USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

About USGS /  Science Topics /  Maps, Products & Publications /  Education / Publication: FAQ

Rhode Island
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 81 stream-sediment, 81 surface-water, and 77 ground-water samples from Rhode Island as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. Samples were collected on a county-by-county basis from the entire state during October and November of 1977 for stream sediments and waters and during March, 1978, for ground waters. This area included portions of the Boston and Providence 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. The samples were sent to SRL for determinations of uranium and additional elements (16 in sediments and 9 in waters) by Neutron Activation Analysis. SRL was able to analyze all of the sediments and 157 waters from Rhode Island. The analytical and site location data for all Rhode Island samples were released in the New England Data Report [GJBX-107(82)]. A total of 81 stream-sediment, 81 surface-water, and 74 ground-water samples were collected within the Rhode Island portion of the Providence quadrangle. SRL was able to analyze all of the sediment and 154 water samples from the Rhode Island portion of the Providence quadrangle.

SRL sent 80 sediment samples from Rhode Island to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 74 of these samples in the New England Data Report [GJBX-107(82)]. The digital data file accompanying this report includes Supplemental Analyses for 74 Rhode Island sediment samples from the Providence quadrangle.

Massachusetts
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 1,331 stream-sediment, 1,302 surface-water, and 657 ground-water samples from Massachusetts as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. Samples were collected on a county-by-county basis from the entire state between August 1977 and April 1979 for sediments, and between January and March of 1978 for ground waters. This area included portions of the Albany, Boston, and Providence 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. The samples were sent to SRL for determinations of uranium and additional elements (16 in sediments and 9 in waters) by Neutron Activation Analysis. SRL was able to analyze 1,315 sediments and 1,953 waters from Massachusetts. The analytical and site location data for all Massachusetts samples were released in the New England Data Report [GJBX-107(82)]. This report listed 173 stream-sediment, 173 surface-water, and 130 ground-water samples from the Massachusetts portion of the Providence quadrangle. SRL was able to analyze 160 sediment and all water samples from the Massachusetts portion of the Providence quadrangle.

SRL sent 1,149 sediment samples from Massachusetts to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 1,141 of these samples in the New England Data Report [GJBX-107(82)]. The digital data file accompanying this report includes Supplemental Analyses for 8 Massachusetts sediment samples from the Providence quadrangle.

Connecticut
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 635 stream-sediment, 656 surface-water, and 798 ground-water samples from Connecticut as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. Samples were collected on a county-by-county basis from the entire state between July and October, 1977 for sediments, and between December 1977 and February 1978 for ground-waters. This area included portions of the Albany, Boston, Hartford, and Providence 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. The samples were sent to SRL for determinations of uranium and additional elements (16 in sediments and 9 in waters) by Neutron Activation Analysis. SRL was able to analyze 634 sediments and 1,453 waters from Connecticut. The analytical and site location data for all Connecticut samples were released in the New England Data Report [GJBX-107(82)]. A total of 52 stream-sediment, 59 surface-water, and 53 ground-water samples were collected within the Connecticut portion of the Providence quadrangle. SRL was able to analyze all Connecticut sediment and water samples from the Providence quadrangle.

SRL sent the 635 sediment samples from Connecticut to an unnamed contract laboratory for "Supplemental Analyses." Supplemental analytical determinations for up to 23 elements were reported for 632 of these samples in the New England Data Report [GJBX-107(82)]. The digital data file accompanying this report includes Supplemental Analyses for 52 Connecticut sediment samples within the Providence quadrangle.

New York
Subcontractors for the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) collected at least 5,696 stream-sediment, 5,047 surface-water, and 4,829 ground-water samples from New York as part of the NURE Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) program. Samples were collected on a county-by-county basis from the eastern two-thirds of the state between July 1977 and August 1980. The sampled area included portions of the Albany, Binghamton, Elmira, Glens Falls, Hartford, Kingston, Lake Champlain, Ogdensburg, Rochester, Scranton, and Utica 1:250,000-scale quadrangles. The samples were sent to SRL for determinations of uranium and additional elements (16 in sediments and 9 in waters) by Neutron Activation Analysis. SRL was able to analyze 2,899 sediments and 9,863 waters from New York. The analytical and site location data for all New York samples were released in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Data Report [GJBX-106(82)]. No samples were collected within the New York state portion of the Providence quadrangle.

SRL: Providence Quadrangle
SRL released a separate quadrangle report for the Providence NTMS quadrangle, which includes data for 318 stream-sediment, 324 surface-water, and 250 ground-water samples. With some differences, these sample data are the same as that for corresponding samples found in the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York State reports. SRL released the analytical data as the Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Release. 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 Providence quadrangle samples.

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

These Providence 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 Providence Quadrangle

Sediment Records
The Providence quadrangle sediment data consist of reformatted records from the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut portions of the New England GJBX-107(82) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding records from the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Providence quadrangle sediment data:

1. Records for 18 sediment samples were found only in the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. These records were added to the final file.
2. Records for 6 sediment samples with coordinates slightly east of 70° W longitude were included in the Providence quadrangle reformatted water files. Technically this small strip of land on the Atlantic coast could be identified as the Chatham quadrangle but most maps (as well as the NURE program) include this area as part of an expanded Providence 1:250,000-scale quadrangle.
3. During the reformatting process, 6 Supplemental Analyses records from Rhode Island sediment samples were found that contained no analytical or site data. These records had SRLID values from RIPR234S1 to RIPR239S1. No corresponding records were found for these samples in the Rhode Island SRL analyses from the New England GJBX-107(82) Data Report or in the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. Thus, no data were found for these samples other than the SRLID values in the Supplemental Analyses data file. These 6 sample records were not included in the final sediment files.
4. The analytical values for many Al, Dy, Lu, U, and V determinations differed slightly between records found in the Providence Quadrangle and in the corresponding 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.
5. Occasionally, analytical values for Ce, Eu, Fe, Sc, V, or Th were found in the New England GJBX-107(82) Data Report that had differing lower detection limit values in the corresponding records from the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. These differences were noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
6. Occasionally, analytical values for Ce, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Mn, Na, Sc, Th, Ti, V, or Yb were found in the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report but were missing in the corresponding records from the New England GJBX-107(82) Data Report. These values were added and that change was noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
7. For 3 sediment samples, the comparison process between the State files and the Quadrangle file 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 each of 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.
8. During reformatting, contamination codes for "residential" and "recreation" were found to be missing from the CONTAMC field. These codes were not present in the published tables of the New England GJBX-107(82) Data Report. However, these missing codes were often found in corresponding records of the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. When found, these codes were added to the combined records and a comment was added to the REFORMAT field.
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 New London and Windham Counties, Connecticut; and Bristol County, Massachusetts 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. 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 Providence quadrangle water data consist primarily of reformatted records from the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut portions of the New England GJBX-107(82) Data Report. These records were compared with corresponding records from the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. The following problems were found and addressed during the comparison and reformatting stages for the Providence quadrangle water data:

1. Records for 17 water samples were found only in the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. These records were added to the final file.
2. Records for 14 water samples with coordinates slightly east of 70° W longitude were included in the Providence quadrangle reformatted water files. Technically this small strip of land on the Atlantic coast could be identified as the Chatham quadrangle but most maps (as well as the NURE program) include this area as part of an expanded Providence 1:250,000-scale quadrangle.
3. The analytical values for many Al, Br, Dy, and Mn determinations differed slightly between the original Providence Quadrangle and the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut 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.
4. Occasionally, values for Br, Cl, Dy, Mg, or Na were found in the New England GJBX-107(82) Data Report but were missing or had differing lower detection limit values in the corresponding records from the SRL Providence Quadrangle GJBX-15(81) Data Report. These differences were noted for each affected record in the REFORMAT comment field.
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. 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 the corresponding stream-sediment sample records. Sources of data and any problems found are described in the REFORMAT comment field.
6. 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.
7. An analysis of latitude-longitude site coordinates identified several stream-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 New London and Windham Counties, Connecticut; and Bristol County, Massachusetts 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. 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 New London and Windham Counties, Connecticut; and Bristol County, Massachusetts 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).

Providence Quadrangle Sediment Data - 309 records
Providence Quadrangle Water Data - 570 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 Providence quadrangle is not complete. Stream-sediment and stream-water samples were collected from New London and Windham Counties, Connecticut; Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties, Massachusetts; and Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington Counties, Rhode Island. Ground-water samples were collected from New London and Windham Counties, Connecticut; Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, and Plymouth Counties, Massachusetts; and Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington Counties, Rhode Island. No samples were collected in the urban area of Providence or the tiny portion of New York State that falls within the Providence quadrangle. The laboratory and analytical methods used also may vary by county such that adjacent counties often have very different analytical coverage.

One water and thirteen sediment samples collected within the Providence 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 Providence Quadrangle

Geology and Mineral Resources Study
A summary of the geology and mineral resources of the Baltimore, Boston, Lake Champlain, and Providence quadrangles prepared for the Savannah River Laboratory can be found in the GJBX-8(83) report. No geochemistry accompanies this report.

Providence Quadrangle NURE Summary
A NURE summary evaluation report was prepared for the Providence quadrangle by the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation [PGJ/F-101(82)]. An additional 240 rock samples were collected from the quadrangle in areas with potential for uranium occurrences. Some samples were analyzed for uranium by fluorometry and 29 other elements by emission spectrography. Some samples were analyzed for eU, eTh, and eK by gamma-ray spectrometry. These data were released only as appendices on microfiche accompanying the summary report.

Providence Quadrangle NURE Bibliography

• Cook, J.R., 1981, Providence 1° x 2° NTMS area, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island data report (abbreviated): E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-80-146-20, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-15(81), 17 p.
• 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., 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: New England: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-146-27, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-107(82), 35 p.
• Karfunkel, B.S., 1983, Geology and mineral resources of the Baltimore, Boston, Lake Champlain, and Providence 1° x 2° NTMS quadrangles: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-81-141-9, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., GJBX-8(83), 127 p.
• Zollinger, R.C., Blauvelt, R.P., and Chew, R.T., III, 1982, National Uranium Resource Evaluation, Providence quadrangle, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts: Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction, Colo., PGJ/F-101(82), 40 p.

Links Within Open-File Report 97-492

Back to Rhode Island NURE data
Back to Massachusetts NURE data
Back to Connecticut NURE data
Back to New York NURE data
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning NURE Data
Home Page: USGS National Geochemical Database - NURE HSSR data

Page written by Steven M. Smith.
Contact: Steven M. Smith (smsmith@usgs.gov)
Version 1.41: February 23, 2006

AccessibilityFOIAPrivacyPolicies and Notices
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: https://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/quad/q_provdc.htm Questions or Assistance: USGS Web Contact Page Last Modified: Wed Dec 7 16:14 EDT 2016