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Thin section images, automated mineralogy scans, lithogeochemistry, and Nd-Sr-Pb isotopic analysis of samples from a mostly buried layered mafic intrusion, Wet Mountains, Colorado 2022-2024

Metadata Updated: October 29, 2025

This dataset includes thin section images, automated mineralogy mineral maps, whole-rock geochemical data, and whole-rock Nd-Sr-Pb isotopic analysis of samples collected from nine mafic-ultramafic outcrops in the Wet Mountains, southern Colorado, during the summer of 2022. These data will accompany an upcoming journal publication and are intended to supplement recently collected airborne magnetic and ground gravity data that indicate a mostly buried mafic-ultramafic intrusion of unknown age (Grauch et al., 2023; Magnin and Anderson, 2023; Magnin et al., 2023). Outcrop locations were identified based on previous mapping by Taylor (1974). A single thin section was made from each sample, and both plain- and cross-polarized light (PPL and XPL, respectively) images were taken of the entire section using a flatbed film scanner. Automated mineralogy (AM) scans were collected from half of each thin section using a TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) at the Colorado School of Mines Mineral and Materials characterization facility. Whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry of samples used for thin sections and of separate compositional layers in thin section JWM-129 (i.e., JWM-129.1, -129.2) were analyzed by Activation Laboratories Ltd., Ancaster, Ontario. Platinum group element chemistry was collected and analyzed by AGAT Laboratories, Calgary, Alberta. Five whole-rock samples and two mineral separates were analyzed using Sm-Nd thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) at the University of Colorado Boulder TIMS Facility and Clean Room. The same five whole-rock samples were also analyzed for Rb-Sr and Pb-Pb isotopes using TIMS at the same lab. All analyses were performed between October 2022 and February 2024. The images contained in the zip file are categorized by sample name and additionally labeled with PPL, XPL, and AM categories. Automated mineralogy image names end with a letter indicating whether the top (T), bottom (B), left (L), or right (R) half of the thin section was scanned. A csv file of the modal mineral percentages from automated mineralogy is also included in the zip file. Sample locations/descriptions, whole rock geochemistry, Nd-Sr-Pb isotopes, and a data dictionary are included in csv files.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-6650e8d4d34e702fe8748a37
Data Last Modified 2024-08-01T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id bf1d7856-1461-4748-8659-592d7afe2a05
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -105.20650, 38.08140, -105.17472, 38.09974
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash fb805357b153c05121d4098db8d60625512f60320fa98bbe96c05376f8ffe65a
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -105.20650, 38.08140, -105.20650, 38.09974, -105.17472, 38.09974, -105.17472, 38.08140, -105.20650, 38.08140}

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