This data release contains data on historical water use, spatial land disturbance, and spatial aquifer disturbances related to in situ recovery (ISR) uranium extraction per unit of uranium produced. These data were compiled from published and publicly available references including journal articles, government reports, industry reports and company reporting documents for regulatory compliance and financial reporting requirements. Six uranium ISR mines are represented: Alta Mesa, Kingsville Dome, Mt. Lucas, Palangana, Palangana Dome, and Rosita.

A previously completed mineral resources assessment of the Texas Coastal Plain indicated the potential for future discovery of uranium resources. Composite hydrogeologic frameworks can be used in geoenvironmental assessments as a tool to understand potential effects of mining operations. Data for a composite hydrogeologic framework are documented in this data release. The hydrogeologic framework focused on the composite hydrogeologic unit consisting of the upper part of the Miocene-age Fleming Formation/Lagarto Clay, Pliocene-age Goliad and Pleistocene-age Willis Sands, Pleistocene-age Lissie and Beaumont Formations, and Holocene-age alluvial sediments (fluvial alluvium and eolian sand deposits). This composite hydrogeologic unit, which contains the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers of the Gulf Coast aquifer system, is intended for inclusion in a regional-scale geoenvironmental assessment of undiscovered uranium resources where the actual uranium resource is not yet discovered, and therefore the location unknown. The larger work citation that accompanies this data release (Teeple and others, 2022) provides (1) a brief literature review describing the geologic and hydrogeologic settings, (2) the methodology used to develop a composite hydrogeologic framework, and (3) descriptions and maps of the land-surface altitude, composite hydrogeologic unit base and midpoint altitude and depth, water-level altitude, depth of water, unsaturated and saturated zone thickness, and transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity. A composite hydrogeologic unit, created by combining geologic and hydrogeologic data and maps for individual geologic and hydrogeologic units, is intended for use as a tool in a geoenvironmental assessment to evaluate potential contaminant migration through various avenues. Potential applications of the hydrogeologic framework to a geoenvironmental assessment include estimating (1) runoff-flow paths, (2) locations of infiltration, (3) groundwater-flow paths, and (4) rate of transport. Composite hydrogeologic unit properties such as land surface altitude, water-level altitude, depth of water, saturated zone thickness, transmissivity, and hydraulic conductivity provide physical indicators of the potential for transport of contaminants. The procedures outlined in the companion larger work citation (Teeple and others, 2022) provides a method for developing hydrogeologic frameworks that can be applied in other areas where mining may occur.

A previously completed mineral resources assessment of the Texas Coastal Plain indicated the potential for future discovery of uranium resources. Composite hydrogeologic frameworks can be used in geoenvironmental assessments as a tool to understand potential effects of mining operations. Data for a composite hydrogeologic framework are documented in this data release. The hydrogeologic framework focused on the composite hydrogeologic unit consisting of the upper part of the Miocene-age Fleming Formation/Lagarto Clay, Pliocene-age Goliad and Pleistocene-age Willis Sands, Pleistocene-age Lissie and Beaumont Formations, and Holocene-age alluvial sediments (fluvial alluvium and eolian sand deposits). This composite hydrogeologic unit, which contains the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers of the Gulf Coast aquifer system, is intended for inclusion in a regional-scale geoenvironmental assessment of undiscovered uranium resources where the actual uranium resource is not yet discovered, and therefore the location unknown. The larger work citation that accompanies this data release (Teeple and others, 2022) provides (1) a brief literature review describing the geologic and hydrogeologic settings, (2) the methodology used to develop a composite hydrogeologic framework, and (3) descriptions and maps of the land-surface altitude, composite hydrogeologic unit base and midpoint altitude and depth, water-level altitude, depth of water, unsaturated and saturated zone thickness, and transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity. A composite hydrogeologic unit, created by combining geologic and hydrogeologic data and maps for individual geologic and hydrogeologic units, is intended for use as a tool in a geoenvironmental assessment to evaluate potential contaminant migration through various avenues. Potential applications of the hydrogeologic framework to a geoenvironmental assessment include estimating (1) runoff-flow paths, (2) locations of infiltration, (3) groundwater-flow paths, and (4) rate of transport. Composite hydrogeologic unit properties such as land surface altitude, water-level altitude, depth of water, saturated zone thickness, transmissivity, and hydraulic conductivity provide physical indicators of the potential for transport of contaminants. The procedures outlined in the companion larger work citation (Teeple and others, 2022) provides a method for developing hydrogeologic frameworks that can be applied in other areas where mining may occur.

Apatite [Ca5(PO4)3F], titanite [CaTiSiO5], and rutile [TiO2] samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from the Coles Hill uranium deposit, Virginia. The samples (in the form of polished thin sections) were prepared and analyzed for direct age dating on a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA–ICPMS) system at the USGS in Denver, Colorado from August 2017 to March 2019.

Open pit uranium mining in Atascosa, Karnes, and Live Oak Counties in the Texas gulf coast region was active during the second half of the 20th century. Understanding the history of these mining operations is important for proper management and restoration. Although some mines have extensive records documenting the locations and extents of mining pits and mine waste-rock piles, and provide descriptions of reclamation activities, abandoned mines with little to no such documentation are present on the landscape. A multiple lines of evidence approach using lidar derivatives and multispectral remote sensing temporal analysis (Stengel, 2022) was developed to (1) identify uranium mine waste-rock, wastewater, and land disturbance due to mining, to (2) differentiate between abandoned and reclaimed mine features, and to (3) help understand the life cycle of mining activities on the Texas landscape. This data release provides the 2013 and 2018 lidar data used to derive derivative terrain parameters described in the associated paper, as well as mine surface areas and features identified from our analysis.

Open pit uranium mining in Atascosa, Karnes, and Live Oak Counties in the Texas gulf coast region was active during the second half of the 20th century. Understanding the history of these mining operations is important for proper management and restoration. Although some mines have extensive records documenting the locations and extents of mining pits and mine waste-rock piles, and provide descriptions of reclamation activities, abandoned mines with little to no such documentation are present on the landscape. A multiple lines of evidence approach using lidar derivatives and multispectral remote sensing temporal analysis (Stengel, 2022) was developed to (1) identify uranium mine waste-rock, wastewater, and land disturbance due to mining, to (2) differentiate between abandoned and reclaimed mine features, and to (3) help understand the life cycle of mining activities on the Texas landscape. This data release provides the 2013 and 2018 lidar data used to derive derivative terrain parameters described in the associated paper, as well as mine surface areas and features identified from our analysis.

High concentrations of uranium were detected in samples from wells used for domestic drinking water supplies in the San Joaquin Valley. Of 163 domestic wells sampled by the California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP) and the National Water Quality Program (NWQP) in 2008-2015, 26 percent had uranium concentrations greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level (EPA MCL) of 30 µg/L, with 13 percent of the wells having uranium concentration between 100 µg/L and 450 µg/L. To evaluate the potential anthropogenic and geologic causes of these anomalously high uranium concentrations, Rosen and others (2019) compiled water quality and ancillary data for 450 samples collected between 1993 and 2018 from 257 primarily domestic or public drinking water supply wells sampled by the USGS for GAMA-PBP or NWQP studies. Water-quality data compiled from the USGS NWIS database includes: field water-quality parameters (dissolved oxygen and pH), concentrations of major ions, trace elements, and nutrients, and tritium activities. Groundwater age and oxidation-reduction status classifications were derived from the water-quality data, and equilibrium saturation indices for minerals of interest were calculated from the water-quality data using PHREEQC. Ancillary data compiled for each well site include: well construction information, land use characteristics in 2001 and geologic characteristics. Rosen and others (2019) used graphical and spatial relations, statistical correlations, and principle component analysis to evaluate changes in uranium concentrations over time and infer processes responsible for occurrence of elevated uranium concentrations. They conclude that the process previously identified by Jurgens and others (2010) is responsible for a large part of the observed patterns of increasing uranium concentrations and occurrence of uranium concentrations greater than the EPA MCL - increased bicarbonate concentrations in recharge used for agricultural irrigation causes uranium sorbed on San Joaquin Valley sediments derived from Sierra Nevada granitic rocks to be become soluble. Rosen and others (2019) infer that in addition to solubility enhanced by bicarbonate, the highest uranium concentrations - which were found in the historic discharge zone at the distal end of regional groundwater flow system in the San Joaquin Valley - likely also reflect dissolution of reduced uranium minerals by the more oxic modern recharge water. All of the water-quality and ancillary data used by Rosen and others (2019) are presented in this Data Release. Rosen, M.R., Burow, K.R., and Fram, M.S., 2019 , Anthropogenic and geologic causes of anomalously high uranium concentrations in groundwater used for drinking water supply in the southeastern San Joaquin Valley, California: Journal of Hydrology, v. 577, ppg. 12409, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124009. Jurgens, B.C., Fram, M.S., Belitz, K., Burow, K.R., and Landon, M.K., 2010, Effects of groundwater development on uranium: Central Valley, California, USA: Ground Water, v. 48, p. 913-928, https://doi.org/10.111/j.1745-6584.2009.00635.x.

High concentrations of uranium were detected in samples from wells used for domestic drinking water supplies in the San Joaquin Valley. Of 163 domestic wells sampled by the California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP) and the National Water Quality Program (NWQP) in 2008-2015, 26 percent had uranium concentrations greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level (EPA MCL) of 30 µg/L, with 13 percent of the wells having uranium concentration between 100 µg/L and 450 µg/L. To evaluate the potential anthropogenic and geologic causes of these anomalously high uranium concentrations, Rosen and others (2019) compiled water quality and ancillary data for 450 samples collected between 1993 and 2018 from 257 primarily domestic or public drinking water supply wells sampled by the USGS for GAMA-PBP or NWQP studies. Water-quality data compiled from the USGS NWIS database includes: field water-quality parameters (dissolved oxygen and pH), concentrations of major ions, trace elements, and nutrients, and tritium activities. Groundwater age and oxidation-reduction status classifications were derived from the water-quality data, and equilibrium saturation indices for minerals of interest were calculated from the water-quality data using PHREEQC. Ancillary data compiled for each well site include: well construction information, land use characteristics in 2001 and geologic characteristics. Rosen and others (2019) used graphical and spatial relations, statistical correlations, and principle component analysis to evaluate changes in uranium concentrations over time and infer processes responsible for occurrence of elevated uranium concentrations. They conclude that the process previously identified by Jurgens and others (2010) is responsible for a large part of the observed patterns of increasing uranium concentrations and occurrence of uranium concentrations greater than the EPA MCL - increased bicarbonate concentrations in recharge used for agricultural irrigation causes uranium sorbed on San Joaquin Valley sediments derived from Sierra Nevada granitic rocks to be become soluble. Rosen and others (2019) infer that in addition to solubility enhanced by bicarbonate, the highest uranium concentrations - which were found in the historic discharge zone at the distal end of regional groundwater flow system in the San Joaquin Valley - likely also reflect dissolution of reduced uranium minerals by the more oxic modern recharge water. All of the water-quality and ancillary data used by Rosen and others (2019) are presented in this Data Release. Rosen, M.R., Burow, K.R., and Fram, M.S., 2019 , Anthropogenic and geologic causes of anomalously high uranium concentrations in groundwater used for drinking water supply in the southeastern San Joaquin Valley, California: Journal of Hydrology, v. 577, ppg. 12409, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124009. Jurgens, B.C., Fram, M.S., Belitz, K., Burow, K.R., and Landon, M.K., 2010, Effects of groundwater development on uranium: Central Valley, California, USA: Ground Water, v. 48, p. 913-928, https://doi.org/10.111/j.1745-6584.2009.00635.x.

Measurements of Uranium collected at Sacramento River At Red Bluff Forebay. Currently collected twice a year, previously collected quarterly. Access further information for this data set by contacting Bureau of Reclamation, California-Great Basin Region, Environmental Affairs Division (CGB-157). See ResultAttributes for STAFF_GAUGE, SMPL_DEPTH, SMPL_CATEGORY_NAME, METHOD_CODE, RESULT_RL, RESULT_RL-UNIT_STD_NAME, RESULT_MDL, RESULT_MDL-UNIT_STD_NAME, USBR_QA_SUBTYPE_NAME, USBR_QULFR_DESCRIPTION. STAFF_GAUGE is the water height in decimal feet measured by gauge (e.g., 15.2). SMPL_DEPTH is the vertical depth at which sample is collected (e.g., 0 - 15 cm). For water samples: depth below water/air interface. For sediment and soil samples: depth below water/solid or air/solid interface. SMPL_CATEGORY_NAME is the category type of sample (e.g., Composite). METHOD_CODE is the name of method used to obtain result (e.g., EPA 200.8). RESULT_RL is the result reporting limit (accounting for dilution) (e.g., 0.02). RESULT_RL-UNIT_STD_NAME is the unit associated with RESULT_RL (e.g., mg/L). RESULT_MDL is the result method detection limit (e.g., 0.007). RESULT_MDL-UNIT_STD_NAME is the unit associated with RESULT_MDL (e.g., mg/L). USBR_QA_SUBTYPE_NAME is the quality control type of the sample (e.g., USBR_BLANK_SPIKE). USBR_QULFR_DESCRIPTION is the quality assurance description (if any) (e.g., Result may have a high bias.).

In situ recovery (ISR) uranium mining is a technique in which uranium is extracted by a series of injection and recovery wells developed in a permeable sandstone host rock. Chemical constituents (lixiviants) are added to groundwater injection wells to mobilize uranium into groundwater. Before mining, baseline water quality is measured by sampling groundwater from the aquifer intended to be mined and over and underlying units over a geographic area that reflects the proposed mine location. After mining, groundwater is restored using a variety of techniques intended to return groundwater quality to as close to baseline as practicable. After groundwater has been restored, groundwater quality is monitored to determine if the groundwater chemistry has stabilized. The impact of ISR mining on groundwater is poorly understood because records archiving these impacts are difficult to locate. The USGS collected as many historic records describing ISR well fields as they could locate between 2008 and 2014. This data release summarizes historic records from ISR mines developed in Texas and compiled into spreadsheets by USGS mostly from records maintained by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.