National Geochemical Survey
Analyses Reported by the NURE program
Original data from the NURE program are incorporated into the NGS database for all samples that have been reanalyzed by the USGS. This represents 12-13% of the total NURE sample archive. The bulk of the original NURE data is not in the NGS database. NURE analytical data are stored in data-fields with names like AL_NURE, meaning "aluminum as reported by NURE." Dozens of methods were run by the NURE program. However, for the purposes of the NGS, original NURE data were incorporated in the same format as in Smith (1997a), i.e., with all data for a single element stored in a single field. It is possible to determine which method was actually done for any particular element by examining the NURE_METH field and then referring to the documentation provided here. In addition, a lookup table of NURE method codes is provided as an aid in deciphering the NURE_METH field. (This table provides a string for each element of the format "MM-ZZ#", where MM is a two letter abbreviation for the technique, and ZZ# is a method code from
Smith, 1997a.)
Some additional details for NURE analytical methods may by found in the original data files provided by
Smith (1997a), as the same record numbers are used in the NURE and NGS database fields called REC_NO.
A few percent of the records for NURE samples in the NGS contain averages of multiple records in the original NURE database. These are cases where more than one analytical method was run in the NURE program, resulting in multiple determinations for one or more elements (excluding uranium, for which there were separate fields for each method of analysis; see below). In these cases, the NURE_METH field of the database will refer to both analytical methods that were included in the average. If the data to be averaged included qualified values (i.e., negative values such as -5, which mean <5), two rules were used to control the value reported in the NGS: 1) if all values were qualified, the value with the smallest magnitude was used; 2) if qualified and unqualified data were both present, the qualified data were discarded.
Table of fields in the NGS containing NURE analytical data, and maps showing the areal extent and range of compositions
| Field |
Element/units |
Reference |
Map |
Map |
| Al_nure |
Al (wt%) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Ca_nure |
Ca (wt%) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Fe_nure |
Fe (wt%) |
Link |
 |
 |
| K_nure |
K (wt%) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Mg_nure |
Mg (wt%) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Na_nure |
Na (wt%) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Ag_nure |
Ag (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| As_nure |
As (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Au_nure |
Au (ppb) |
Link |
 |
 |
| B_nure |
B (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| Ba_nure |
Ba (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Be_nure |
Be (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Bi_nure |
Bi (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Br_nure |
Br (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| Cd_nure |
Cd (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Ce_nure |
Ce (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Cl_nure |
Cl (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Co_nure |
Co (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Cr_nure |
Cr (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Cs_nure |
Cs (ppm) |
Link |
|
|
| Cu_nure |
Cu (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Dy_nure |
Dy (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Eu_nure |
Eu (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| F_nure |
F (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| Hf_nure |
Hf (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Hg_nure |
Hg (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| La_nure |
La (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
|
|
| Field |
Element/units |
Reference |
Map |
Map |
| Li_nure |
Li (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Lu_nure |
Lu (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Mn_nure |
Mn (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Mo_nure |
Mo (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| Nb_nure |
Nb (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Ni_nure |
Ni (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| P_nure |
P (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| Pb_nure |
Pb (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Pt_nure |
Pt (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| Rb_nure |
Rb (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Sb_nure |
Sb (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Sc_nure |
Sc (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Se_nure |
Se (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Sm_nure |
Sm (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Sn_nure |
Sn (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Sr_nure |
Sr (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Ta_nure |
Ta (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Tb_nure |
Tb (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Th_nure |
Th (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Ti_nure |
Ti (wt%) |
Link |
 |
 |
| U_nure |
U (ppm) |
see below |
 |
 |
| V_nure |
V (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| W_nure |
W (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Y_nure |
Y (ppm) |
Link |
 |
|
| Yb_nure |
Yb (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Zn_nure |
Zn (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
| Zr_nure |
Zr (ppm) |
Link |
 |
 |
|
U_NURE: A variety of different methods were used in the NURE program to measure uranium. In many cases, more than one method was used for an individual sample. The field U_NURE in the NGS contains a single value reported by the NURE program. If only one method was used for U, then this is the value in the NGS. If more than one method was used, the first value in a prioritized list is
reported. In order of decreasing preference, the sequence used was: 1) Delayed neutron activation analysis; 2) Instrumental neutron activation analysis; 3) Mass spectrometry; 4) Fluorescence spectroscopy. Click here for a discussion of the various NURE methods.
(Return to Analytical Methods Page)
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
This page is part of U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1001
URL: http://www-tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/nure_analyses.htm
Maintained by Jeff Grossman
Last modified: 15:03:10 Tue 06 Jan 2004
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