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Project status is complete. Work is continued under the National Geochemical Database II project.

National Geochemical Database

Project Objectives

The broad objective of this project was to maintain and enhance the National Geochemical Database (NGDB). The NGDB consists of 1) the original RASS and PLUTO data from the USGS labs, which are now stored in a common format under the ORACLE relational database management system; 2) the NURE data, which were reformatted and reside currently on the following web site: see http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/ where downloads may be made on the basis of 1:250000-scale quadrangles; and 3) the newly generated data (approximately 1996 - present) which reside on the Laboratory Information Management System. The enhancements to the NGDB will enable both USGS scientists and external customers to more easily extract immediately useable data on a national, regional, and local scale to help establish a baseline for the abundance and spatial distribution of chemical elements in the Earth's surficial materials. Specific short-term objective included:

1. Linking the newly developed ORACLE-based database to the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to provide for the smooth transfer of newly generated data from the LIMS to the NGDB.
2. Implement the new Sample Submittal Information procedure on a nationwide basis throughout the USGS. This procedure has only been implemented at this time (June 2002) in the Central Region. Without this new system in place, it is possible that more errors and omissions regarding the nature and location of samples may be generated.
3. Complete the re-formatting of the NURE HSSR database based on 1:250000-scale quadrangles, compile the quadrangle-based data into one large data set, and provide these data to the public via a web site and CD/DVD.
4. Complete the upgrading of archival USGS geochemical data for Alaska and release these to the public via a web site and CD/DVD.
5. Initiate the upgrading of the remainder (non-Alaska) portion of the USGS-generated data.
6. Generate subsets of the master databases containing data in a format more useful to geochemists so they do not have to wade through the process of extracting the data they need from the entire database.
7. Communicate and coordinate the work within this Project with other data delivery efforts within the Bureau such as NatWeb, GEODE, and Spatial Data Delivery.
8. Produce map representations of the database showing the spatial variation of chemical species throughout the nation and within sub-regions that are of priority to the USGS.

Relevance & Impact

An accurate, easily accessible geochemical database containing multi-element information on the surficial materials of the nation is vital if the USGS is to respond quickly to earth science issues raised by Congress and land management and environmental protection agencies. A nationally consistent geochemical database provides baseline information on the natural abundance and spatial variation of chemical elements to which changes caused by agricultural and irrigation practices, waste disposal, urbanization, industrial pollution, mineral exploration and mining activities, environmental remediation and restoration activities, and other land-use practices can be compared. Human-induced chemical changes to the environment are superimposed on a variable natural geochemical background where trace-element abundances can range over several orders of magnitude within short distances. These variations are inadequately documented and their existence is often overlooked in the setting of public policy. Important aspects of change cannot be measured, or their consequences anticipated, unless the present composition of the earth's surface materials is known. In her 2000 Presidential address to the Geological Society of America, Mary Lou Zoback identified six "grand challenges in earth and environmental science". The first of these was "recognizing the signal within the natural variability". Zoback stated that "documenting and understanding natural variability is a vexing topic in almost every environmental problem. How do we recognize and understand changes in natural systems if we don't understand the range of baseline values?" Preserving and enhancing the vast amount of geochemical data within the Mineral Resources Program's (MRP) databases will provide a powerful tool for addressing this "grand challenge". The ultimate goal of producing and electronically disseminating the vast amount of geochemical data within MRP's databases directly supports many of the goals and objectives as stated in the 1999 Science Strategy of the Geologic Division. These databases are essential for understanding the relationship between geologic processes and human health, ecosystem structure and function, and the distribution of energy and mineral resources. This project also serves as the focal point of requests for geochemical data from outside customers. From June 2001 through May 2002, over 100 requests for data were received from Federal, state, and local government clients; private sector clients; and internal USGS clients.

Project Chief:

Products

Products are listed according to task:

Task 1 - Project Reassessment and Redefinition

Presentations

• Smith, D.B., Goldhaber, M.B., and Smith, S.M., 2003, The U.S. Geological Survey's National Geochemical Database: A possible link between earth science and health science [abs.]: 21st Annual Epidemiologic Research Exchange, Feb. 7, 2003, p. 12.
• Smith, S.M., Smith, D.B., and Bailey, E.A., 2003, The U.S. Geological Survey's National Geochemical Database [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program, v. 35, no. 7, p. 366. View Smith 2003 GSA abstract.

Posters

• Smith, S.M. and Smith, D.B., 2005, Development and Utilization of a National Geochemical Database, in Programs & Abstracts, 22nd International Geochemical Exploration Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 19-23 September 2005, p. 161.
• Smith, S.M., Smith, D.B., and Bailey, E.A., 2003, The USGS National Geochemical Database and its environmental applications [abs.]: Final Programme & Book of Abstracts, 6th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry; University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 7-11 September 2003, p. 209.

Other Products

• EarthChem Workshop on USGS National Geochemical Database: Word version [36 KB] or PDF version [96 KB].

Task 2 - National Geochemical Database Development and Maintenance

• All historic and current geochemical data generated by the Geologic Discipline reside under one format in one database.

Task 3 - Renovation and Rescue of USGS-generated Geochemical Data

Reports

• Bailey, E.A., Smith, D.B., Abston, C.C., Granitto, M., and Burleigh, K.A., 2000, U.S. Geological Survey RASS (Rock Analysis Storage System) geochemical data for Alaska, Version 2.0: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-433, Version 2.0. Available online at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/of99-433/.
• Bailey, E.A., Smith,D.B., Abston, C.C., Granitto, M., and Burleigh, K.A., 1999, National Geochemical Database: U.S. Geological Survey RASS (Rock Analysis Storage System) geochemical data for Alaska, Version 1.0: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-433, Version 1.0.
• Norvell, W.A., Wu, J., Smith, D.B.,. Ulmer, M.G, Aziz, F.P., Hopkins, D.G., and Welch,R.M., 1999, Distribution of trace elements in soils of northwestern North Dakota: Agronomy Abstracts, p. 261.

Task 4 - NURE HSSR Geochemical Database

Reports

• Smith, S.M., 2001, National Geochemical Database; Reformatted data from the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program, Version 1.30: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-492. Available online at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/.
• Smith, S.M., 2000, National Geochemical Database: Reformatted Data from the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program: Version 1.20 , U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-492, Version 1.20.
• Smith, S.M., 1999, National Geochemical Database: Reformatted Data from the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program: Version 1.10, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-492, Version 1.10.
• Smith, S.M., 1997, National Geochemical Database: Reformatted Data from the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program: Version 1.00.

Task 5 - National Geochemical Atlas (Eastern Region MRP)

Reports

• Grossman, J.N., 1998, National geochemical atlas: the geochemical landscape of the conterminous United States derived from stream sediment and other solid sample media analyzed by the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) program: Version 3.01: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-622.

Abstracts

• Grosz, A.E., Grossman, J.N., Garrett, R.G., Friske, P., Smith, D.B., Darnley, A.G., and Vowinkel, E., 2000, Arsenic in surficial sediments of North America [abs.]: Abstracts Volume, 31st International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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