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Maryland
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 1,322 stream-sediment, 837 surface-water, and 1,188 ground-water samples within 23 counties from Maryland as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sediment samples were collected during May - August 1978, and water samples were collected during May - June 1977; December 1977; and July - October 1978. Sample coverage included portions of the Baltimore, Chincoteague, Cumberland, Salisbury, Washington, and Wilmington 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 167 stream-sediment, 158 surface-water, and 199 ground-water samples were collected within the Cumberland 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 1,286 sediments and 2,023 waters from Maryland; this includes 167 sediment and 357 water samples from the Cumberland quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all Maryland samples were released in the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Data Report [GJBX-103(82)].

West Virginia
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 2,965 stream-sediment, 2,910 surface-water, and 4,060 ground-water samples within 55 counties from West Virginia as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sediment samples were collected during May - November 1978 and August - September 1979; water samples were collected during April - August 1977; May - September 1978; and July 1980. Sample coverage included portions of the Baltimore, Bluefield, Canton, Charleston, Charlottesville, Clarksburg, Columbus, Cumberland, Huntington, and Jenkins 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 499 stream-sediment, 485 surface-water, and 583 ground-water samples were collected within the Cumberland 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 2,919 sediments and 6,965 waters from West Virginia; this includes 497 sediment and 1,066 water sample from the Cumberland quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all West Virginia samples were released in the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Data Report [GJBX-103(82)].

Pennsylvania
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 4,499 stream-sediment, 4,401 surface-water, and 5,734 ground-water samples within 49 counties from Pennsylvania as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sediment samples were collected during September - October 1976; July - December 1977; and July - August 1978, and water samples were collected during May - December 1977 and July - August 1978. Sample coverage included portions of the Baltimore, Canton, Clarksburg, Cleveland, Cumberland, Elmira, Harrisburg, Newark, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Warren, Williamsport, and Wilmington 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 296 stream-sediment, 291 surface-water, and 376 ground-water samples were collected within the Cumberland 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 4,287 sediments and 10,100 waters from Pennsylvania; this includes 294 sediment and 666 water samples from the Cumberland quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all Pennsylvania samples were released in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Data Report [GJBX-106(82)].

SRL sent 3,851 sediment samples from Pennsylvania to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 3,842 of these samples in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Data Report [GJBX-106(82)]. The digital data file accompanying this report include Supplemental Analyses for 21 Pennsylvania sediment samples within the Cumberland quadrangle.

Virginia
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 5,667 stream-sediment, 2,598 surface-water, and 4,834 ground-water samples within 96 counties from Virginia as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. The sediment samples were collected during July - October 1976; August - September 1977; and April - November 1978, and water samples were collected during December 1976 - September 1977; April - October 1978; and June - August 1979. Sample coverage included portions of the Baltimore, Bluefield, Charlottesville, Chincoteague, Cumberland, Currituck Sound, Greensboro, Jenkins, Johnson City, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Salisbury, Washington, and Winston-Salem 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. (A total of 79 stream-sediment, 76 surface-water, and 97 ground-water samples were collected within the Cumberland 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 5,522 sediments and 7,416 waters from Virginia; this includes 79 sediment and 173 water samples from the Cumberland quadrangle. The analytical and site location data for all Virginia samples were released in the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Data Report [GJBX-103(82)].

SRL sent 2,719 sediment samples from Virginia to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 2,711 of these samples in the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Data Report [GJBX-103(82)]. The digital data file accompanying this report does not include Supplemental Analyses for any of the Virginia sediment samples within the Cumberland quadrangle.

SRL: Cumberland and Pittsburgh Quadrangles
SRL released a separate quadrangle report for the Cumberland and Pittsburgh NTMS quadrangles, which includes data for 1,042 stream-sediment, 1,012 stream-water, and 1,240 ground-water samples. With minor differences, these sample data are the same as that for corresponding samples found in the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia State reports. SRL released the analytical data as the Cumberland and Pittsburgh Quadrangles GJBX-287(81) Abbreviated Data Report. The site coding information for this data set is summarized within the text of this report.

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 Cumberland quadrangle samples.

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

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

Sediment Samples

• SR1: Savannah River Neutron Activation Analysis - Neutron Counting of sediments for U.
• SR2: Savannah River Neutron Activation Analysis of sediments for Al, Ce, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Mn, Na, Sc, Sm, Th, Ti, V, and Yb. (Note: Au values were reported later for this method.)
• SR3-AA: Savannah River (Supplemental Analysis by contract Laboratory) Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Analysis of sediments for Ag, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr, Y, and Zn.
• SR3-CA: Savannah River (Supplemental Analysis by contract Laboratory) Colorimetric Analysis of sediments for Nb, P, and W.
• SR3-FE: Savannah River (Supplemental Analysis by contract Laboratory) Flame Emission Analysis of sediments for K and Li.
• SR3-XU: Savannah River (Supplemental Analysis by contract Laboratory) Analysis of sediments for hot acid extractable U. (Exact method undetermined)
• SR3-XX: Savannah River (Supplemental Analysis by contract Laboratory) Analysis of sediments for As, Se, and Ca. (Exact method undetermined)

Water Samples

• SR4: Savannah River Neutron Activation Analysis - Neutron Counting of waters for U.
• SR5: Savannah River Neutron Activation Analysis of waters for Al, Br, Cl, Dy, F, Mn, Na, and V. (Note: Mg may also be reported by this method.)

Discussion of the Reformatting Process for Cumberland Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Cumberland quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Cumberland and Pittsburgh Quadrangles GJBX-287(81) Abbreviated Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia portions of the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Data Report [GJBX-103(82)], and reformatted records from the Pennsylvania portion of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Data Report [GJBX-106(82)]. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Cumberland quadrangle sediment data:

1. The analytical values for many Fe and Lu determinations differed slightly between the Cumberland quadrangle files and the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia 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.
2. For some records, analytical values for Fe, La, and Th were found in the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia State files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Cumberland quadrangle files. These values were added and that change was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
3. For some records, analytical values for Ce, Dy, Eu, Fe, Lu, Mn, Na, Sm, and Yb were found in the Cumberland quadrangle files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia State files. These values were kept but the difference was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
4. The water temperature and the date on which a sample was analyzed by Neutron Activation Analysis was only recorded in the State digital data files from the Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia [GJBX-103(82)] Data Report and from the the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Data Report [GJBX-106(82)]. This information was added to each of combined sediment data records.
5. One stream-sediment sample was collected at a latitude of exactly 39°N, the dividing line between the Charlottesville quadrangle and the Cumberland quadrangle. A data record for this sample was found in the Charlottesville Quadrangle GJBX-175(81) Abbreviated Data Report, the Cumberland quadrangle files, and the Virginia State files. The data from all three sources were compared, combined, commented in the REFORMAT field, and then assigned to the Charlottesville quadrangle.
6. 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). These contamination codes were also not present in the original quadrangle file. These missing codes were assigned a value of "unknown" in the CONTAMC field within the final sediment data file.
7. 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 ppm is the lowest reported gold concentration in the entire report.

Water Records
The Cumberland quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Cumberland and Pittsburgh Quadrangles GJBX-287(81) Abbreviated Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia portions of the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Data Report [GJBX-103(82)], and reformatted records from the Pennsylvania portion of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Data Report [GJBX-106(82)]. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Cumberland quadrangle water data:

1. For 972 records, analytical values for Mg were found in the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia State files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Cumberland quadrangle files. These values were added and that change was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
2. One sample, identified as a stream-water sample in the Cumberland quadrangle water files, was identified as a spring-water sample in the corresponding record from the West Virginia State water files. A review of the site coding information suggests that the sample was actually a spring-water sample. The SAMPTYP and missing coding were added to this record and the changes were noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
3. One stream-water sample was collected at a latitude of exactly 39°N, the dividing line between the Charlottesville quadrangle and the Cumberland quadrangle. A data record for this sample was found in the Charlottesville Quadrangle GJBX-175(81) Abbreviated Data Report, the Cumberland quadrangle files, and the Virginia State files. The data from all three sources were compared, combined, commented in the REFORMAT field, and then assigned to the Charlottesville quadrangle.
4. One spring-water sample was collected at a longitude of exactly 80°W, the dividing line between the Clarksburg quadrangle and the Cumberland quadrangle and reported in the Pennsylvania State files. The record was assigned to the Cumberland quadrangle.
5. The original NURE format for surface-water files did not include much information about the character of the sample location. This missing information includes observations taken at each site on the stream width, depth, and flow, water color, surrounding vegetation, local relief, weather, and possible contaminants. However, this information is given in records for stream-sediment samples that were collected at the same locations. The available site descriptive information for stream-water sites were compared with the corresponding stream-sediment site records. The missing site descriptive data were then added to stream-water records from corresponding stream-sediment sample records. Sources of data and any problems found are described in the REFORMAT comment field.
6. 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). These contamination codes were also not present in the original quadrangle file. The missing codes were assigned a value of "unknown" in the CONTAMC field within the final sediment data file.
7. Seven ground-water samples were identified with a SRLID in the 700'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's series site (i.e. SRLID site number ABCD718R is the same location as ABCD518R). The coordinates from the original 500's series sites were added to the matching 700's records and this change was noted in the REFORMAT and COORDPRB comment fields.
8. The latitude and longitude coordinates for 6 water samples collected within Allegany(2) and Garrett(1) Counties in Maryland; and Berkeley(2), Grant(1), Hampshire(1), and Morgan(1) Counties in West Virginia were not found in the data during the reformatting process. The records for these 6 samples cannot be retrieved on a geographical basis.

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).

Cumberland Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,041 records
Cumberland Quadrangle Water Data - 2,252 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 Cumberland quadrangle is complete and includes samples from Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties in Maryland; Bedford, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, and Somerset Counties in Pennsylvania; Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties in Virginia; and Barbour, Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Marion, Mineral, Monongalia, Morgan, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, and Tucker Counties in West Virginia. The laboratory and analytical methods used also may vary by county such that adjacent counties often have very different analytical coverage.

Three stream-sediment and three water samples within the Cumberland quadrangle were not analyzed by any of the various laboratories. The following table summarizes the locations of those unanalyzed samples.

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Cumberland Quadrangle

None found.

Cumberland Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Cook, J.R., Fay, W.M., and Sargent, K.A., 1982, Data report: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-146-26, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-106(82), 44 p.
• Fay, W.M., 1981, Cumberland and Pittsburgh 1° x 2° NTMS areas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, data report (abbreviated): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-146-15, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-287(81), 18 p.
• Fay, W.M., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Gold analyses by neutron activation from SRL NURE samples: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-141-38, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-135(82), 45 p.
• Fay, W.M., Sargent, K.A., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Data report: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-146-23, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-103(82), 43 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Maryland NURE data
Back to West Virginia NURE data
Back to Pennsylvania NURE data
Back to Virginia 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 1.41: February 23, 2006

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