Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data
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U.S. Geological Survey, 2001, Geochemistry of soils in the US from the RASS database: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
This is a coordinate pair data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest Variable, generally within a few minutes.. Longitudes are given to the nearest Variable, generally within a few minutes.. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Degrees, minutes, seconds.
| Range of values | |
|---|---|
| Minimum: | 17.688611 |
| Maximum: | 69.666111 |
| Units: | decimal degrees |
| Range of values | |
|---|---|
| Minimum: | -166.300000 |
| Maximum: | -64.568333 |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| N | north |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| 0 | |
| W | west |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| D | soil |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| A | Single (grab) |
| B | Composite |
| C | Channel |
| D | Other |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| A | Outcrop |
| B | Mine |
| C | Dump or prospect pit |
| D | Float |
| E | Drill hole, well |
| F | Marine |
| G | Other |
| H | Stream |
| I | Spring |
| J | Lake |
| K | Aquaduct, canal, irrigation ditch |
| L | Atmosphere |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| AL | Alluvium |
| AS | Ash |
| CL | Clay |
| CV | Colluvium |
| GV | Gravel |
| GT | Grit |
| HS | Heavy sand |
| LO | Loess |
| MD | Mud |
| OZ | Ooze |
| SN | Sand |
| SD | Stream sediment |
| SI | Silt |
| TI | Till |
| AN | animal part |
| Range of values | |
|---|---|
| Minimum: | 0.1000 |
| Maximum: | 50 |
| Range of values | |
|---|---|
| Minimum: | 0.0000 |
| Maximum: | 20 |
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| (empty) | |
| The value is within the measurement tolerance of the analytical technique. |
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These data may be useful for mineral resource evaluation and for defining geochemical baseline values and statistics.
Bailey, Elizabeth A. , Smith, David B. , Abston, Carl C. , Granitto, Matthew, and Burleigh, Kuuipo A. , 2000, National Geochemical Database: U.S. Geological Survey RASS (Rock Analysis Storage System) geochemical data for Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-433.Online Links:
The samples in this dataset were chemically analyzed by a variety of techniques over a period of time from the early 1960's to the late 1980's. The accuracy of the data varies with the analytical methodology and with the concentration of the element being analyzed. A qualifier such as "N" (less than the detection limit of the analytical method) or "G" (greater than the upper determination limit of the analytical method) accompanies some analytical data values. These qualifiers are defined as follows:
L = the element was detected by the technique but at a level below the lower limit of determination for the method. The value of the lower limit of determination is given in the adjacent data field.
G = the element was measured at a concentration greater than the upper determination limit for the method. The upper limit of determination is given in the adjacent data field.
N = the element was not detected at concentrations above the lower limit of determination for the method. The value of the lower limit of determination is given in the adjacent data field.
B = the element was requested for analysis by the sample submitter, but for some reason the laboratories did not analyze for this element.
When appropriate, these qualifying values appear in this dataset as a separate field preceding each element. The attribute, or field name, for the qualifier field is always denoted by the letter "Q". For example, "N" in the "S_ASQ" field preceding an analytical data field labelled "S_AS" would indicate the actual concentration of arsenic (AS) is less than the data value listed, which is the lower limit of determination for the method.
Sample locations were determined from USGS topographic maps of various scales. The accuracy is dependant on the scale of the map from which the determination was made as well as the care taken by the individual who made the determination. Unfortunately, some location coordinates were not carefully determined. In other cases, the individual who collected the samples only identified the location as a corner of the quadrangle in which the samples were collected. When submitters reported locations as degrees, minutes, and seconds of latitude and longitude the accuracy should be within a few seconds. When submitters only reported locations as degrees and minutes the accuracy is only to the nearest minute. The base maps, from which latitude and longitude coordinates were determined, use the 1927 North American Datum (NAD27) based on the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid.
This dataset provides chemical data for Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Ti, Mn, Ag, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, La, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr, Th, Tl, F, Hg, Pt, and Pd. In addition, the dataset provides location and descriptive information for each sample. Not all the descriptive fields contain information for a particular sample because not all sample submitters completed all the fields. The analytical methods used were selected by the sample submitter based on the goals of the project and will vary throughout the data set. The predominant analytical methods used for samples in this dataset are:
Emission Spectrography: Grimes and Marranzino, 1968; Fe, Mg, Ca, Ti, Mn, Ag, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, La, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr, Th, Ga, Ge, Pd, and Pt.
Atomic Absorption, partial extraction: O'Leary and Meier, 1986; O' Leary and Viets, 1986; Viets, 1978; Viets, Clark, and Campbell, 1984; Viets, O'Leary, and Clark, 1984; Ward and others, 1969: Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb, and Zn.
The complete references for all analytical methods used are given below:
Adrian, B.A. and Carlson, R.R., personal communication, Platinum-group elements and gold by nickel-sulfide fire assay separation and optical emission spectroscopy
Alminas, H. and Mosier, E.L., 1976, Oxalic-acid leaching of rock, soil, and stream-sediment samples as an anomaly-accentuation technique: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-275. 26 p.
Chao, T.T., Sanzolone, R.F., and Hubert, A.E., 1978, Flame and flameless atomic absorption determination of tellurium in geologic materials: Analytica Chimica Acta, v. 96, p. 251-257.
Church, S.E., 1981, Multi-element analysis of fifty-four geochemical reference samples using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry: Geostandards Newsletter, v. 5, p. 133-160.
Cooley, E.F., Curry, K.J., and Carlson, R.R., 1976, Analysis for the platinum-group metals and gold by fire-assay emission spectroscopy: Applied Spectroscopy, v. 30. P. 52-56.
Fishman, M.J., and Pyen, G., 1979, Determination of selected anions in water by ion chromatography: U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations 79-101, 30 p.
Grimes, D.J., and Marranzino, A.P., 1968, Direct-current arc and alternating-current spark emission spectrographic field methods for the semiquantitative analysis of geologic materials: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 591, 6 p.
Hubert, A.E., and Chao, T.T., 1985, Determination of gold, indium, tellurium and thallium in the same sample digest of geological materials by atomic-absorption spectroscopy and two-step solvent extraction: Talanta, v. 32, no. 7, p. 568-570.
McKown, D.M., and Knight, R.J., 1990, Determination of uranium and thorium in geologic materials by delayed neutron counting, in Arbogast, B.F., editor, Quality assurance manual for the Branch of Geochemistry, U.S. Geological Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 90-668, p. 146-15
Mosier, E.L., 1972, A method for semiquantitative spectrographic analysis of plant ash for use in biogeochemical and environmental studies: Applied Spectroscopy, v. 26, no. 6, p. 636-641.
Mosier, E.L., 1975, Use of emission spectroscopy for the semiquantitative analysis of trace elements in silver and native gold, in Ward, F.N., editor, New and refined methods of trace analysis useful in geochemical exploration: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1408, p. 97-105.
Mosier, E.L., and Motooka, J.M., 1984, Induction coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry-Analysis of subsurface Cambrian carbonate rocks for major, minor, and trace elements, in Proceedings volume of international conference on Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc deposits, Oct. 11-14: Rolla, MO, University of Missouri-Rolla, p. 155-165.
Myers, A.T., Havens, R.G., and Dunton, P.J., 1961, A spectrochemical method for the semiquantitative analysis of rocks, minerals, and ores: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1084-I, p. I207-I229.
O'Leary, R.M., 1990, Determination of sulfur in geologic materials by iodometric titration, in Arbogast, B.F., editor, Quality assurance manual for the Branch of Geochemistry, U.S. Geological Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 90-668, p. 136-138.
O'Leary, R.M., and Meier, A.L., 1986, Analytical methods used in geochemical exploration in 1984: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 948, 48 p.
O'Leary, R.M., and Meier, A.L., 1986, Bismuth, cadmium, copper, lead, silver, and zinc, organic extraction method, in Analytical methods used in geochemical exploration, 1984: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 948,p. 11-13.
O'Leary, R.M., and Viets, J.G., 1986, Determination of antimony, bismuth, cadmium, copper, lead, molybdenum, silver, and zinc in geologic materials by atomic absorption spectrometry using a hydrochloric acid-hydrogen peroxide digestion: Atomic Spectroscopy, v. 7, no. 1, p. 4-8.
Orion Research, Inc., 1975, Orion Research Analytical Methods Guide, 7th edition: Cambridge, MA, 20 p.
Perkin-Elmer Corporation, 1976, Analytical methods for atomic absorption spectrophotometry: Norwalk, CT, Perkin-Elmer Corp., 586 p.
Perkin-Elmer Corporation, 1977, Analytical methods for atomic absorption spectrophotometry, using the HGA graphite furnace: Norwalk, CT, Perkin-Elmer Corp., 286 p.
Sutley, S.J., and Mosier, E.L., personal communication, Rb, Cs, Li, Tl by modification of optical emission spectroscopy method of Grimes and Marranzino, 1968
Thompson, C.E., Nakagawa, H.M., and VanSickle, G.H., 1968, Rapid analysis for gold in geologic materials: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 600-B, p. B130-B132.
Vaughn, W.W., and McCarthy, J.H., Jr., 1964, An instrumental technique for the determination of submicrogram concentrations of mercury in soils, rocks, and gas: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 501-D, p. D123-D127.
Viets, J.G., 1978, Determination of silver, bismuth, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in geologic materials by atomic absorption spectrometry with tricaprylyl methyl ammonium chloride: Analytical Chemistry, v. 50, no. 8, p. 1097-1101.
Viets, J.G., Clark, J.R., and Campbell, W.L., 1984, A rapid, partial leach and organic separation for the sensitive determination of Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb, and Zn in surface geologic materials by flame atomic absorption: Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 20, p. 355-366.
Viets, J.G., O'Leary, R.M., and Clark, J.R., 1984, Determination of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, copper, lead, molybdenum, silver and zinc in geological materials by atomic-absorption spectrometry: The Analyst, v. 109, p. 1589-1592.
Ward, F.N., Lakin, H.W., Canney, F.C., and others, 1963, Analytical methods used in geochemical exploration by the U.S. Geological Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1152, 100 p.
Ward, F.N., Nakagawa, H.M., VanSickle, G.H., and Harms, T.F., 1969, Atomic absorption methods useful in geochemical exploration: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1289, 45 p.
Watterson, J.R., 1976, Determination of tellurium and gold in rocks to 1 part per billion: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-531, 3 p.
The soil samples in this dataset were collected for a variety of purposes. Most of the studies were related to assessing the mineral resources of the study area. Not all samples were subject to the same sample preparation protocol or the same analytical protocol. For example, different size fractions of soil may have been analyzed for different study areas. One of the problems with the RASS database is that it did not have a mechanism for providing sample preparation protocol. In upgrading the RASS database, we will attempt to provide more detailed information where possible on how the samples were prepared prior to analysis.
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints: None
1-303-236-1849 (voice)
1-303-236-3200 (FAX)
dsmith@usgs.gov
These data are released on the condition that neither the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from authorized or unauthorized use. The USGS provides these data "as is" and makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in the 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.
| Data format: | Geochemical sample locations and analyses in format ESRI shapefile (version 1.0) Size: 1.6 megabytes |
|---|---|
| Network links: |
<http://tin.er.usgs.gov/rass/soil/rasssoil.zip> |
1-303-236-1849 (voice)
1-303-236-3200 (FAX)
dsmith@usgs.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://tin.er.usgs.gov/metadata/rasssoil.faq.html
Page Contact Information: Peter Schweitzer
Page Last Modified: Thursday, 18-Oct-2007 13:17:59 EDT
