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AbstractA quality-assurance plan has been developed for use by the sediment laboratory of the U.S. Geological Survey Montana Water Science Center in conducting activities related to the analysis of suspended sediment. The plan documents quality-assurance policies for sediment-laboratory certification, personnel responsibilities and training, documentation requirements, and laboratory safety. The plan also documents quality-assurance procedures related to laboratory equipment and supplies, sample management, sample analysis, analytical quality control, and data management. |
ContentsAbstract Introduction Quality-Assurance Policies Sediment-Laboratory Certification Personnel Responsibilities and Training Documentation Requirements Laboratory Safety Quality-Assurance Procedures Laboratory Equipment Electronic Balances Ovens Conductivity Meters Decanting Equipment Filtering Equipment Laboratory Supplies Sample Bottles Crucibles and Filters Evaporation Dishes Sieves Desiccators Distilled Water Sample Management Field Documentation Shipment and Storage Sample Inventory Sample Analysis Laboratory Procedures Sample-Weight Determination Sample Preparation Filtration Method Evaporation Method Composited Samples Particle-Size Analysis Sediment-Weight Determination Calculation of Results Analytical Quality Control Internal Testing Evaporation Blanks Sample Blanks Filter Blanks Field Replicates Method-Comparison Replicates Extracted Sample Water External Testing Sediment Laboratory Quality-Assurance Program Laboratory Reviews Data Management Laboratory-Data Files Data Review Publication Summary References Cited Figures1–6. Photographs showing: 1. Analytical balance electronically connected to laboratory computer terminal 2. Mechanical-convection oven for drying sediment in evaporation dishes 3. Convection oven for drying sediment in crucibles 4. Vacuum-hose system and workbench for decanting water from suspended-sediment samples 5. Manifold for vacuum filtration of suspended-sediment samples through crucibles 6. Suspended-sediment sample poured through a 0.062-millimeter sieve to separate sand from fine sediment 7. Example of a water-quality field form used to document information about water-quality samples collected by U.S. Geological Survey personnel 8. Example of a sediment-sample field form used to document information about suspended-sediment samples collected by observers 9. Flow chart showing operational sequence for the analysis of suspended-sediment samples in the Montana Sediment Laboratory 10. Example of an analytical request form used to document information about sediment samples shipped to the U.S. Geological Survey Iowa Sediment Laboratory 11. Example of a form used to document information about sediment-data distribution in the USGS Montana Water Science Center Table1. Factors for converting suspended-sediment concentration from parts per million to milligrams per liter |
For additional information contact: Director, Montana Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 3162 Bozeman Avenue Helena, Montana 59601 Telephone: 1-406-457-5900 World Wide Web: http://mt.water.usgs.gov/ |
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