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Mercury Core Library and Data Center

Rock-Sample Database

Subsurface core collected from bottom interval of exploratory hole UE-20f shown upper left; deepest hole drilled at Nevada Test Site. Core sample shows welded volcanic tuff from 13,670- to 13,686-foot interval. Wooden blocks indicate sections of core removed from U.S. Geological Survey Core Library. Subsurface cuttings collected from exploratory hole UE-14b shown lower left. Cuttings sample shows variations in welded volcanic tuffs from 1,120- to 2,160-foot interval. Photographs taken by Jerry Magner, U.S. Geological Survey. Sample locations shown at right.

All current data are available for download in the following zip files*:
nts_rck_smp.zip (MS Excel; 6 Mb zipped; 28 Mb unzipped); nts_usgs_dbs.zip (MS Access; 11 Mb zipped; 110 Mb unzipped); Data published and documented in USGS Data Series Report 297 at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2007/297

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) catalogued interval-specific locations for rock samples and thin sections (prepared from rock samples) collected from both underground and surface sites located on and around the Nevada Test Site. Samples were inventoried for both vertical (boreholes and shafts) and horizontal (tunnels and drifts) holes for rock samples and thin sections stored at the USGS Core Library and Data Center at Mercury, Nevada. Thin sections are also available for rock samples taken from outcrops and trenches at the surface. The Rock-Sample database presents locations of rock samples collected by U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense contracting organizations, the National Laboratories, and USGS. These organizations have proprietary interest in the samples and each organization must be contacted for permission to view and/or analyze their samples. More than 2,000,000 linear feet of rock samples are stored at the Mercury facility.

The Rock-Sample Database resides in both an Excel spreadsheet and Access table. Records include: [USGS NTS sort order, USGS NTS unique number, NTS area, USGS hole name, Sample interval number, Sample interval sequence number, Sample interval top (ft), Sample interval bottom (ft), Number of samples, Sample type, Sample owner, Comments, Additional sample collection, Sample range top (ft), Sample range bottom (ft), Number of boxes, Sample box name, Sample rack-column-shelf number, Sample pallet number, Sample box number, LANL PGG Database loc_id, LANL PGG Database sam_id, LANL PGG Database spl_id, LANL PGG Database split_type_code, Thin section label, Thin section box_id, Thin section slot, Thin section comments, LANL PGG Database sam_elev_av, LANL PGG Database sam_elev_unc, LANL PGG Database entry_date, Map unit symbol, Record location, Hole type, Tunnel or drift construction station, Construction station remarks, Nevada SPCS Easting NAD27, Nevada SPCS Northing NAD27, SPCS error, Altitude at portal opening NGVD29 (ft), Bearing from portal opening (degrees), Inclination from portal opening (degrees), Altitude of land surface NGVD29 (ft), Altitude method, Altitude accuracy, Site completion date, Hole depth (ft), Redbook hole number, Former or other hole number, NWIS agency code, NWIS site identification number, Latitude NAD27, Longitude NAD27, Location method, Location accuracy, Decimal latitude NAD83, Decimal longitude NAD83, UTM Easting NAD27 (meters), UTM Northing NAD27 (meters), UTM error, Remarks, Date record last updated, and URL address]. Field-content headings are explained in auxiliary MS Excel worksheets and MS Access tables. The database is updated as new data become available.

* Zip files contain a Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheet and Microsoft Access 2010 tables. Microsoft Office 2010 files can be opened in previous versions of the software with the Compatibility Pack installed. If you cannot access the spreadsheet or table, please contact the Nevada Water Science Center Public Information Assistant by phone (775-887-7649) or email (GS-W-NVpublic-info@usgs.gov)

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