This Data Release contains data associated with the journal article "Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming". Data include bulk organic geochemistry, major and trace element geochemistry, mineralogy, extractable organic matter composition, extractable biomarkers, and organic stable carbon isotope analyses.

In 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessed the potential for undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous (unconventional) oil and gas resources in the Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin Province (Finn and others, 2021). To better characterize the source rock potential of the Mowry Shale and associated strata, 129 samples were collected from 45 wells from the well cuttings collection stored at the USGS Core Research Center in Lakewood, Colorado. The sampled wells are located along the margins of the basin in order to obtain samples that were not subjected to the effects of deep burial and subsequent organic carbon loss due to thermal maturation (Daly and Edman, 1987) (fig. 1). One hundred samples are from the upper siliceous part of the Mowry Shale (Finn, 2021), 18 from the lower part of the Mowry Shale (Shell Creek Shale equivalent, Eicher, 1962; Finn, 2021), and 11 from the Thermopolis Shale (fig. 2). The sample intervals were determined by examining the cuttings under a binocular microscope and the darkest chips were selected for analysis based on observations by Hosterman and Whitlow (1981), Charpentier and Schmoker (1982), Hunt (1996), and Landon and others (2001) that total organic carbon (TOC) content generally increases as color goes from gray to black and therefore is a rough (although not always reliable) indicator of organic richness. Obvious material from carvings and contamination, such as wood chips, metal, and plastic were removed. The cuttings were composited into samples from thickness intervals that were generally 10 to 20 ft thick but ranged from 5 to 80 ft depending on how much material was available for a proper analysis. The samples were analyzed by the USGS Central Energy Resources Science Centers Petroleum Geochemistry Research Laboratory. Total carbon and total organic carbon content were determined using a LECO® Carbon Analyzer, Model C744 (LECO Corporation, St. Joseph MI) by the combustion method after carbonate removal (see Jarvie, 1991; and Oliver and Warden, 2020, for details). The programmed pyrolysis analysis was performed using a Hydrocarbon Analyzer with Kinetics (HAWK) instrument (Wildcat Technologies, Humble TX) (see Espitalié and others, 1977; Tissot and Welte, 1978; Peters, 1986; Hunt, 1996; and Dreier and Warden, 2021, for discussions of the pyrolysis method). Values directly measured by the HAWK are S1, S2, S3, and Tmax. The values HI, OI, PI, S2/S3, G.P., and S1/TOC were calculated by the author.

In 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessed the potential for undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous (unconventional) oil and gas resources in the Mowry Shale in the Wind River Basin Province (Finn and others, 2021). To better characterize the source rock potential of the Mowry Shale and associated strata, 129 samples were collected from 45 wells from the well cuttings collection stored at the USGS Core Research Center in Lakewood, Colorado. The sampled wells are located along the margins of the basin in order to obtain samples that were not subjected to the effects of deep burial and subsequent organic carbon loss due to thermal maturation (Daly and Edman, 1987) (fig. 1). One hundred samples are from the upper siliceous part of the Mowry Shale (Finn, 2021), 18 from the lower part of the Mowry Shale (Shell Creek Shale equivalent, Eicher, 1962; Finn, 2021), and 11 from the Thermopolis Shale (fig. 2). The sample intervals were determined by examining the cuttings under a binocular microscope and the darkest chips were selected for analysis based on observations by Hosterman and Whitlow (1981), Charpentier and Schmoker (1982), Hunt (1996), and Landon and others (2001) that total organic carbon (TOC) content generally increases as color goes from gray to black and therefore is a rough (although not always reliable) indicator of organic richness. Obvious material from carvings and contamination, such as wood chips, metal, and plastic were removed. The cuttings were composited into samples from thickness intervals that were generally 10 to 20 ft thick but ranged from 5 to 80 ft depending on how much material was available for a proper analysis. The samples were analyzed by the USGS Central Energy Resources Science Centers Petroleum Geochemistry Research Laboratory. Total carbon and total organic carbon content were determined using a LECO® Carbon Analyzer, Model C744 (LECO Corporation, St. Joseph MI) by the combustion method after carbonate removal (see Jarvie, 1991; and Oliver and Warden, 2020, for details). The programmed pyrolysis analysis was performed using a Hydrocarbon Analyzer with Kinetics (HAWK) instrument (Wildcat Technologies, Humble TX) (see Espitalié and others, 1977; Tissot and Welte, 1978; Peters, 1986; Hunt, 1996; and Dreier and Warden, 2021, for discussions of the pyrolysis method). Values directly measured by the HAWK are S1, S2, S3, and Tmax. The values HI, OI, PI, S2/S3, G.P., and S1/TOC were calculated by the author.

The Wind River Basin is a structural and sedimentary basin that formed during the Laramide orogeny in latest Cretaceous and early Eocene time. The basin encompasses about 7,400 square miles in central Wyoming and is bounded by the Washakie, Owl Creek and Bighorn uplifts on the north, the Casper arch on the east, the Granite Mountains uplift on the south, and Wind River uplift on the west (fig. 1). Many important conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources have been discovered and produced from reservoirs ranging from Mississippian through Tertiary in age (Keefer, 1969; Fox and Dolton, 1989, 1996; De Bruin, 1993; Johnson and others, 1996, 2007). It has been suggested by numerous authors (Geis, 1923; Schrayer and Zarrella, 1963, 1966, 1968; Meissner and others, 1984; Burtner and Warner, 1984; Surdam and others, 2010) that the Mowry Shale is an important source rock for many of these accumulations. With new drilling and well completion technologies the Mowry Shale is considered an important (unconventional) shale gas and shale oil objective in other Rocky Mountain basins (Sterling and others, 2009; Surdam and others, 2010). In the Wind River Basin, the Mowry Shale is composed of organic-rich mudrocks, bentonites, and siltstones (Kirschbaum and others, 2019) (fig. 2). Please see supplemental information for associated references. Selected figures have also been included to help describe this data release. These figures are provided in JPEG format. These include: Fig1_Rocky Mountain basins.jpg. Map of Rocky Mountain region showing locations of Laramide sedimentary and structural basins and intervening uplifts. Fig2_Xsection.jpg. U.S Geological Survey Alcova Reservoir AR–1–13 core hole showing lithology, and comparison to gamma ray and conductivity logs. From Kirschbaum and others, 2019 Please see data dictionary sheet in the excel file for detailed table column/attribute information.

This digital data release contains previously published contours on the tops of the Mowry Shale, Morrison Formation, and Minnelusa Formation. The maps are from a series of U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies (MF) showing computer-generated structure contours, isopachs, and cross sections of selected formations in the Powder River basin, Wyoming and Montana (Crysdale 1990, 1991a, 1991b). The maps were constructed from information stored in a U.S. Geological Survey Evolution of Sedimentary Basins data base. This data base contains picks of geologic formation and (or) unit tops and bases determined from electric resistivity and gamma-ray logs of 8,592 wells penetrating Tertiary and older rocks in the Powder River basin. Well completion cards (scout tickets) were reviewed and compared with copies of all logs, and formation or unit contacts determined by N. M. Denson, D.L. Macke, R. R. Schumann and others. These maps are based on information from 2,429 of these wells that penetrate the Minnelusa Formation and equivalents.

This digital data release contains previously published contours on the tops of the Mowry Shale, Morrison Formation, and Minnelusa Formation. The maps are from a series of U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies (MF) showing computer-generated structure contours, isopachs, and cross sections of selected formations in the Powder River basin, Wyoming and Montana (Crysdale 1990, 1991a, 1991b). The maps were constructed from information stored in a U.S. Geological Survey Evolution of Sedimentary Basins data base. This data base contains picks of geologic formation and (or) unit tops and bases determined from electric resistivity and gamma-ray logs of 8,592 wells penetrating Tertiary and older rocks in the Powder River basin. Well completion cards (scout tickets) were reviewed and compared with copies of all logs, and formation or unit contacts determined by N. M. Denson, D.L. Macke, R. R. Schumann and others. These maps are based on information from 2,429 of these wells that penetrate the Minnelusa Formation and equivalents.

This data release supports the manuscript entitled "Multiple approaches to surface water quality assessment provide insight for small streams experiencing oil and natural gas development" (DOI )and includes two data sets: 1) Mean daily discharge, temperature, and conductivity data from three stream sites in the Wyoming Range for summers 2012-2016; 2) Suspended sediment and macroinvertebrate metrics for 40 stream sites in the Wyoming Range for August 2016.

This data release supports the manuscript entitled "Multiple approaches to surface water quality assessment provide insight for small streams experiencing oil and natural gas development" (DOI )and includes two data sets: 1) Mean daily discharge, temperature, and conductivity data from three stream sites in the Wyoming Range for summers 2012-2016; 2) Suspended sediment and macroinvertebrate metrics for 40 stream sites in the Wyoming Range for August 2016.

Imaging of Niobrara Formation and Mowry Shale samples from a range of thermal maturities provided observations and data on pore systems, organic matter (OM) types and associations with mineralogy and fabric, wettability, and microporosity associated with both diagenetic and detrital clays. Imaging techniques included scanning electron microscopy, organic petrography and correlative scanning electron microscopy, and mapping of mineralogy through energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Imaging of Niobrara Formation and Mowry Shale samples from a range of thermal maturities provided observations and data on pore systems, organic matter (OM) types and associations with mineralogy and fabric, wettability, and microporosity associated with both diagenetic and detrital clays. Imaging techniques included scanning electron microscopy, organic petrography and correlative scanning electron microscopy, and mapping of mineralogy through energy dispersive spectroscopy.