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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 126 stream-sediment and 913 ground-water samples were collected within the Waycross 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 all 126 sediment and all 913 water samples from the Waycross 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 does not include Supplemental Analyses for any Georgia sediment samples within the Waycross quadrangle.

SRL: Dothan, Waycross, and Brunswick Quadrangles
SRL released a separate quadrangle report for the Dothan, Waycross, and Brunswick NTMS quadrangles, which includes data for 201 stream-sediment and 1,224 ground-water samples. (Although it was not mentioned in the report title, data were also included for 27 ground-water samples from the Valdosta quadrangle.) This report includes data for 126 stream-sediment and 913 ground-water samples within the Waycross quadrangle. With minor differences, these sample data are the same as the those for corresponding samples found in the state reports. SRL released the analytical data as the Dothan, Waycross, and Brunswick Quadrangles GJBX-27(81) Data Report (Abbreviated). 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 Waycross quadrangle samples.

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

These Waycross 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.)

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 Waycross Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Waycross quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Dothan, Waycross, and Brunswick Quadrangles GJBX-27(81) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding 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 Waycross quadrangle sediment data:

1. The analytical values for many U, Ce, Dy, Eu, Lu, and V determinations differed slightly between the Waycross quadrangle files and the 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.
2. For some records, analytical values for U, Ce, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Na, Sm, and Yb were found in the Waycross quadrangle files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Georgia State files. These values were kept but the difference was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
3. The date on which a sample was analyzed by Neutron Activation Analysis was only recorded in the State digital data files from the Alabama and Georgia [GJBX-403(81)] Data Report. This information was added to each of combined sediment data records.
4. During reformatting, contamination codes for "residential" and "recreation" were found to be missing from the State file CONTAMC field. These codes were present in the quadrangle format and were added to the final digital data file.
5. 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 Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wilcox 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.
6. 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 Waycross quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Dothan, Waycross, and Brunswick Quadrangles GJBX-27(81) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding 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 Waycross quadrangle water data:

1. The analytical values for many Al, Br, Dy, and Mn determinations differed slightly between the Waycross quadrangle files and the 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.
2. For 564 records, analytical values for Mg were found in the Georgia State files that were missing in the corresponding records from the Waycross quadrangle files. These values were added and that change was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
3. One sample, identified as a spring-water sample SAMPTYP(53) in the Waycross quadrangle water files, was identified as a well-water sample SAMPTYP(52) in the corresponding record from the Georgia State water files. A review of the site coding information for this sample was inconclusive for determining the sample type. The SAMPTYP value for spring water was retained and the alternate value was noted in the REFORMAT comment field.
4. Unlikely sample collection dates were found for two 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.
5. 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 Dodge and Treutlen 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.

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).

Waycross Quadrangle Sediment Data - 126 records
Waycross Quadrangle Water Data - 913 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. Sediment sample coverage in the Waycross quadrangle includes samples from Crisp, Dodge, Montgomery, Sumpter, Telfair, Toombs, Tattnall, Wheeler, and Wilcox Counties in Georgia. Water sample coverage in the Waycross quadrangle includes Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Ben Hill, Brantley, Coffee, Clinch, Crisp, Colquitt, Cook, Dodge, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Montgomery, Pierce, Sumter, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Turner, Tattnall, Wheeler, Worth, Ware, Wilcox, and Wayne Counties in Georgia. The laboratory and analytical methods used also may vary by county such that adjacent counties often have very different analytical coverages.

Other NURE Geochemical Data for the Waycross Quadrangle

None found.

Waycross Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Cook, J.R., 1980, Dothan, Waycross, and Brunswick 1° x 2° NTMS areas, Georgia; data report (abbreviated): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-80-146-26, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-27(81), 17 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., 1981, Data report: Alabama and Georgia: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-146-21, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-403(82), 34 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Georgia NURE data
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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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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/1997/492/quad/q_waycrs.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:28 EST 2016