Geochemical Data
Background
Geochemical data make up an important part of the data available for the Rifle site. A general understanding of the history of the Rifle site and the DOE funded research efforts at the Rifle site and historic and ongoing data collection efforts helps to put the available data in context and should allow researchers to locate the datasets of most interest to them.
The Rifle site (which is actually known as the Old Rifle site) is a former uranium and vanadium processing site located near the city of Rifle, Colorado. The Old Rifle site is approximately 0.3 mile east of the city of Rifle. The Old Rifle site was remediated under the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project and was transferred to DOE LM (Legacy Management) for long term monitoring. Detailed information on the history of the Rifle site can be found on the DOE LM Old Rifle website
DOE funded research efforts have been ongoing at the Rifle site since the late 1990s. A good overview of this research can be found in a presentation by Phil Long at the DOE SBR 2007 annual PI meeting.From 2007-2012 a large part of this research was done as part of the DOE SBR sponsored Integrated Field Research Challenge (IFRC) Projects. Since 2012 the majority of this research is being performed as part of the LBNL Sustainable Systems SFA 2.0. The IFRC research efforts were primarily focused around a number of experiments (named after local hotels in Rifle) which occurred in different locations at the Rifle site. The figure below shows these locations and the names of the experiments.

Datasets
There are numerous datasets which have been collected as part of these different research efforts. Several of the core datasets (which have value for multiple researchers) are available through this webinterface. Data is accessible in two ways. First, as a datapackage, a free form organization of data (excel, word, powerpoint) provided by different scientists. Datapackages are searchable on name and keywords in the description and can be downloaded. Second, as data which has been ingested in the database, and which can be visualized in different ways. In general, all geochemical data which has been ingested in the database will also be available as a datapackage
The following data are currently available:
- Data from experiments conducted in plot A and plot C. Plot A experiments were done in 2007 (Winchester), 2008 (Big Rusty), and 2009 (Buckskin), and plot C experiments were done in 2010 (Super 8) and 2011 (Best Western)
- Data from the ongoing nitrate/DO injection experiment conducted in plot C in 2013/2014
Accessing data through the graphical interface
There are two ways in which this data can be accessed.
Graph geochemistry by parameter allows users to select an analyte. This generates a list of wells for which that analyte was measured. Users can then select the well(s) they want to see. Graphs are updated automatically as users make and change selections.
Graph geochemistry by well allows users to select a location. This generates a list of analytes measured for that location. Users can then select the analyte(s) they want to see. Well selections can be made either through the map or through the selection boxes. Graphs are updated automatically as users make selections.
Users can select multiple analytes. The graphing behaves in the following manner:
- If there is only one unit (e.g. ug/L) only one axis will be used.
- If there are two units the left and right axis will be used.
- If there are three or more units a relative axis on the left will be used in which data values are normalized between 0 and 1.
Please contact the LBNL DMA team with any comments and suggestions on the interface or with any questions on the data presented here.