OFR 97-492: Greenville Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study

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National Geochemical Database—Reformatted Data from the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program

By Steven M. Smith
Version 1.40 (2006)

Brief History and Description of Data

[See History of NURE HSSR Program for a summary of the entire program.]

South Carolina
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 3,618 stream-sediment and 3,945 ground-water samples within 46 counties from South Carolina as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sediment samples were collected during June - October 1976; April 1977; and January - April 1978, and water samples were collected during December 1976 - July 1977 and January - September 1978. Sample coverage included portions of the Athens, Augusta, Charlotte, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, James Island, Knoxville, Savannah, and Spartanburg 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 656 stream-sediment and 362 ground-water samples were collected within the Greenville quadrangle.) These samples were sent to SRL for analysis of uranium and additional elements (16 in sediments and 9 in waters). SRL was able to analyze 3,581 sediments and 3,941 waters from South Carolina; this includes 652 sediment and 361 water samples from the Greenville quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all South Carolina samples were released in the North and South Carolina Data Report [GJBX-102(82)].

SRL sent 2,483 sediment samples from South Carolina to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 2,476 of these samples in the North and South Carolina Data Report [GJBX-102(82)]. The digital data file accompanying this report includes Supplemental Analyses for 639 South Carolina sediment samples within the Greenville quadrangle.

Georgia
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 6,092 stream-sediment, 14 surface-water, and 5,990 ground-water samples within 142 counties from the northern two-thirds of Georgia as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sediment samples were collected during June - December 1976, April 1977, and April - September 1978, and water samples were collected during January - December 1977 and March - November 1978. Sample coverage included portions of the Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick, Dothan, Greenville, Macon, Phenix City, Rome, Savannah, Valdosta, and Waycross 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 774 stream-sediment and 399 ground-water samples were collected within the Greenville quadrangle.) These samples were sent to SRL for analysis of uranium and additional elements (16 in sediments and 9 in waters). SRL was able to analyze 5,958 sediments and 5,989 waters from Georgia; this includes 772 sediment and 398 water samples from the Greenville quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all Georgia samples were released in the Alabama and Georgia Data Report [GJBX-403(81)].

SRL sent 2,956 sediment samples from Georgia to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 2,951 of these samples in the Alabama and Georgia Data Report [GJBX-403(81)]. The digital data file accompanying this report includes Supplemental Analysis records for 765 Georgia sediment samples within the Greenville quadrangle.

North Carolina
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 6,666 stream-sediment, 295 surface-water, and 5,778 ground-water samples within 100 counties from North Carolina as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sediment samples were collected during June - December 1976; July - August 1977; and April - May 1978, and water samples were collected during December 1976 - August 1977 and June - July 1978. Sample coverage included portions of the Beaufort, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Currituck Sound, Florence, Georgetown, Greensboro, Greenville, Johnson City, Knoxville, Manteo, Norfolk, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Rome, Spartanburg, and Winston-Salem 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 5 stream-sediment and 1 ground-water samples were collected within the Greenville quadrangle.) These samples were sent to SRL for analysis of uranium and additional elements (16 in sediments and 9 in waters). SRL was able to analyze 5 sediment and 1 water samples from the Greenville quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all North Carolina samples were released in the North and South Carolina Data Report [GJBX-102(82)].

SRL sent 4,677 sediment samples from North Carolina to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 4,660 of these samples in the North and South Carolina Data Report [GJBX-102(82)]. The digital data file accompanying this report includes Supplemental Analyses for 5 North Carolina sediment samples within the Greenville quadrangle.

SRL: Greenville Quadrangle
SRL released a separate quadrangle report for the Greenville NTMS quadrangle, which includes data for 1,413 stream-sediment and 731 ground-water samples. With only a few exceptions, these stream-sediment sample data are not the same as the that for corresponding sample records found in the Georgia and North and South Carolina State reports. With only minor differences, these ground-water data are the same as that for corresponding Georgia and North and South Carolina State reports. SRL released the analytical data as the Greenville Quadrangle GJBX-47(78) Preliminary Basic Data Report. The site coding information for this data set is summarized within the text of this report.

SRL: Athens, Charlotte, Greenville, and Spartanburg Quadrangles
SRL released a separate report for supplemental analyses of 5,068 sediment samples from the Athens, Charlotte, Greenville, and Spartanburg quadrangles. Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 19 elements were reported for 5,032 of these samples in the Athens, Charlotte, Greenville, and Spartanburg NTMS Quadrangle Areas, Supplemental Data Release [GJBX-73(79)]. The digital data file accompanying this report includes supplemental analyses for 1,409 sediment samples collected within the Greenville quadrangle.

Gold Analyses
Data for gold analyses of sediments by SRL neutron activation were released in the GJBX-135(82) summary report. The introduction of that report states:

"This report contains previously unreported neutron-activation analyses of gold in sediment samples determined at SRL. These data were not included in the standard SRL NURE data reports because the gold spectrum was not measured in the original analytical procedure and the report format was designed without the gold analyses being included. Gold analyses became available as the analytical procedure was refined, but the report format was not modified to incorporate these data."

Only those sediment samples that had detectable concentrations of gold by neutron activation analysis were given in the GJBX-135(82) report. Sediment samples with concentrations below detection limits were not reported and can only be ascertained by identifying which samples were actually analyzed by neutron activation at SRL.

Summary Tables
Because of the various laboratories and analytical methods used, some SRL samples may have been analyzed once, twice, or not at all. The following table summarizes the analysis of Greenville quadrangle samples.

Combination of laboratories that analyzed samples for the Greenville quadrangle.
Laboratory Analysis Sediments Waters
Only SRL 20 760
Both SRL and Supplemental Labs 1,409 0
Second SRL analysis on sample 1,399 1
None 6 2
Total Samples 1,435 762
Total Data Records 2,834 763

The following is a list of all sample types collected and reported for NURE studies in the Greenville quadrangle.

Summary of Greenville quadrangle sample types.
Sediment Sample Type Number of Samples Water Sample Type Number of Samples
Wet Streams 1,435 Wells 692
    Springs 70
Total Sediments 1,435 Total Waters 762

These Greenville quadrangle samples were analyzed by one or more of the following methods:

Sediment Samples

Water Samples



Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Greenville Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Greenville quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Greenville Quadrangle GJBX-47(78) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from the North and South Carolina portions of the North and South Carolina [GJBX-102(82)] Data Report along with sample records from the Georgia portion of the Alabama and Georgia [GJBX-403(81)] Data Report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Greenville quadrangle sediment data:

  1. For 12 records, analytical values for Al, Ce, Dy, Eu, Hf, Fe, La, Lu, Mn, Na, Sc, Sm, Th, Ti, U, V, and Yb were found in the North and South Carolina and Georgia State files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Greenville quadrangle files. These values were added and that change was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
  2. For 1,399 sediment samples, the comparison process revealed major differences for analytical values reported for one or more elements determined by Neutron Activation. It could not be determined whether these alternate values represent a second analytical determination or a different interpretation of the data from the same Neutron Activation Analysis. For these samples, it was necessary to keep a second record containing the alternate analytical values. These records are identified by a comment in the REFORMAT field. In this quadrangle it was noted that some of the differing analytical values for certain elements showed a systematic variation between the values reported in the State files and those reported in the Quadrangle files. For example: The analytical values for Lu were systematically 3.1 times higher in the Greenville Quadrangle GJBX-47(78) Data Report than those found in the various State files. Likewise, Yb values in the Quadrangle files were about 1.5 times higher than the corresponding values in the State files.
  3. The date on which a sample was analyzed by Neutron Activation Analysis was only recorded in the State digital data files from the North and South Carolina [GJBX-102(82)] Data Report and and from the Alabama and Georgia [GJBX-403(81)] Data Report. This information was not added to Greenville quadrangle digital data records because Neutron Activation Analytical values were significantly different from that found in the corresponding records from the North and South Carolina and Georgia State files.
  4. For 12 South Carolina State records, samples with SRLID SCGR###S1 appeared to be erroneous and contained field data found in corresponding SCGV###S1 samples. These SCGR samples were removed from the reformatted digital data file.
  5. During reformatting, contamination codes for "residential" and "recreation" were found to be missing from each State's CONTAMC field. The presence of one of these two codes was indicated only by a "." (period). Most, but not all of these contamination codes were present in the original quadrangle file. When possible, the missing contamination codes were replaced, otherwise the missing codes were assigned a value of "unknown" in the CONTAMC field within the final sediment data file.
  6. Twenty-two stream-sediment samples were identified with a SRLID in the 300's or 400's. All of these samples were missing latitude and longitude coordinates. Evidence from original sample site field notes strongly suggests that these are duplicate samples collected later from a previously sampled 000/100's series site (i.e. SRLID site number ABCD318S1 is the same location as ABCD018S1). The coordinates from the original 000/100's series sites were added to the matching 300/400's records and this change was noted in the REFORMAT and COORDPRB comment fields.
  7. Two stream-sediment samples were collected at a latitude of exactly 35°N, the dividing line between the Greenville and Knoxville quadrangles and reported in the North and South Carolina State files. The 4 data records for these two samples were assigned to the Knoxville quadrangle.
  8. An analysis of latitude-longitude site coordinates identified several stream-sediment samples that were missing coordinates, did not plot within expected state, county, or map boundaries, or had differing coordinates in corresponding records. To correct or confirm sample coordinates, the original field collection maps for Dawson, Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin, and Union Counties, Georgia were obtained and re-digitized. The newly re-digitized coordinates were added to the database and the coordinates from the original file(s) were recorded in the COORDPRB comment field. When the newly re-digitized coordinates were not significantly different, that confirmation of the site location was also noted in the COORDPRB comment field.
  9. Gold concentrations from the GJBX-135(82) report were added to the appropriate sediment records. A value of -0.01 (<0.01 ppm Au) was added to all other sediment samples determined to have been analyzed by SRL neutron activation. This value was chosen because 0.01 is the lowest reported gold concentration in the entire report.

Water Records
The Greenville quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Greenville Quadrangle GJBX-47(78) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from the the North and South Carolina portions of the North and South Carolina [GJBX-102(82)] Data Report along with sample records from the Georgia portion of the Alabama and Georgia [GJBX-403(81)] Data Report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Greenville quadrangle water data:

  1. For one record, Greenville quadrangle Neutron Activation Analytical values were significantly different from that found in the corresponding records from the Georgia State files. For this affected record, the differences between quadrangle files and State files required the creation of two separate records for this sample to preserve all the data.
  2. The analytical values for many well depths (WELLDPTH), U, Al, Br, Dy, and Mn determinations differed slightly between the Greenville quadrangle files and the North the South Carolina and Georgia State files. These variations are apparently due only to differences in rounding versus truncation of reported values or to differences in the number of recorded significant digits. Since the variation was insignificant, only one set of the values was retained for the affected elements.
  3. For 3 records, analytical values for Mn were found in the Greenville quadrangle file but were missing in the corresponding records from the North and South Carolina and Georgia State files. These missing values were noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
  4. For 18 records, analytical values for U, Al, Br, Cl, Dy, F, Mg, Mn, Na, and V were found in the North and South Carolina and Georgia State files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Greenville quadrangle files. These values were added and that change was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
  5. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for three samples. These dates were removed from the SAMPDAT field. For each record, the original SAMPDAT value and the most likely correct value was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
  6. Eighteen ground-water samples were identified with a SRLID in the 700's or 800's. All of these samples were missing latitude and longitude coordinates. Evidence from original sample site field notes strongly suggests that these are duplicate samples collected later from a previously sampled 500/600's series site (i.e. SRLID site number ABCD718R is the same location as ABCD518R). The coordinates from the original 500/600's series sites were added to the matching 700/800's records and this change was noted in the REFORMAT and COORDPRB comment fields.
  7. An analysis of latitude-longitude site coordinates identified several ground-water samples that were missing coordinates, did not plot within expected state, county, or map boundaries, or had differing coordinates in corresponding records. To correct or confirm sample coordinates, the original field collection maps for Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, and White Counties, Georgia; and Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Pickens, and Spartanburg Counties, South Carolina were obtained and re-digitized. The newly re-digitized coordinates were added to the database and the coordinates from the original file(s) were recorded in the COORDPRB comment field. When the newly re-digitized coordinates were not significantly different, that confirmation of the site location was also noted in the COORDPRB comment field.
  8. After re-digitizing, one well water sample from Pickens County, South Carolina originally located in the Greenville quadrangle now plots in the adjacent Knoxville quadrangle.


Download The Data

The NURE HSSR data are now available online in two databases: The sediment database (also includes data for soils and some rocks) at http://tin.er.usgs.gov/nure/sediment/ and the water database at http://tin.er.usgs.gov/nure/water/. From these two web sites, NURE HSSR data can be selected, examined, summarized, and downloaded by political boundaries (State and County), by quadrangle (1:250,000-scale, 1:100,000-scale, and 1:63,360-scale for Alaska or 1:24,000-scale for the Lower 48 States), and by hydrologic unit (drainage region, subregion, river basin, or sub-basin). Selected data can be downloaded as a dBase file, a shapefile, an HTML table, or ASCII text (tab- or comma-delimited).

Greenville Quadrangle Sediment Data - 2,834 records
Greenville Quadrangle Water Data - 763 records



Notes for Data Users

In the eastern United States, SRL collected samples primarily by county. Often, not all counties within a quadrangle were completely sampled. Sample coverage in the Greenville quadrangle is complete and includes samples from Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Dawson, Elbert, Forsyth, Franklin, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White Counties in Georgia; Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg Counties in South Carolina; and Clay and Macon Counties in North Carolina. The laboratory and analytical methods used also may vary by county such that adjacent counties often have very different analytical coverage.

Six stream-sediment samples and two ground-water samples within the Greenville quadrangle were not analyzed by any of the various laboratories. The following table summarizes the locations of those unanalyzed samples.

General locations of unanalyzed samples.
State County Sample Media Unanalyzed Samples Total Samples
Georgia Hall Sediment 1 84
Georgia Rabun Sediment 1 73
Georgia White Water 1 22
South Carolina Greenwood Sediment 2 62
South Carolina Laurens Sediment 2 65
South Carolina Pickens Water 1 41




Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Greenville Quadrangle

Crystalline Rock Areas of Southeastern United States
A study of the Crystalline Rock Areas of Southeastern United States [GJBX-9(76)] was undertaken as part of a series of orientation studies conducted by SRL in the Eastern States. In 1975, SRL collected stream-sediment, suspended sediment, ground-water, and stream-water samples from Lamar County Area in Georgia (Athens, Atlanta, Macon and Phenix City quadrangles), Oconee County Area in South Carolina (Greenville and Knoxville quadrangles), and the Brush Creek and North Harper Areas in North Carolina (Charlotte, Johnson City, Knoxville, and Winston-Salem quadrangles). These four areas were selected for orientation studies to aid in the design of the geochemical reconnaissance program for uranium being conducted in the eastern United Sates by SRL. Water samples were analyzed by Neutron Activation for uranium. Sediment samples were analyzed for uranium by Neutron Activation and for Ag, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, La, Nb, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn by semi-quantitative emission spectroscopy. Data tables of analytical results are included within the report. No digital data files were available for reformatting.

Geochemical Anomaly Evaluation Studies
The University of Georgia, under subcontract to Bendix Field Engineering Corp., evaluated uranium anomalies in the Charlotte, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Winston-Salem quadrangles of the southeastern United States and in the Tallahassee Creek area of the Pueblo quadrangle in Colorado. During this study, 170 stream-sediment samples were collected at 26 sites. Up to four different subsets of these samples were analyzed: Fe, Mn, and U in oxalic acid residues derived from boulder coatings; U and Fe in oxalic acid residues derived from -80 mesh stream sediment; total U, Th, and Fe in -80 mesh stream sediments with heavy minerals removed; and total U and Th in -80 mesh stream sediments. The analytical data for these samples were released as appendices in the GJBX-114(80) report.

As part of the development program to support interpretation of HSSR geochemical data, SRL conducted a series of anomaly verification field studies identified in HSSR data. SRL conducted a anomaly verification study in the Greenville and Greer 15' quadrangles located in the northeast corner of the Greenville 1:250,000-scale quadrangle [GJBX-205(82)]. A total of 2,826 field scintillometer readings were taken in the Greenville 15' quadrangle and 2,240 field scintillometer reading were taken in the Greer 15' quadrangle. Data tables of these reading are included within the microfiche accompanying the report. No digital data files were available for reformatting.

SRL conducted a anomaly verification study in the Avalon, Greer, Honea, and Northeast Greenville quadrangles located in the northeast corner of the Greenville 1:250,000-scale quadrangle [GJBX-211(82)]. This report includes a generalized geologic and petrographic interpretation of each of these quadrangles. In addition, this report includes multielement analyses for 50 ground-water and 28 stream-sediment samples collected within the Avalon quadrangle. The stream-sediment samples were sieved into four different size fractions before analysis. Data table of these analyses are included in tables within the report. No digital data files were available for reformatting.

Mineral Chemistry of the Southeastern Piedmont
SRL conducted an analysis of monazite, zircon, and apatite in the Southeastern Piedmont [GJBX-101(82)]. SRL collected 263 monazite, 191 zircon, and 16 apatite grains from 52 stream-sediment locations and analyzed them by electron microprobe for one of the two following suites of elements: Ca, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Er, Dy, Y, Th, U, and F, or Ca, La, Ce, Fe, Er, Hf, Y, Th, U, P, Zr, Mg, Al, and Si. Samples were collected along eight traverses where reconnaissance data had previously revealed high concentrations of uranium, thorium, and cerium in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina (Athens, Augusta, Charlotte, Greenville, Knoxville, and Spartanburg 1:250,000-scale quadrangles). Data tables of analytical results are included within the report. No digital data files were available for reformatting.

Characteristics of the Southeastern Piedmont
Bendix Field Engineering Corporation released a report that contains stream-sediment, hydrogeochemical, and aeromagnetic data for 16 contiguous NTMS quadrangles in the eastern United States [GJBX-40(83)]. This compilation report is limited in scope to features that have specific interest to the geoscience community. Included in the report are aeromagnetic and geochemical maps, and tectonic and igneous rock distribution maps. When used together, these maps show geochemical, tectonic, and magnetic features unique to many of the geologic and physiographic provinces in the region. This report primarily covers the Southeastern Piedmont region and includes the Athens, Augusta, Bluefield, Charlotte, Florence, Georgetown, Greensboro, Greenville, Knoxville, Norfolk, Raleigh, Richmond, Roanoke, Rocky Mount, Spartanburg and Winston-Salem 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. The color maps are in 35mm-slide format. No digital data files accompany this report.



Greenville Quadrangle NURE Bibliography



Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to South Carolina NURE data
Back to Georgia NURE data
Back to North Carolina NURE data
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning NURE Data
Home Page: USGS National Geochemical Database - NURE HSSR data



Page written by Bryan G. Moravec and Steven M. Smith.
Contact: Steven M. Smith (smsmith@usgs.gov)
Version 1.30: September 11, 2001
Version 1.41: February 23, 2006

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