This data package contains the final combined field sampling data collected by the USGS July 2013 and July-August 2015 at three active uranium mines (Canyon Rim Mine, Pinenut Mine, and Arizona 1 Mine) as well as two reference sites (Little Robinson Tank and EZ2 Pipe) in northwestern Arizona. Vegetation and soils were assessed by using line-point intersect (LPI) methods and estimates of plant species richness. In addition, triplicate tissue samples for three functional groups (graminoids, forbs, and shrubs) were collected at plots around each site to be analyzed for tissue contaminant concentrations. There are three separate shapefiles depicting A) Point locations for the mine study sites (the center of the mine or reference site being surveyed), B) Polygons representing sampling plots that were established at each mine study site, and C) A polyline shapefile showing locations of the transects used for collecting data within plots. Plots were arranged in two concentric rings surrounding the central disturbed portion of the study area (e.g. the mine footprint). Final transect start and stop points were recorded in the field using a hand-held Garmin global positioning system receiver. Sites, plot boundaries, and transect locations were established between 2013 and 2015. These data are to be used for publications based on the impacts of uranium mining on the Arizona Strip.

These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.) in Canyon Mine containment pond vegetation samples collected in calendar year 2018, plus mercury in vegetation samples collected in 2017 and 2018.

These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.) in Canyon Mine containment pond vegetation samples collected in calendar year 2018, plus mercury in vegetation samples collected in 2017 and 2018.

These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.), carbon and particle size determination in Canyon Mine containment pond vegetation samples collected in calendar year 2017.

This data release includes elemental analysis of soil samples collected at breccia-pipe uranium mines, at one undeveloped breccia-pipe uranium deposit, and at a reference site in northern Arizona. Samples were collected near the Arizona 1, Canyon, Kanab North, and Pinenut uranium mines, over the EZ2 breccia-pipe uranium deposit, and at the Little Robinson Tank reference site. Samples were collected around the Arizona 1 mine after active mining had ceased during July 2015; around and within the mine yard at the Canyon mine during mine-development activity and before active mining occurred in June 2013; around and within the mine yard at the Kanab North mine during reclamation and before reclamation was completed in June 2016; around the Pinenut mine during active mining in October 2014; directly over the EZ2 deposit before any development activity occurred during November 2015; and at the Little Robinson Tank reference site during November 2015. This data release includes data for four different types of soil samples: (type 1) incremental soil samples where more than 30 equally-spaced subsamples were collected and composited over a limited areal extent termed a decision unit and depicted generally as a trapezoidal-shaped polygon mapped within a mine yard, or surrounding a mine site; (type 2) incremental soil samples where more than 30 subsamples were collected and composited over a roughly two dimensional linear or sinuous mapped pattern following roads also termed a decision unit; (type 3) discrete integrated soil samples (Bern and others, 2019 use the term “point” for these samples) where more than 30 subsamples were collected within fenced exclosures (generally about 3 meters square) containing Big Springs Number Eight dust sampling equipment; and (type 4) integrated soil samples comprised of at least 10 subsamples collected from underneath plywood cover boards used to collect herpetofauna. Incremental samples (types 1 and 2) were collected in triplicate from the soil surface from 0-5 centimeters (cm) depth using a Multi-Incremental Sampling Tool (MIST) collecting approximately the same volume for each subsample subject to slight variation due to variable soil conditions. The volume of soil represented by each type 1 and 2 sample is termed a decision unit (DU), the areal extent of which is defined by a mapped polygonal or sinuous or linear area, and the depth of which is the 5 cm that is sampled by the MIST. Each subsample of each triplicate incremental sample was passed through a 2-millimeter sieve and composited into a clean 19-liter bucket, with each completed triplicate sample transferred to double zip-top bags for transfer to the laboratory. Integrated samples (types 3 and 4) were collected using a plastic soil scoop to collect soil from 0-5 cm depth and were composited into double zip-top plastic bags for transfer to the laboratory. Data are divided into two different data tables based upon type: types 1 and 2 are in T1_DUSamples.csv; types 3 and 4 are in T2_BSNESamples.csv. The file DataDictionary_v1.csv defines all table headings and abbreviations. Sample preparation and analytical techniques are described in the metadata file. This data release also includes location information for the approximate center points of the incremental sample polygons and linear features (decision units) and for the discrete integrated samples. Note, locations for incremental samples for decision units (sample types 1 and 2) are the approximate center of the geographical area (polygon, linear, or sinuous feature) over which the sample was collected. As such, the elemental values represent average concentrations for the sample volume collected over the entire geographic area and depth of 0-5 centimeters of each decision unit, and do not represent concentrations that would be measured in a discrete sample collected at that central location.

This data release includes elemental analysis of soil samples collected at breccia-pipe uranium mines, at one undeveloped breccia-pipe uranium deposit, and at a reference site in northern Arizona. Samples were collected near the Arizona 1, Canyon, Kanab North, and Pinenut uranium mines, over the EZ2 breccia-pipe uranium deposit, and at the Little Robinson Tank reference site. Samples were collected around the Arizona 1 mine after active mining had ceased during July 2015; around and within the mine yard at the Canyon mine during mine-development activity and before active mining occurred in June 2013; around and within the mine yard at the Kanab North mine during reclamation and before reclamation was completed in June 2016; around the Pinenut mine during active mining in October 2014; directly over the EZ2 deposit before any development activity occurred during November 2015; and at the Little Robinson Tank reference site during November 2015. This data release includes data for four different types of soil samples: (type 1) incremental soil samples where more than 30 equally-spaced subsamples were collected and composited over a limited areal extent termed a decision unit and depicted generally as a trapezoidal-shaped polygon mapped within a mine yard, or surrounding a mine site; (type 2) incremental soil samples where more than 30 subsamples were collected and composited over a roughly two dimensional linear or sinuous mapped pattern following roads also termed a decision unit; (type 3) discrete integrated soil samples (Bern and others, 2019 use the term “point” for these samples) where more than 30 subsamples were collected within fenced exclosures (generally about 3 meters square) containing Big Springs Number Eight dust sampling equipment; and (type 4) integrated soil samples comprised of at least 10 subsamples collected from underneath plywood cover boards used to collect herpetofauna. Incremental samples (types 1 and 2) were collected in triplicate from the soil surface from 0-5 centimeters (cm) depth using a Multi-Incremental Sampling Tool (MIST) collecting approximately the same volume for each subsample subject to slight variation due to variable soil conditions. The volume of soil represented by each type 1 and 2 sample is termed a decision unit (DU), the areal extent of which is defined by a mapped polygonal or sinuous or linear area, and the depth of which is the 5 cm that is sampled by the MIST. Each subsample of each triplicate incremental sample was passed through a 2-millimeter sieve and composited into a clean 19-liter bucket, with each completed triplicate sample transferred to double zip-top bags for transfer to the laboratory. Integrated samples (types 3 and 4) were collected using a plastic soil scoop to collect soil from 0-5 cm depth and were composited into double zip-top plastic bags for transfer to the laboratory. Data are divided into two different data tables based upon type: types 1 and 2 are in T1_DUSamples.csv; types 3 and 4 are in T2_BSNESamples.csv. The file DataDictionary_v1.csv defines all table headings and abbreviations. Sample preparation and analytical techniques are described in the metadata file. This data release also includes location information for the approximate center points of the incremental sample polygons and linear features (decision units) and for the discrete integrated samples. Note, locations for incremental samples for decision units (sample types 1 and 2) are the approximate center of the geographical area (polygon, linear, or sinuous feature) over which the sample was collected. As such, the elemental values represent average concentrations for the sample volume collected over the entire geographic area and depth of 0-5 centimeters of each decision unit, and do not represent concentrations that would be measured in a discrete sample collected at that central location.

These data are comprised of measurements of aluminum, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, silver, cadmium, thallium, lead, bismuth, thorium, uranium, and mercury in soil, vegetation, and small rodents. Gross alpha activity, gross beta activity, and radionuclide activities (isotopic U, isotopic Th) are also presented for vegetation and soil. Radioactivities for small rodents were previously presented at https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HARTQ4. Samples were collected at the Kanab North Mine (post-mining, pre-reclamation) in the Grand Canyon watershed.

The data represent sediment depth profiles of gamma-emitting radionuclides cesium-137 (Cs-137), lead-210 (Pb-210), lead-214 (Pb-214), and bismuth-214 (Bi-214) in native soil locations around four mineralized sites in Mohave County, Arizona. The four sites represent breccia pipe uranium deposits in the Grand Canyon Region in various lifecycle stages of mining: EZ2 complex (exploration), Arizona 1 mine (standby), Pinenut mine (closed, pre-reclamation), and Kanab North Mine (reclaimed). The data were collected to assess the potential of fallout radionuclides (Cs-137 and unsupported Pb-210) to help understand the distribution of subsurface contaminants related to mining activity. Gamma spectroscopy determinations were performed on archive samples from November 2018 that were collected during a previous investigation, which is cited below. The Pb-210, Pb-214, and Bi-214 data can be used to calculate Ra-226 and excess (unsupported) Pb-210. Additional information about the collection of sediment cores and soil-profile measurements can be found in Kauble, R.K., Andraski, B.J., Green, C.T., and Walton-Day, K., 2021, Soil sample data for four uranium mine sites, Mohave County, Arizona, April and November 2018: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9B8I7KC.

The data represent sediment depth profiles of gamma-emitting radionuclides cesium-137 (Cs-137), lead-210 (Pb-210), lead-214 (Pb-214), and bismuth-214 (Bi-214) in native soil locations around four mineralized sites in Mohave County, Arizona. The four sites represent breccia pipe uranium deposits in the Grand Canyon Region in various lifecycle stages of mining: EZ2 complex (exploration), Arizona 1 mine (standby), Pinenut mine (closed, pre-reclamation), and Kanab North Mine (reclaimed). The data were collected to assess the potential of fallout radionuclides (Cs-137 and unsupported Pb-210) to help understand the distribution of subsurface contaminants related to mining activity. Gamma spectroscopy determinations were performed on archive samples from November 2018 that were collected during a previous investigation, which is cited below. The Pb-210, Pb-214, and Bi-214 data can be used to calculate Ra-226 and excess (unsupported) Pb-210. Additional information about the collection of sediment cores and soil-profile measurements can be found in Kauble, R.K., Andraski, B.J., Green, C.T., and Walton-Day, K., 2021, Soil sample data for four uranium mine sites, Mohave County, Arizona, April and November 2018: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9B8I7KC.

The data represent sediment depth profiles of gamma-emitting radionuclides and major, minor, and trace elements in native soil locations around four mineralized sites in Mohave County, Arizona. The four sites represent breccia pipe uranium deposits in the Grand Canyon Region in various lifecycle stages of mining: EZ2 complex (exploration), Arizona 1 mine (standby), Pinenut mine (closed, pre-reclamation), and Kanab North Mine (reclaimed). Gamma spectroscopy determinations were made using high-purity germanium well detectors for analysis of cesium-137 (Cs-137), lead-210 (Pb-210), lead-214 (Pb-214), and bismuth-214 (Bi-214). Major, minor, and trace element determinations were made for using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for analysis of aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), titanium (Ti), silver (Ag), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), cerium (Ce), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), gallium (Ga), hafnium (Hf), indium (In), lanthanum (La), lithium (Li), lutetium (Lu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), antimony (Sb), scandium (Sc), selenium (Se), tin (Sn), strontium (Sr), tantalum (Ta), terbium (Tb), tellurium (Te), thorium (Th), thallium (Tl), uranium (U), vanadium (V), tungsten (W), yttrium (Y), ytterbium (Yb), zinc (Zn), and zirconium (Zr). The data were collected to assess the potential of fallout radionuclides (Cs-137 and unsupported Pb-210) to help understand the distribution of subsurface contaminants related to mining activity. The Pb-210, Pb-214, and Bi-214 data can be used to calculate Ra-226 and unsupported Pb-210.