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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 1,124 stream-sediment and 739 ground-water samples were collected within the Athens 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 1,110 sediment and 739 water samples from the Athens 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 Analyses for 1,106 Georgia sediment samples within the Athens quadrangle.

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 90 stream-sediment and 50 ground-water samples were collected within the Athens 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 89 sediment and 50 water samples from the Athens 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 84 South Carolina sediment samples within the Athens quadrangle.

SRL: Athens Quadrangle
SRL released a separate quadrangle report for the Athens NTMS quadrangle, which includes data for 1,200 stream-sediment and 771 ground-water samples. With minor differences, these sample data are the same as that for corresponding samples found in the Georgia and South Carolina State reports. SRL released the analytical data as the Athens Quadrangle GJBX-20(79) 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)]. This report includes 1,200 stream-sediment samples and 1,191 supplemental analyses from the Athens quadrangle. However, this supplemental data for the Athens quadrangle was not found in digital format and is not included in the Athens digital data presented here. The hard copy of this supplemental data is available in the [GJBX-73(79)] data release. A preliminary comparison of the [GJBX-73(79)] data suggests that, there are some differences between this set of supplemental data and that found for corresponding samples in the Georgia and South Carolina State reports. One minor difference is that some data found in the digital state files are missing in the hard copy tables. Another difference is that the hard copy tables commonly contain data for barium when the digital state files did not.

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 Athens quadrangle samples.

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

These Athens 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.

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 Athens Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Athens quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Athens Quadrangle GJBX-20(79) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from the Georgia portion of the Alabama and Georgia [GJBX-403(81)] Data Report and the South Carolina portion of the North and South Carolina [GJBX-102(82)] Data Report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Athens quadrangle sediment data:

1. The analytical values for many U, Ce, Dy, Eu, Fe, Lu, V, and Yb determinations differed slightly between the Athens 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 Al, Ce, Eu, Fe, La, Lu, Mn, Na, Sm, Th, and Ti were found in the Georgia and South Carolina State files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Athens 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 Al, Ce, Dy, Eu, La, Lu, Sm, Th, Ti, and V were found in the Athens quadrangle files but were missing in the corresponding records from the Georgia and South Carolina State files. These missing values were noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
4. For 4 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.
5. 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 and North and South Carolina [GJBX-102(82)] Data Report. This information was added to each of combined sediment data records.
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). 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.
7. Thirteen stream-sediment samples were identified with a SRLID in the 300'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's series site (i.e. SRLID site number ABCD318S1 is the same location as ABCD018S1). The coordinates from the original 000's series sites were added to the matching 300's records and this change was noted in the REFORMAT and COORDPRB comment fields.
8. One stream-sediment sample was collected at a longitude of exactly 84°W, the dividing line between the Athens and Atlanta quadrangles. The data record for this sample was assigned to the Atlanta quadrangle.
9. 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 Greene, Glascock, Henry, Jasper, Lincoln, Monroe, Newton, Richmond, and Warren 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.
10. After re-digitizing, one Henry County, Georgia stream-sediment sample originally located in the Athens quadrangle now plots in the adjacent Atlanta quadrangle.
11. After re-digitizing, one Monroe County, Georgia stream-sediment sample originally located in the Macon quadrangle now plots in the adjacent Athens quadrangle.
12. Two sample records were found in the Georgia State files that did not have any analytical data, did not have latitude-longitude coordinates, only had partial site description data, and had SRLID values (GAAN307S1 & GANN311S1) that could not be identified with known counties. Although these two records were retained, they cannot be retrieved on a geographical basis.
13. 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 Athens quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Athens Quadrangle GJBX-20(79) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from the Georgia portion of the Alabama and Georgia [GJBX-403(81)] Data Report and the South Carolina portion of the North and South Carolina [GJBX-102(82)] Data Report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Athens quadrangle water data:

1. The analytical values for many Al, Br, Dy, and Mn determinations differed slightly between the Athens quadrangle files and the Georgia and South Carolina 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 21 records, analytical values for Al and Mn were found in the Athens quadrangle file but were missing in the corresponding records from the Georgia State files. These missing values were noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
3. An unlikely sample collection date was found for one sample. This date was removed from the SAMPDAT field and the original SAMPDAT value with the most likely correct value was added as a comment to the REFORMAT field.
4. Fifteen 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.
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 McDuffie, and Taliaferro Counties, Georgia; and Greenwood and McCormick 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.

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).

Athens Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,216 records
Athens Quadrangle Water Data - 789 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 Athens quadrangle is complete and includes samples from Baldwin, Barrow, Burke, Butts, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Glascock, Greene, Gwinnett, Hancock, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jones, Lincoln, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putman, Richmond, Rockdale, Taliaferro, Walton, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes Counties in Georgia; and Edgefield, Greenwood, and McCormick Counties in South Carolina. Two sediment samples had invalid county codes in the SRLID and could not be confidently assigned. The laboratory and analytical methods used also may vary by county such that adjacent counties often have very different analytical coverage.

Five sediment samples within the Athens 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 Athens 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.

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.

Athens Quadrangle NURE Summary
Bendix Field Engineering Corporation released a report that contains reconnaissance and detailed geologic and radiometric investigations throughout the Athens quadrangle [GJQ-2(80)]. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate uranium favorability using NURE criteria. Surface and subsurface studies were augmented by aerial radiometric surveys, emanometry studies, and hydrogeochemical and stream-sediment reconnaissance studies. Approximately 1,700 scintillometer and spectrometer readings were taken, and 365 samples were collected for chemical and petrographic analysis. Data tables of analytical results are included in microfiche format within the report. No digital data files were available for reformatting.

North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study
The SRL in contract with the Department of Geology of the University of North Carolina conducted a special study to investigate the association of uranium deposits with granitic source or host rocks. The analytical results from 441 samples of 92 plutons were released in the North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study GJBX-221(82) report. See the North America and Africa Plutonic Rocks Special Study for the data and a more detailed description of this study. Plutons that were apparently sampled in the Athens quadrangle include the Siloam (2 samples); Sparta (32); Edgefield (4); and Appling (2).

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.

Athens Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• 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(81), 34 p.
• Fay, W.M., Sargent, K.A., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Data report: North and South Carolina: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-146-22, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-102(82), 45 p.
• Ferguson, R.B., 1978, Athens 1° x 2° NTMS area, Georgia and South Carolina; preliminary basic data report: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-78-146-7, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-20(79), 168 p.
• Ferguson, R.B., 1979, Athens, Charlotte, Greenville, and Spartanburg NTMS 1° x 2° quadrangle areas: supplemental data release, National Uranium Resource Evaluation Program, hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-79-155-1, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-73(79), 127 p.
• Karfunkel, B.S., Fay, W.F., and Price, Van, Jr., 1982, Analysis of monazite, zircon, and apatite from the southeastern Piedmont: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-141-8, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-101(82), 57 p.
• Lee, C.H., 1979, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Athens Quadrangle, Georgia and South Carolina: Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJQ-002(80), 15 p.
• Madson, M.E., Rush, S.F., Hardy, L.C., LaBonte, N.E., and Ludlam, J.R., 1983, NURE stream-sediment, hydrogeochemical, and aeromagnetic data characteristics of the Piedmont Region, eastern United States: A data release: Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-40(83), 18 p.
• Price, Van, 1976, Raw data from orientation studies in crystalline rock areas of the southeastern United States: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-76-141-1, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-9(76), 123 p.
• Price, Van, Fay, W.M., and Cook, J.R., 1982, Neutron activation and other analytical data for plutonic rocks from North America and Africa: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc., U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-221(82), 47 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

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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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