OFR 97-492: Augusta Quadrangle NURE HSSR Study
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[See History of NURE HSSR Program for a summary of the entire program.]
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 38 stream-sediment and 45 ground-water samples were collected within the Augusta 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 38 sediment and 45 water samples from the Augusta 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 6 Georgia sediment samples within the Augusta 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 737 stream-sediment and 1,254 ground-water samples were collected within the Augusta 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 all 736 sediment and 1,254 water samples from the Augusta 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 include Supplemental Analyses for 288 South Carolina sediment samples within the Augusta quadrangle.
SRL: Augusta Quadrangle
SRL released a separate quadrangle report for the Augusta NTMS quadrangle, which includes data for 775 stream-sediment and 1,299 ground-water samples. With minor differences, these sample data are the same as the those for corresponding samples found in the North and South Carolina State reports. SRL released the analytical data as the Augusta Quadrangle GJBX-45(79) Preliminary Basic Data Report. The site coding information for this data set is summarized within the text of this report.
Aiken County Gorceixite Area
During 1979, the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) conducted a detailed study of the Aiken and Lexington County areas within the Augusta 1:250,000-scale quadrangle. During the Spring and Summer of 1979, 702 stream-sediment, 545 ground-water, and 804 surface-water samples were collected from Aiken County as part of that detailed survey. This survey was undertaken in order to determine the origin, abundance, and areal extent of uraniferous gorceixite deposits in the Aiken and Lexington Counties, South Carolina. Gorceixite is a hydrated barium aluminum phosphate mineral that occurs in Aiken County as thin seams and nodules. All of the samples collected for this survey were analyzed by SRL and the data released in the NURE Detailed Sampling in Aiken County, South Carolina GJBX-33(83) report. (Note: One sediment and one water sample collected at a single stream site during this study appears to be located just north of the Augusta quadrangle border inside the Spartanburg quadrangle).
In addition, 1306 water samples collected for the Aiken County Gorceixite Area detailed survey were sent to the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) for supplemental analyses. The supplemental data were released as the Aiken County Detailed Survey GJBX-175(82) abbreviated report (on microfiche only). The site coding information for this data set was summarized in the GJBX-164(82) report.
Light Hydrocarbons Analyses
SRL analyses of light hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, propane, and butane) in ground waters were released in the GJBX-131(82) summary report for 44 western quadrangles and 3 eastern quadrangles within the United States. This report includes data for 826 of the Augusta quadrangle ground water samples that were collected for the Aiken County detailed study.
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 Augusta quadrangle samples.
Laboratory Analysis | Sediments | Waters |
---|---|---|
Only SRL | 1,179 | 1,342 |
Only ORGDP | 0 | 1 |
Both SRL and ORGDP (2 records per sample) | 0 | 1304 |
Both SRL and Supplemental Labs | 294 | 0 |
Second SRL analysis on sample | 12 | 1 |
None | 3 | 0 |
Total Samples | 1,476 | 2,647 |
Total Data Records | 1,488 | 3,952 |
The following is a list of all sediment and water sample types collected and reported for NURE studies in the Augusta quadrangle.
Sediment Sample Type | Number of Samples | Water Sample Type | Number of Samples |
---|---|---|---|
Wet Streams | 1,476 | Streams | 803 |
Wells | 1,834 | ||
Springs | 10 | ||
Total Sediments | 1,476 | Total Waters | 2,647 |
These Augusta quadrangle samples were analyzed by one or more of the following methods:
Sediment Samples
Water Samples
Sediment Records
The Augusta quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Augusta Quadrangle GJBX-45(79) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from the South Carolina portion 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. In addition, samples from the Aiken County Gorceixite Area Detailed Study [GJBX-33(83)] Data Report, were reformatted and added to the final digital data file. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Augusta quadrangle sediment data:
Water Records
The Augusta quadrangle water data consist of reformatted records from the Augusta Quadrangle GJBX-45(79) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding sample records from the South Carolina portion 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. In addition, samples from the Aiken County Gorceixite Area Detailed Study Data Reports, [GJBX-33(83)]and [GJBX-175(82)], were reformatted and added to the final digital data file. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Augusta quadrangle water 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).
Augusta Quadrangle Sediment Data - 1,483 records
Augusta Quadrangle Water Data - 3,941 records
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 Augusta quadrangle is almost complete and includes samples from Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Sumpter, and Williamsburg Counties in South Carolina; and Burke, Richmond and Screven Counties in Georgia. It appears that no samples were collected or reported from the Savannah River Plant property in parts of Aiken and Barnwell Counties, South Carolina. The laboratory and analytical methods used also may vary by county such that adjacent counties often have very different analytical coverage.
One stream-sediment sample from Dorchester County within the Augusta quadrangle was not analyzed by any of the various laboratories. Additionally, two stream-sediment samples from the Aiken County Gorceixite Area Detailed Study were also not analyzed by any of the various laboratories.
Leesville Orientation Study
To assure that the SRL HSSR program would have a sound technical basis, orientation or pilot studies were conducted in a variety of geologic and geographic settings. During 1976, SRL conducted an orientation study in the Leesville, South Carolina, area [GJBX-61(78)]. During the study, a total of 43 sediment, 47 surface-water, and 49 ground-water samples were collected and analyzed for Al, Br, Cl, Dy, F, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, V, and U by an unspecified method. In addition, water samples were analyzed in the field for sulfate by barium sulfate turbidimetry, and analyzed for nitrate, orthophosphate, and ammonia by colorimetry. Data tables of analytical results are included within the report. No digital data files were available for reformatting.
Uraniferous Gorceixite Study
As part of the NURE program, SRL had developed several chemical and geologic techniques to aid in identifying potential favorable areas for uranium exploration. Eight occurrences of the rare mineral gorceixite (a hydrated barium aluminum phosphate), which is associated with uranium mineralization, were described by SRL to assess uranium potential in Aiken County, South Carolina [GJBX-47(79)]. Gorceixite from this area has been shown to contain between 75 to 960 ppm uranium. This report contains chemical, mineralogical, and the location data for each occurrence. 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 also 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.
Augusta Quadrangle NURE Summary
A summary evaluation report was prepared for the Augusta quadrangle by the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation of Grand Junction, Colorado [PGJ/F-031(82)]. A total of 366 ground-water samples were collected in the quadrangle to aid in the interpretation of uranium anomalies. These ground-water samples were analyzed for uranium oxide by fluorometry. A total of 673 ground water sites were analyzed in the field by an unspecified method, and 794 gamma-ray spectrometer reading were taken along the Medoc Fault Zone. These data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.
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 Augusta quadrangle include the Clouds Creek (6 samples).
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.
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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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