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Geochemistry of igneous rocks in the US (major elements) from the PLUTO database

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Geochemistry of igneous rocks in the US (major elements) from the PLUTO database
Abstract:
This dataset contains major-element geochemical data for igneous rocks in the U.S. extracted from the PLUTO Geochemical database.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Grossman, Jeffrey N. , 1999, Geochemistry of igneous rocks in the US (major elements) from the PLUTO database:.

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Baedecker, Philip A., Grossman, Jeffrey N., and Buttleman, Kim P., 1998, National Geochemical data base: PLUTO geochemical data base for the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -179.1
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.764
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 70.0
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.003

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1964
    Ending_Date: 1995
    Currentness_Reference: analysis dates

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Point (32919)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000464. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000464. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6370997 meters.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.98.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Labno      Laboratory identification number of sample
    field      Field name assigned by geologist
    full_name  Previous two names concatenated together.
    Jobn       Analytical job identification number
    State      State where sample was collected
    county     County where sample was collected
    latitude   Latitude where sample was collected
    longitude  Longitude where sample was collected
    formation  Geological formation hosting sample
    descriptio Geologist's description of the sample
    Name       Name of geologist who submitted sample for analysis
    Sub_date   Date of submission for analysis
    character  Indicates how typical sample is of an area and how it was collected.
    source     Source of sample (outcrop, mine, float, etc.)
    Age        Geological age of sample coded by the submitter.
    rock_from  Generic form of the rock (lava flow, xenolith, etc.)
    texture_st Texture and structure of rock.
    qtz_feldsp Quartz-feldspar occurrences and relationships.
    rock_name  Igneous rock type (basalt, granite, etc.)
    econom_ge  Mineralization noted by geologist in sample.
    method     Analytical method used for major elements.
    sio2       Analytical result in weight percent.
    al2o3      Analytical result in weight percent.
    Mgo        Analytical result in weight percent.
    Cao        Analytical result in weight percent.
    Na2o       Analytical result in weight percent.
    K2o        Analytical result in weight percent.
    Tio2       Analytical result in weight percent.
    p2o2       Analytical result in weight percent.
    Mno        Analytical result in weight percent.
    Feto3      Analytical result (Total iron as iron 3+) in weight percent.
    sum        Sum of above.
    Fe2o3      Analytical result in weight percent.
    Feo        Analytical result in weight percent.
    H2o_plus   Analytical result in weight percent.
    H2o_minus  Analytical result in weight percent.
    Co2        Analytical result in weight percent.
    
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: USGS Digital Data Series DDS-47
    plutoig2.dbf

    LABNO
    Laboratory sample number assigned by the analytical laboratory.

    non-unique alphanumeric identifier

    FIELD
    Sample field number assigned by the submitter designated in the NAME field.

    non-unique alphanumeric identifier

    FULLNAME
    LABNO value concatenated with FIELD value

    non-unique alphanumeric identifier

    JOBN
    Laboratory job number assigned by the analytical laboratory. A given job may have between 1 and 40 samples.

    non-unique alphanumeric identifier

    STATE
    The state (or location) in which the sample was collected.

    ValueDefinition
    (no value) 
    D1 
    D2 
    D3 
    D5 
    M1 
    W1 
    W2 

    Formal codeset
    Codeset Name:2-letter abbreviations for US states
    Codeset Source:<http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip5-2.htm>

    COUNTY
    The county in which the sample was collected.

    county names in upper case

    LATITUDE
    The latitude of the sample location.

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00000
    Maximum:70.06500
    Units:degrees
    Resolution:0.001

    LONGITUDE
    The longitude of the sample location. By convention, longitudes west of Greenwich Meridian are negative.

    Range of values
    Minimum:-179.45000
    Maximum:0.00000
    Units:degrees
    Resolution:0.01

    FORMATION
    This is intended to hold the name of the stratigraphic unit of formation rank or higher, represented by rock, mineral, or coal samples from the United States, Canada, or Mexico. In fact there are a variety of values that probably do not adhere to this definition.

    free text

    DESCRIPTIO
    This field is defined by the sample submitter to describe the sample material and to list any distinguishing characteristics.

    free text

    NAME
    This is the name of the individual who submitted the samples to the laboratory for analysis.

    Form is generally last, first, middle initial, all upper case

    SUB__DATE
    Date that the samples were submitted to the laboratory for analysis (written as YYYYMMDD)

    Range of values
    Minimum:19640109
    Maximum:19950406
    Units:days
    Resolution:1

    CHARACTER
    Indicates how typical sample is of an area and how it was collected

    ValueDefinition
    Atypical channel sample 
    Atypical composite 
    Atypical other sample 
    Atypical processed sample 
    Atypical single sample 
    Composite 
    Other sample 
    Other typical sample 
    Processed sample 
    Single sample 
    Typical channel sample 
    Typical composite 
    Typical other sample 
    Typical processed sample 
    Typical single sample 
    UncodedSample not characterized

    SOURCE
    Type of source material or location

    ValueDefinition
    Drill core/auger 
    Drill cutting 
    Float 
    Marine 
    Mine dump 
    Natural outcrop 
    Open pit mine/quarry 
    Other 
    Produced from well 
    Prospect pit 
    Road cut 
    Uncoded 
    Underground mine 

    AGE
    Age of the sample if known

    ValueDefinition
    Cambrian 
    Cretaceous 
    Devonian 
    Early Precambrian (Archaeozo 
    Eocene 
    Holocene 
    Jurassic 
    Late Precambrian (Proterozoi 
    Mesozoic 
    Miocene 
    Mississippian 
    Oligocene 
    Ordovician 
    Paleocene 
    Paleozoic 
    Pennsylvanian 
    Permian 
    Pleistocene 
    Pliocene 
    Precambrian 
    Quaternary 
    Silurian 
    Tertiary 
    Triassic 
    Uncodedage not known

    ROCK_FORM
    Type of rock formation from which sample was collected

    ValueDefinition
    Autolith 
    Dike 
    Extrusive rock 
    Flow or sill 
    Inclusion 
    Intrusive breccia 
    Intrusive rock 
    Lava flow 
    Pipe or plug 
    Pluton 
    Pyroclastic 
    Pyroclastic, bedded, indurated 
    Pyroclastic, bedded, loose 
    Pyroclastic, unsorted, indurated 
    Pyroclastic, unsorted, loose 
    Segregation 
    Sill, laccolith, etc 
    Stock 
    Uncodednot specified
    Volc breccia or agglomerate 
    Xenolith 

    TEXTURE_ST
    Rock texture and structure

    ValueDefinition
    Massive 
    Massive/aphanitic 
    Massive/coarse-gr 
    Massive/fine-gr 
    Massive/glassy 
    Massive/med-gr 
    Massive/other 
    Massive/Pegmatitic 
    Massive/Pumiceous 
    Massive/pumiceous 
    Nonmassive 
    Nonmassive/aphanitic 
    Nonmassive/coarse-gr 
    Nonmassive/fine-gr 
    Nonmassive/glassy 
    Nonmassive/med-gr 
    Nonmassive/other 
    Nonmassive/Pegmatitic 
    Nonmassive/Pumiceous 
    Nonmassive/pumiceous 
    Porhyritic 
    Porph/aphanitic 
    Porph/coarse-gr 
    Porph/fine-gr 
    Porph/glassy 
    Porph/med-gr 
    Porph/other 
    Porph/Pegmatitic 
    Porph/pegmatitic 
    Porph/Pumiceous 
    Porph/pumiceous 
    Uncodednot specified

    QTZ_FELDSP
    Relationship between quartz and feldspar in the rock

    ValueDefinition
    Feld present/no QFeldspar is present, but quartz is not
    Feld present/QFeldspar is present along with quartz
    Feldspathoids/no QFeldspathoids are present, quartz is not
    Feldspathoids/QFeldspathoids are present along with quartz
    K-feld=plag/no QPotassium feldspars and plagioclase occur in subequal proportion, quartz is absent
    K-feld=plag/QPotassium feldspars and plagioclase occur in subequal proportion, quartz is present
    K-Na feld dom/no QPotassium and sodium feldspars predominate, quartz is absent
    K-Na feld dom/QPotassium and sodium feldspars predominate, quartz is present
    Little-No feld/no QLittle or no feldspars occur, quartz is absent as well
    Little-no feld/QLittle or no feldspars occur, but quartz is present
    Plag dom/no QPlagioclase dominates feldspars, no quartz
    Plag dom/QPlagioclase dominates feldspars, quartz is present
    Uncodednot specified

    ROCK_NAME
    General rock classification

    ValueDefinition
    Alaskite 
    Alkalic igneous 
    Amphibolite 
    Andesite 
    Anorthosite 
    Aplite 
    Basalt 
    Carbonatite 
    Dacite 
    Diabase 
    Diorite 
    Dunite 
    Felsic igneous rock 
    Gabbro 
    Granite 
    Granodiorite 
    Intermediate igneous 
    Lamprophyre 
    Latite 
    Mafic igneous 
    Monzonite 
    Obsidian 
    Olivine basalt 
    Other 
    Pegmatite 
    Peridotite 
    Phonolite 
    Pumice 
    Pyroxenite 
    Quartz diorite 
    Quartz latite 
    Quartz monzonite 
    Rhyolite 
    Syenite 
    Trachyte 
    Ultramafic igneous 
    Uncodednone specified
    Volcanic glass 

    ECON_GEOL
    Mineralization noted by geologist in sample. This field is used to identify samples of ores and (or) related protore, altered material, or other samples of possible economic significance.

    ValueDefinition
    Altered/epigen gangSample of altered rock--may contain epigenetic gangue minerals
    May contain econ meSample has not been mineralized or altered but may contain economic concentrations of metals (e.g., magmatic segregation, sedimentary iron ore, placer, etc.).
    May contain econ noSample has not been mineralized but is from material that is, or may be of economic value as a nonmetallic ore or product (e.g., phosphorite, oil shale, coal, building stone).
    Mineralized/epigenSample of mineralized rock--contains epigenetic ore minerals.
    Other econ materialOther materials from or related to deposits of existing or potential economic significance.
    Residual concentratSample from a residual concentration that is, or may be, of economic value (e.g., lateritic iron deposits, certain bauxite deposits, etc.).*
    Uncodednot specified

    METHOD
    Instrument or technique used to analyze sample

    ValueDefinition
    Atomic absorption 
    Quant spec 
    Unknown 
    WD-XRF 

    SIO2
    Silicon dioxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-100.000
    Maximum:99.600
    Units:percent by weight

    AL2O3
    Aluminum oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.000
    Maximum:39.680
    Units:percent by weight

    MGO
    Magnesium oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-2.800
    Maximum:71.310
    Units:percent by weight

    CAO
    Calcium oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-11.000
    Maximum:55.800
    Units:percent by weight

    NA2O
    Sodium oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-2.500
    Maximum:22.800
    Units:percent by weight

    K2O
    Potassium oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-4.000
    Maximum:16.700
    Units:percent by weight

    TIO2
    Titanium dioxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.030
    Maximum:14.850
    Units:percent by weight

    P2O5
    Phosphorus pentoxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-5.000
    Maximum:19.400
    Units:percent by weight

    MNO
    Manganese oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.200
    Maximum:58.400
    Units:percent by weight

    FETO3
    Total iron concentration expressed as ferric oxide (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.010
    Maximum:79.360
    Units:percent by weight
    Resolution:0.01

    SUM
    sum of the weight percents of SIO2, AL2O3, MGO, CAO, NA2O, K2O, TIO2, P2O2, MNO, and FETO3

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0
    Maximum:121.730
    Resolution:0.01

    FE2O3
    Ferric oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.010
    Maximum:34.100
    Units:percent by weight
    Resolution:0.01

    FEO
    Ferrous oxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.010
    Maximum:33.600
    Units:percent by weight
    Resolution:0.01

    CO2
    Carbon dioxide concentration (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.010
    Maximum:18.000
    Units:percent by weight
    Resolution:0.01

    H2O_PLUS
    "Essential" or "Bound" water (in percent by weight) Usually determined as the difference between total water and "moisture" (water lost from the sample on heating at 110 degrees centigrade).

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.010
    Maximum:14.800
    Units:percent by weight
    Resolution:0.01

    H2O_MINUS
    "Moisture" (water lost from the sample on heating at 110 degrees centigrade) (in percent by weight)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.010
    Maximum:17.600
    Units:percent by weight
    Resolution:0.01


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Jeffrey N. Grossman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    12201 Sunrise Valley Dr.
    Reston, VA 20192
    USA

    703 648-6184 (voice)
    jgrossman@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

The PLUTO data base is comprised of inorganic geochemical data obtained by the analytical laboratories of the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey for samples collected throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, in support of USGS research.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    PLUTO (source 1 of 1)
    Baedecker, Philip A., Grossman, Jeffrey N., and Buttleman, Kim P., 1998, National Geochemical Data Base: PLUTO Geochemical Data Base for the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.

    Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM
    Source_Contribution:
    National Geochemical Data Base: PLUTO Geochemical Data Base for the United States

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 1999 (process 1 of 1)
    (1) Using Geosearch software contained on the CD, extracted all igneous rock records using the following criteria:

    (a) All records were fieldname MAT = A (Igneous rock)

    (b) Required that record had SIO2 present (silicon dioxide)

    - Using file conversion utility (ASCCNURT), 12 WK1 files were created based on analytical method

    Note: Each record had to have a method code of WX (wavelength dispersive XRF), AA (atomic absorption), QS (quantitative spectroscopy), or ZZ (unknown, mostly old wet-chemical data).

    (2) Imported WK files into Excel and created a subset based on the following:

    (a) Deleted trace elements

    (b) Deleted any No Data records

    (c) Deleted records with missing major elements

    (d) Deleted records with major elements too high for reliable determination

    (e) Expanded Geocoding Codes based on the manual:

    Instructions for submitting samples to Branch of Geochemistry: Sample submittal manual (4th edition 1993), published as USGS Open-File Report 93-533

    (f) removed several unused fields

    (g) Replaced any number that had a "<" qualifier (below detection limit) with a negative number having the same absolute value.

    (h) Deleted records containing data with other qualifiers.

    Created DBF file of sample locations

    (i) Imported DBF file into ArcView 3.1 and created shapefile (pluto-ig.shp)

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Jeffrey N. Grossman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    12201 Sunrise Valley Dr.
    Reston, VA 20192
    USA

    703-648-6184 (voice)
    jgrossman@usgs.gov

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The PLUTO database was created with the intent of storing data predominately for regional projects. The database is an agglomerate of data from projects that had differing analytical needs and that ranged in scale from studies of an outcrop to reconnaissance surveys of an entire state. The intended user of the data was the original submitter or associated project personnel, and the primary means of publicly releasing data were hardcopy USGS reports, as well as professional journals. Within this paradigm, some decisions were made which have affected the completeness and accuracy of the PLUTO database.

    1) Coordinates: When samples were brought in for analysis, the submitter was required to include information about the sample for the database; descriptions, geocoding, and latitude-longitude coordinates. In the days before map digitizing boards and GPS units were common, the deter-mination of coordinates from field sheets was a time consuming and error prone process. In order to facilitate the analysis of samples, a deci-sion was made to allow submitters to enter the coordinates for the lower left (SW) corner of the submitter's working field map on which the samples could be plotted, which was most commonly a 7.5' or 15' quad- rangle map. In theory, the precise coordinates for these samples would be determined and added to the database at a later date. In practice, most of these precise coordinates were used in the USGS Open-File data releases but were never entered back into the PLUTO database. There-fore, the precision of coordinates in the PLUTO database varies from "good to the nearest second of latitude or longitude" to "good to the nearest 15 minutes of latitude or longitude".

    2) Earth Ellipsoid or Datum: Since most of the coordinate data in the PLUTO database were determined from published USGS maps and not from recent GPS systems, the coordinates are based on the 1927 North American datum (also known as the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid). Most modern GPS sys-tems use the 1983 North American datum (NAD 83) or the World Geodetic System (WGS 84). If the PLUTO data are plotted using the wrong ellip-soid or datum, the location may be offset by a distance up to a couple hundred feet.

    3) Geocoding: The submission of geocoding with samples was mandatory for some fields and optional for others. Therefore, the completeness of geocoding can vary. In addition, most geocodes were not checked for completeness, accuracy, or validity during data entry into the database. Therefore the PLUTO database contains some incorrect and invalid codes.

    4) One geocode, the Material Code <MAT> was required. The Material Code designates the type of sample media analyzed. Unfortunately, there was no specific material code for "Heavy- Mineral-Concentrate" samples prior to 1991. Most, but not all, concentrate samples submitted since 1991 have a Material Code of K. Before 1991, most concentrate samples were coded as A (rock), D (unconsolidated sediment), or Z (other) based upon the parent material. The most common problem is in distinguishing pre-1991 stream sediments from heavy-mineral concentrates. The user should check the <B12> geocoding field for indication that the sample was "processed". Many times concentrate samples can also be determined from the contents of the <DESC> description field. Additionally, the field number <FLDNO> for a concentrate sample will commonly have a suffix of C, C1, C2, C3, H, HM, or HN.

    5) The PLUTO database contains a considerable amount of data for coal samples, although there is no specific material code for coal. The material code for all coal samples in the database is I (Organic fuel or related substance). The <DESC> description field is the most useful secondary field for identifying coal samples in the database. The analytical data on coal samples includes data on both whole coal and coal ash. Coal ash data is indexed in the database with "/A" following the element symbol (for example SiO2/A is silicon dioxide in ash). The ash data can be converted to a whole coal basis using the tabulated ash value (percent of sample remaining after combustion). We have observed that a large amount of the data for coal ash in the database (particularly spectroscopic data) has been entered as if the data were on the whole coal (i.e. without the "/A" designation on the index).

    6) Qualifiers: Many analytical data values in the PLUTO database are accompanied by a qualifier - N, L, G, H, B which for compatibility with the GSBUILD/GSSEARCH software has been converted to numeric representa-tions: N = 1; L = 2; G = 3; H = 4; B = 5. The qualifiers are defined as follows:

    N      = Concentration was looked for but not detected at tabulated value
    L or < = Concentration is less than the tabulated value
    G or > = Concentration is greater than the tabulated value
    H      = The concentration could not be precisely determined because of interferences
    B      = Concentration was not determined
    
    The distinction between a value qualified by an N or an L is small and was not applied consistently between different types- of-analysis. For some semi-quantitative spectrographic methods, an N was used when an element concentration could not be detected and an L was used when the element could be detected but the concentration was below determination limits that could confidently be reported. In other words, a value qualified with an L was slightly more significant than one qualified with an N. However for other analytical methods, a concentration below the determination limits of the method may be qualified with either an N or an L depending upon the method, the analyst, or the laboratory. Therefore without specific knowledge of these factors, the safest way to treat values qualified with an N or an L is as "less than the tabulated value".

    7) The data in the PLUTO CD-ROM database was entered manually by the analyst, or electronically via automatic data transfer from laboratory instruments. We have occasionally observed data in the database where we suspect there have been errors in data entry, or data tranmission (i.e. major element analyses that sum to greater than 1 gram/gram, or trace element analyses with unlikely exponents). It has not been possible to do a complete quality control check on the entire database. Therefore we encourage all users of the database to check the data with a critical eye. Are the analytical data geochemically consistent with the sample description as provided by the "geocoding"?

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    1) Coordinates: When samples were brought in for analysis, the submitter was required to include information about the sample for the database; descriptions, geocoding, and latitude- longitude coordinates. In the days before map digitizing boards and GPS units were common, the determination of coordinates from field sheets was a time consuming and error prone process. In order to facilitate the analysis of samples, a decision was made to allow submitters to enter the coordinates for the lower left (SW) corner of the submitter's working field map on which the samples could be plotted, which was most commonly a 7.5' or 15' quadrangle map. In theory, the precise coordinates for these samples would be determined and added to the database at a later date. In practice, most of these precise coordinates were used in the USGS Open-File data releases but were never entered back into the PLUTO database. Therefore, the precision of coordinates in the PLUTO database varies from "good to the nearest second of latitude or longitude" to "good to the nearest 15 minutes of latitude or longitude".

    2) Earth Ellipsoid or Datum: Since most of the coordinate data in the PLUTO database were determined from published USGS maps and not from recent GPS systems, the coordinates are based on the 1927 North American datum (also known as the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid). Most modern GPS sys-tems use the 1983 North American datum (NAD 83) or the World Geodetic System (WGS 84). If the PLUTO data are plotted using the wrong ellip-soid or datum, the location may be offset by a distance up to a couple hundred feet.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Some data are not included in the CD-ROM data files. The database is mainly restricted to inorganic species as measured in whole rock samples. Most of the excluded data are specialized analyses (e.g. partial extraction data, water analyses, INAA coefficients of variation, etc.)

    Units (as defined by the "NIDS" in the PLUTO database) are not preserved in the CD-ROM data base. All data are reported in units of grams of analyte per gram of sample.

    Many samples in the PLUTO data set are missing the county code. If the county code is missing (or invalid), it is defined based on the latitude and longitude values, providing the state code is consistent with the latitude and longitude values. If the county code is present it must be valid for the specified state.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    The PLUTO CD-ROM database was constructed by processing the original PLUTO data base, checking for errors where possible, and using various selection criteria. The following criteria were chosen for selecting data for the CD-ROM PLUTO database:

    Each sample must have a valid lab number (one character + 7 digits)
    Each sample must have a valid state/location code.
    Each sample must have a valid material code.
    Each sample must have a valid latitude and longitude.
    Each sample must be from the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii).
    Each sample must contain valid analytical data.
    
    All data that have Latitude and Longitude values that fall within the boundaries of Indian reservations have also been deleted from the CD-ROM database, except for the Goshute and Wind River reservations. The deleted data is considered proprietary information by the corresponding reservations, and has not been approved for release.

    In the original PLUTO database the element fields are identified by numerical identification codes ("NIDS") which are defined by chemical species, units of concentration, and, in come cases, by analytical technique. "NIDS" in the PLUTO database are not preserved in the CD-ROM data base. All "NIDS" are converted either to the corresponding oxide (for major/minor elements) or to the element symbol (for minor or trace elements). (Data for multiple oxidation states are retained: e.g. Cr, CrO3, Cr2O3, Mn, MnO, MnO2, Mn203, FeO, Fe2O3, FeTO3.)

    The latitude and longitude are checked to see if they fall within the state and county specified. If the latitude and longitude fall outside the listed state and county, the distance in km of the tabulated lat. and long. from the specified county is reported in a separate field.

    Duplicate analytical results are deleted if the Type-of-analysis (TOA) codes are the same or if one or the other TOA code is missing. All missing data values have been deleted.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
The U.S. Geological Survey makes no warranties related to the accuracy of the data and users are required to determine the suitability of use for any particular purpose.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    Jeff Grossmen
    USGS
    954 National Center
    Reston, VA 20192
    USA

    703-648-6184 (voice)
    jgrossmen@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    pluto-ig.shp

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides this vector data as is. The USGS makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in the raster data. The USGS further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. Although this data has been processed successfully on computers at the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS regarding the use of this data on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty.

  4. How can I download or order the data?


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 04-Mar-2003
Metadata author:
Peter N Schweitzer
U.S. Geological Survey, ER
Geologist
Mail Stop 954
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
USA

703-648-6533 (voice)
703-648-6252 (FAX)
pschweitzer@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)


This page is <http://tin.er.usgs.gov/metadata/plutoig2.faq.html>

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URL: http://tin.er.usgs.gov/metadata/plutoig2.faq.html
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Page Last Modified: Thursday, 18-Oct-2007 13:17:58 EDT

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