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Selected Whole-Rock and Sediment Geochemistry Reanalysis Data Additions to the Alaska Geochemical DataBase (AGDB) from Archived Samples, Alaska

Metadata Updated: September 15, 2025

This data release contains elemental concentration data from the reanalysis of 13,930 archived stream-sediment sample and associated stream sediment reference material and 968 archived rock samples and associated rock reference material. All archived material was from samples that were collected in Alaska. Samples were retrieved from the USGS Mineral Program's sample archive in Denver, CO. Sample processing consisted of splitting the appropriate aliquot for the requested analyses. Sample splitting was performed in the USGS Mineral Program's sample prep facilities. 13,800 samples were analyzed using a multi-element analytical method involving decomposition of the sample by sodium peroxide and elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) or inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) depending on the element. A suffix AES_ST or MS_ST is used in column headers to indicate analysis by this method. Additionally, some samples were also analyzed by one of two other multi-element methods. 4864 samples were analyzed by a multi-element method in which a mixture of nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) was used to decompose the sample. This digestion method it commonly referred to as an Aqua Regia (AR) digestion and is considered a less aggressive digestion than a sinter digestion. Elemental analyzed was by ICP-MS. A suffix MS_AR_P column headers indicates analysis by this method. 118 samples were analyzed by a multi-element method using a mixture of hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric, and hydrofluoric acids to decompose the sample. Elemental analysis was done by ICP-AES or ICP-MS depending on the element. The suffix AES_HF or MS_HF indicates analysis by this mix-acid method. 130 stream sediment samples were analyzed only for the mercury. For these samples mercury concentrations were determined by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry following sample digestion by a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids, and dilute potassium permanganate and potassium persulfate. The suffix AA_CV indicates analysis by this method. All rock samples (968) were analyzed by the method using the sodium peroxide sample digestion described above. As with the stream sediment samples a suffix AES_ST or MS_ST is used in column headers in the rock sample dataset to indicate analysis by this method. 490 rock samples were also analyzed by the aqua-regia method. A suffix MS_AR_P column headers indicates analysis by this method. 478 samples were analyzed by a multi-element method in which the sample is decomposed using a lithium metaborate fusion and analysis by ICP-AES. A suffix AES_Fuse indicates analysis by this method. All analyses were performed between 2019 to 2023 by AGAT laboratories. AGAT was the USGS contract laboratory during the period of analysis.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date September 15, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 13, 2025
Metadata Updated Date September 15, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-66303fb6d34ea70bd5f264c0
Data Last Modified 2024-05-03T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 3e0f6b15-35c2-4c9c-a7f3-9e0e405d7dc4
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -168.02, 55.70, -130.00, 67.99
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 93a63d58220768f51de46af2f525a08cef5a52c20745c04f6e5b68b9b9f982b6
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -168.02, 55.70, -168.02, 67.99, -130.00, 67.99, -130.00, 55.70, -168.02, 55.70}

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