cond_34960csr_100k.tif). The 

mid-frequency (4,310 Hz) images (cond_4310_48k.tif and 

cond_4310csr_100k.tif) map conductivities of rock from the 

surface to depths of approximately 30 m. The lowest frequency (984 Hz) image (cond_984csr_100k.tif) maps conductivities of rock at depths to approximately 60 m.

In addition, two images of predictive models are provided. 

The first image uses the electrical resistivity at 4,310 Hz to 

model geologic structures (res4310_model.tif). The second 

image is a profile convexity predictive model of geologic structures (profile_convex_model.tif). A detailed description of these 

images is found in McDougal and others (this volume).

The geologic, geophysical, and geomorphological maps 

and the geochemical, biological, geophysical, and remote sensing data are listed in table 4, and are available on the CD-ROM 

accompanying this paper in the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci 

directory.

Relational Database

The Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative (AMLI) Animas 

River relational database was constructed as a tool to be used 

for data synthesis and analysis, and as an archive of data collected during the AMLI project. It includes data collected by 

USGS biologists, geologists, and hydrologists within or adjacent to the Animas River watershed during the period 1995 to 

20001

. It also includes data collected by the Colorado Division 

of Minerals and Geology during the period 1995 to 1998. It is 

a relational database containing field measurements made at 

point locations, and laboratory analyses of samples collected 

at point locations. Quality-assurance data are not included; 

information on field and laboratory quality-assurance practices 

is located in individual chapters in this report or in previously 

published reports.

Contents of Database

The AMLI Animas River relational database contains 

19 data sets contributed by USGS scientists and teams from 

the Geologic Discipline, Water Resources Discipline, and 

Biological Resources Discipline. These data sets comprise 

all the available data collected as part of the project, and all 

the data discussed in this volume, amassed at 2,389 sites. 

Samples, taken from a total of 66 defined media types, 

included 1,898 water, 1,885 earth material, and 190 biotic 

material. Water media sampled included surface water (for 

example, streams) and ground water (for example, well water). 

Earth media sampled included sediment, soil, bedrock, and 

mine-waste material. Biotic media sampled include biofilm, 

fish tissue, invertebrate tissue, and vegetation. The database 

contains 144,522 results, divided among quantitative, qualitative, and descriptive measurements. Data definition is provided 

through the establishment of 1,231 unique parameters (measurement types).

Database Structure

Because of the scope and complexity of data collected as 

part of the AMLI project, a relational database structure was 

designed for data storage. Data are grouped into logical units 

(tables), and relationships are defined to link the tables. This 

structure provides efficient storage of information (information need not be repeated), and also provides for built-in data 

verification checks. For example, a result cannot exist without 

corresponding site, sample, and parameter information. The 

relational database structure is also a powerful and efficient 

tool for retrieving subsets of data to meet user requirements. 

The AMLI relational database contains 12 tables that have 

been populated and linked to one another, providing the necessary functionality that the project requires.

1

Analyses of 110 bedrock samples collected during previous studies 

(1982–1993) are also included in the AMLI database.
Table 4. Geoscientific data in the Animas River watershed GIS database.

[On the CD-ROM, the six PDF maps are in a separate sub-directory called \geosci\plates\; the two tables (mine production information and invertebrate 

community information) are in a separate sub-directory called \geosci\tables\]

Subject Description File name File

format(s) Chapter

Geology

Geology geo.e00, geop.shp (polys), 

geol.shp (lines)

ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Yager and Bove (E1)

Structure faults.e00, faults.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Yager and Bove (E1)

Veins veins.e00, veins.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Yager and Bove (E1)

Dikes-andesitic a_dike.e00, a_dike.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Yager and Bove (E1)

Dikes-dacitic d_dike.e00, d_dike.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Yager and Bove (E1)

Dikes-rhyolitic r_dike.e00, r_dike.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Yager and Bove (E1)

Topographic base topobase_nad27_4bit.tif GeoTiff Yager and Bove (E1)

San Juan caldera sjcald.e00, sjcald.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Yager and Bove (E1)

Geologic Map Plate pl_1.pdf PDF Map Yager and Bove (E1)

Ferricrete, Manganocrete, Bog Iron 

Occurrences, and Related Bogs 

and Springs Map Plate

pl_2.pdf PDF Map Yager and Bove (E1)

Cumulative production history of 

mining by year in San Juan County

ChCTable1_orig.xls

.pdf

XLS Table

PDF Table

Jones (C)

Geochemistry

Generalized hydrothermal alteration 

assemblages 

alt_gen.e00, alt_genl.shp,

alt_genp.shp

ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Bove and others (E3)

Detailed hydrothermal alteration 

assemblages

alt_det.e00. alt_detl.shp,

alt_detp.shp

ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Bove and others (E3)

Biological Data

Fish species survival location map ani_fish.e00, ani_fish.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

Besser and Brumbaugh (E18)

Besser and others (D)

Effects of mining on benthic 

macroinvertebrate communities in 

the study area, with strategies for 

monitoring

ChE20Appendix.xls

.pdf

XLS Table

PDF Table

Anderson (E20)

Geophysics

984 Hz. conductivity cond_984csr_100k.tif GeoTiff Smith and others (E4)

4310 Hz. conductivity (1:48k) cond_4310_48k.tif GeoTiff Smith and others (E4)

4310 Hz. conductivity (1:100k) cond_4310csr_100k.tif GeoTiff Smith and others (E4)

34960 Hz. conductivity cond_34960csr_100k.tif GeoTiff Smith and others (E4)

4310 Hz. resistivity predictive 

model

res4310_model.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

Reduced-to-the-pole magnetic 

anomaly 

rtp_mag.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

Reduced-to-the-pole high pass 

magnetic anomaly 

rtp_mag_hipass.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

Reduced-to-the-pole low pass 

magnetic anomaly

rtp_mag_lowpass.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

Reduced-to-the-pole high pass 

horizontal magnetic gradient 

HGM_hipass.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

Reduced-to-the-pole low pass 

horizontal magnetic gradient

HGM_lowpass.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

1090 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Digital Databases for the Animas River Watershed 1091

Subject Description File name File

format(s) Chapter

Geophysics—Continued

Profile convexity predictive model 

of geologic structures

profile_convex_model.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

High-pass horizontal gradient 

magnitude magnetics predictive 

model of geologic structures

HGM_hipass_model.tif GeoTiff McDougal and others (E13)

Outline of the geophysical study 

area boundary

gp_poly.e00, gp_poly.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

McDougal and others (E13)

Outline of extent of structural 

mapping

struct.e00, struct.shp ArcInfo vector 

coverage

McDougal and others (E13)

Total-Field Magnetic Map Plate pl_3.pdf PDF Map Smith and others (E4)

Apparent Conductivity Map Plate pl_4.pdf PDF Map Smith and others (E4)

Geomorphology

Surficial Geologic Deposits 

Map Plate

pl_5.pdf PDF Map Vincent and others (E16)

Stratigraphy of Channel and FloodPlain Deposits Map Platepl_6.pdf PDF Map Vincent and Elliott (E22)

The principal tables in the AMLI relational database are 

the Site, Sample, Result, QualitativeResult, and Parameter

tables (fig. 3). The Site table contains information about each 

of the 2,389 sites in the database. A SiteNumber uniquely 

identifies each site, which may be further described with 

data entered in the SiteName and SiteComment fields. The 

SiteNumber field also provides the link between data in the 

Site, FieldSiteLocMaster, and Sample tables. Sites that are 

considered co-located for purposes of spatial analysis are 

assigned the same AMLIAnalysisID, which creates the link 

needed to access data in the SpatialAnalysisSites table. The 

Site table also contains all of the project data that describes 

mining activity in the Animas River watershed study area. 

All sites that are located at mine sites have been assigned 

AMLIMineID numbers, providing the link to data stored in 

the MineSiteLocMaster table. A project code for each site 

(ProjectCode) indicates what project and scientist established 

the site. ProjectCode links Site to the data in the Project table. 

Additional characteristics in the Site table include geographic 

coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) and a Stream designation that indicates the name of the stream on which the site is 

located. Relationships between the Site table and other tables 

in the database are shown in figure 3.

The Sample table contains information about the sample 

material collected at each site. Each analyzed sample has a 

unique SampleID, as well as a SampleName provided by the 

sample collector. SampleID is the key field that links the sample to its chemical and physical data found in the Result and 

QualitativeResult tables. The time and date of sample collection are noted in the SampleTime and SampleDate fields. 

The SampleMediaCode defines the sample material type, a 

definition that is clearly described in the SampleMedia lookup table to which it is linked. Media type should be carefully 

noted in analysis of data so that data from different sample 

types are not mistakenly equated. For example, the database 

contains analyses for arsenic found in streambed sediment 

and in mill tailings sediment—two types of sample material 

that have different potential for the concentration of metals. 

Information regarding the collection and preparation of the 

sample may be found in the optional fields CollectionMethod, 

and SamplePreparation. Any other pertinent sample information available may be found in the SampleComment field. 

Relationships between the Sample table and other tables 

in the database are shown in figure 3.

The Result table contains measurements made in analytical laboratories as well as at sampling sites, expressed as 

numeric values, whereas the QualitativeResult table (fig. 3) 

contains qualitative measurements that are expressed as text 

values. For the most part, the two tables function in the same 

way, although 97 percent of the project result data is found 

in the Result table. The characteristic measured is identified using a ParameterCode, a succinct 20-character-length 

field that can be used as a column name in a data report or 

spreadsheet. The ParameterCode links both result tables to 

the Parameter look-up table, which is further detailed in the 

next paragraph. In the Result table, measurements consist of 

a numeric Value and an optional ValueRemarkCode, which 

is used to qualify results such as non-detections or estimates 

based on limits of instrumental detection. Data describing 

water filters, where used in the sampling procedure, may 

be found in the FilterPoreSize field. Information regarding 

the method of analysis or measurement used to obtain data 

is found in the AnalyticMethodShortName field, which is 

an abbreviated label linked to the AnalyticMethod look-up 

table. Likewise, LabShortName is an abbreviated label linked 

to the LabName look-up table, which provides information 

Table 4. Geoscientific data in the Animas River watershed GIS database.—Continued
regarding the laboratory or work group responsible for the 

analysis. Any further remarks regarding the Value or the 

analytic process will be found in the ValueComments field. 

Relationships between the Result and QualitativeResult

tables and other tables in the database are shown in figure 3.

The Parameter table is a look-up table that contains 

a complete description of each characteristic measured. 

Whereas the Result table contains a short description of the 

characteristic measured (ParameterCode), the highly specific nature of laboratory measurements requires a lengthier 

description. For example, the ParameterCode “Ag_st_sl” is 

shorthand for “Silver, sediment, mine waste/tailings/dump 

material, dry sieved, finer than 0.18 millimeters, leachate from 

1% H2O2–HCl leach digestion, laboratory, micrograms per 

gram.” The Parameter table also includes a ConstituentName 

field that groups results according to the element or compound type (zinc, for example), and a Ppcode field that lists 

the corresponding measurement code (where available) in 

the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Information 

System (NWIS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency’s STORET database. Lastly, the Parameter table contains fields that show the units in which values are reported, 

as well as the pore size of the filtered or sieved sample in 

question.

Relationships between these tables are depicted as lines 

in figure 3. The Site table is linked to the Sample table by 

including a common field (SiteNumber) in both tables. Therefore, a sample cannot exist without having a site in the Site

table. The symbols “1” and “∞” at the ends of the relationship line indicate a one-to-many relationship, that is, a site 

may have many samples. Similarly, a sample may have many 

results, and a parameter may also have many results.

As for the remaining seven tables, the SpatialAnalysisSites table provides site groupings so that data may be extracted 

from sites in the same locale, stream basin, or mine area. The 

FieldSiteLocMaster and MineSiteLocMaster tables contain 

characteristics for each field site and mine site. These characteristics were derived from overlays using a GIS database. 

The AnalyticMethod table provides additional information on 

field and laboratory techniques used for sample analysis. The 

LabName table provides additional information about analytical laboratories or work groups that produced chemical results 

or physical measurements. The Project table provides additional information about the projects or work groups that provided data to the AMLI relational database. This table provides 

contacts for these projects, as well as information regarding 

other publications where the project’s data have been previously 

published. The SampleMedia table not only provides additional information about the media types sampled but also is a 

media classification scheme created for the purpose of concise 

data retrieval.

Relational databases can be used by a variety of proprietary or nonproprietary software packages. The AMLI 

relational database is provided in the CD-ROM attached to 

this report in a proprietary, write-protected, read-only format 

(Microsoft Access 2003) and it is also provided in a nonproprietary format. A README file on the CD-ROM provides 

technical details about how to use the database in these two 

formats. A more complete discussion of the creation and content of the database is included on the CD-ROM in a Federal 

Geographic Data Committee-compliant metadata file.

Data may be extracted from the AMLI relational database to meet specific user needs. Within relational database 

software packages, queries may be constructed and saved to 

retrieve data using user-defined criteria. The Microsoft Access 

version of the AMLI relational database on the CD-ROM contains several example queries. For example, a series of linked 

queries were constructed to extract data yielded from ferricrete 

samples collected in the Animas River watershed study area.

To formulate this query, the user needs to list the database 

fields of interest and the conditions to be placed on extracting 

this information. The construction of more complex queries 

requires the user to browse the various tables to get an idea 

of their contents. For the ferricrete data, the table includes the 

site name, site location, sample name, sample media information, sample date, elemental concentrations, analytic method 

used for detection, and a detailed description of the analytic 

parameter. The query ‘qselFerricreteChem1’ selects these 

fields of interest (fig. 4).

This query combines data from five tables: the Site

table (containing the SiteNumber, SiteName, and coordinates), the Sample table (containing the sample name and 

date), the SampleMedia table, the Result table (containing 

result information and parameter codes), and the Parameter

table (containing the detailed parameter names). Data will be 

sorted first by SiteNumber and then by SampleName. Conditions are placed on this query so that only ferricrete solid 

sample media data are selected. This is done by specifying the 

criteria “Not like “W*” ” for SampleMediaCode, and “Like 

“*ferricrete*” ” for the Sub-type of SampleMedia. Ferricrete 

rock and sediment are now queried. This query also constructs 

the Result value as a new field called “adjvalue” so that all 

results that are less than the detection limit (have “<” in the 

ValueRemarkCode accompanying the Value) are divided by 

two. The script used to define this field is:

“adjvalue: IIf(Result!ValueRemarkCode='<',0.5*Result!

Value,[Value])

This procedure renders all result data as numerical results. 

Also included in the query is the creation of a new field 

“LongParam” that combines the ParameterCode and 

AnalyticMethodShortName from the Result table and 

ReportUnits from the Parameter table so that the resulting 

data can be clearly qualified. The new LongParam 

“As_r_sl__μg/g__ICP-AES” is a shortened equivalent of 

the ParameterName “Arsenic, rock/"fossil" ferricrete/mineral, 

outcrop, dry sieved, finer than 0.149 millimeters, leachate 

from 2M HCl–1% H2

O2 leach digestion, laboratory, micrograms per gram”. The script used to define this new field is:

1092 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Digital Databases for the Animas River Watershed 1093

(continued from right side)

Figure 4. Select query qselFerricreteChem1 in Query Design view. 

LongParam: (Result!ParameterCode&"__"&Parameter!Report

Units&"__"& Result!AnalyticMethodShortName)

The graphical view of the query shown in figure 4 is translated 

into a Structured Query Language (SQL) statement as follows:

SELECT Site.SiteNumber, Site.SiteName, 

Site.SiteComment, Site.Latitude, Site.Longitude, 

Sample.SampleName, Sample.SampleDate, 

Sample.SampleMediaCode, SampleMedia.[Sub-type], 

IIf(Result!ValueRemarkCode='<',0.5*Result!Value,

[Value]) AS adjvalue, (Result!ParameterCode& "__"&

Parameter!ReportUnits&"__"&Result!AnalyticMethod

ShortName) AS LongParam, Parameter.ParameterName

FROM (SampleMedia INNER JOIN (Site INNER JOIN 

Sample ON Site.SiteNumber = Sample.SiteNumber) ON 

SampleMedia.SampleMediaCode = Sample.Sample

MediaCode) INNER JOIN (Parameter INNER JOIN 

Result ON Parameter.ParameterCode = Result.

ParameterCode) ON Sample.SampleID = Result.SampleID

WHERE (((Sample.SampleMediaCode) Not Like "W*") 

AND ((SampleMedia.[Sub-type]) Like "*ferricrete*"))

ORDER BY Site.SiteNumber, Sample.SampleName;

In addition, the query “qselFerricreteMin1” has been constructed to gather mineralogical data for these same samples.

Running select query qselFerricreteChem1 produces 

a display containing 1,571 rows, each one containing one 

chemical value. The second query in this example is a crosstab 

query “qctabFerricreteChem2” that pivots the results of interest gathered by the first query so that they appear as columns 

rather than rows (fig. 5).

This crosstab query was constructed using our first query 

so that SampleNames are row headings and ParameterCodes 

are the column headings. In this case, the query is seeking all arsenic results for ferricrete solids (see Criteria row, 
LongParam column in fig. 5). SampleMedia subtypes and associated Site table data are listed to further describe the samples. 

The graphical view of the query shown in figure 5 is translated 

into a Structured Query Language (SQL) statement as follows:

TRANSFORM First(qselFerricreteChem1.adjvalue) 

AS FirstOfadjvalue

SELECT qselFerricreteChem1.SiteNumber, 

qselFerricreteChem1.SiteName, 

qselFerricreteChem1.SiteComment, 

qselFerricreteChem1.Latitude, qselFerricreteChem1.

Longitude, qselFerricreteChem1.SampleName, 

qselFerricreteChem1.SampleDate, qselFerricreteChem1.

SampleMediaCode, qselFerricreteChem1.[Sub-type]

FROM qselFerricreteChem1

WHERE (((qselFerricreteChem1.LongParam) 

Like "As_*"))

Figure 5. Crosstab query qctabFerricreteChem2 in Query Design view.

GROUP BY qselFerricreteChem1.SiteNumber, 

qselFerricreteChem1.SiteName, qselFerricreteChem1.

SiteComment, qselFerricreteChem1.Latitude, 

qselFerricreteChem1.Longitude, qselFerricreteChem1.

SampleName, qselFerricreteChem1. SampleDate, 

qselFerricreteChem1.SampleMediaCode, 

qselFerricreteChem1.[Sub-type]

ORDER BY qselFerricreteChem1.SiteNumber, 

qselFerricreteChem1.SampleName

PIVOT qselFerricreteChem1.LongParam

This query can be exported as a spreadsheet or as a text file 

(fig. 6).

In addition, the query “qctabFerricreteMin2” has been 

constructed to display the mineralogical data for these same 

samples in the same manner.

(continued from right side)

1094 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Digital Databases for the Animas River Watershed 1095

Data Viewer Software

Two freeware GIS data viewer software packages are provided on the CD-ROM with this volume. These products are 

GIS data explorers. The purpose of the data viewer software is 

to give the user the capability to display and perform elementary GIS analysis on the digital data. The vector coverages and 

raster images provided on the CD-ROM are useful for illustrating the processes and dynamics, in terms of mine drainage, 

that occur in the watershed.

The two data viewer software packages are ArcExplorer 2.0 

and MapSheets Express 1.3. ArcExplorer 2.0 was written by 

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. MapSheets 

Express was written by ERDAS, Inc.

Using these two products, the spatial data can be 

displayed, queried, and overlaid to produce map output. 

MapSheets Express enables the user to generate maps that 

can be imported into PowerPoint presentations. In addition, Word and WordPerfect documents can be output from 

MapSheets Express.

The two software packages have some important differences. ArcExplorer is better at handling vector files than 

raster files. Raster images can be displayed in ArcExplorer, 

but one cannot query the images. The raster images can only 

be displayed one at a time as a background for vector files. 

Basically, this image is a static backdrop with no inherent 

analysis properties.

In contrast, MapSheets Express has more functionality 

for raster images than ArcExplorer provides. The user is able to 

query pixels of the raster images. The attributes of these pixels 

are accessible in the data tables for user output. In addition, 

MapSheets Express allows the user to control the transparency 

of the images, which allows several raster images to be overlaid. 

In summary, for vector data work, ArcExplorer is a more effective tool, and for raster data work, MapSheets Express is better.

Figure 6. Crosstab query ctabFerricreteChem2 exported as an XLS file.
The two packages have similar platform requirements. 

ArcExplorer 2.0 requires a PC with Windows 98/2000/NT/XP 

operating systems. It requires Internet Explorer 4.0 for the 

internet capabilities of the software. MapSheets Express 1.3 

requires Windows 95 or Windows NT version 4.0 operating system or later. Both ArcExplorer 2.0 and MapSheets 

Express 1.3 need 16 MB RAM and an IBM/PC or compatible 

system with 486-class processor or better.

Animas River Watershed CD-ROM

The rel_db directory contains the relational database 

version of the sample-site data collected for the study, and the 

mine-related site inventory compiled for the study. The directory contains a README.txt file which describes the contents 

of the directory, and an Adobe Portable Document Format file 

(relationship.pdf) which is a diagram of all the tables in the 

relational database, and the relationships between them (fig. 3 

of this chapter). The mdb subdirectory contains the Microsoft 

Access version of the relational database (AnimasAMLI.mdb), 

the ascii subdirectory contains relational database tables in the 

form of flat ASCII files, and the meta subdirectory contains 

metadata for the relational database.

The gis_db directory contains three subdirectories 

(basecart, sitedata, and geosci), each of which contains different types of data in formats suitable for use in Geographic 

Information Systems. The basecart subdirectory contains 

base cartographic data used as reference for the other data. 

The basecart subdirectory itself contains a README.txt file 

describing the base cartographic data. Below the basecart subdirectory, the e00 subdirectory contains ArcInfo export files of 

base cartographic data stored as ArcInfo coverages. The shape 

subdirectory contains ESRI shapefiles and DBF files of the 

data contained in the ArcInfo coverages. The elev subdirectory contains a compressed tar file, which when uncompressed 

creates an ArcInfo workspace containing an elevation grid, 

and slope, aspect, and shaded relief grids derived from the 

elevation grid. The elev subdirectory also includes GeoTIFF 

image file representations of the elevation data, and TIFF 

images of legends for the elevation data image files. The 

meta subdirectory contains metadata for the data in the e00, 

shape, and elev subdirectories. The drg subdirectory contains 

U.S. Geological Survey Digital Raster Graphic (DRG) image 

files for the nine 7.5-minute quadrangles which contain the 

majority of the data in the Animas River watershed study.

The second subdirectory under the gis_db directory, the sitedata subdirectory, contains the sample-site and 

mine-related site data from the relational database, but in 

formats directly compatible with Geographic Information 

Systems. A README.txt file at the sitedata level provides 

descriptive information about the data stored beneath it. The 

e00 subdirectory contains the site data as ArcInfo export files 

of coverages and ArcInfo export files of INFO files. The shape 

subdirectory contains ESRI shapefiles of the layers field sites, 

analysis sites, and mine-related sites. The dbf subdirectory 

contains tables in dbf format that provide information about 

the sites, and data collected at the sites. The meta subdirectory 

contains metadata about the data in the e00, shape, and dbf 

subdirectories.

The third subdirectory under the gis_db directory, the 

geosci subdirectory, contains geoscientific and hydrologic 

data sets, as well as a sample ArcExplorer project file. A 

README.txt file in the geosci subdirectory lists the contents of the directory. There are eight subdirectories: geology, 

geochem (geochemistry), geophys (geophysics), biologic, 

meta (metadata), aep_project (ArcExplorer project file), 

and plates (PDF maps) and tables (oversize tables). The 

meta subdirectory contains metadata about all of the interpretive geoscientific data. In each of the data subdirectories, 

an e00 subdirectory contains data as Arc Interchange export 

files of coverages, a shape subdirectory contains data as 

shape files, and a geotiff subdirectory (if one exists) contains 

data in the GeoTIFF format. The viewer directory contains 

two data viewer software packages. The directory contains 

a README.txt file which summarizes the directory’s 

contents. There are two subdirectories: ArcExplorer and 

MapSheets_Express. The ArcExplorer subdirectory contains 

an executable file (ae2setup.exe) that allows one to install the 

ArcExplorer 2.0 data viewer software. The ArcExplorer.pdf 

file, created when the ae2setup.exe file is run, is a User 

Guide for ArcExplorer which includes a tutorial. Similarly, 

the MapSheets_Express subdirectory contains an executable 

file (mxsetup.exe) that allows one to install the MapSheets 

Express 1.3 data viewer software. The README.txt file, created when the mxsetup.exe file is run, provides various types 

of information about the MapSheets Express program.

An ArcExplorer project file (animas_aml.AEP, located 

in the \animas_cd\gis_db\geosci\aep_project directory on 

the CD-ROM) is available as an example of how to use the 

ArcExplorer software to display and use the data on the 

CD-ROM. The data files have been organized, and their attributes have been displayed, in the explanation defined in the 

project file.

1096 Environmental Effects of Historical Mining, Animas River Watershed, Colorado

__ 2007 661-574