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Canadian Geochemical Data ›› Where can you find it? ›› What does it look like?. S.W. Adcock March 3 rd 2010. What is Geochemistry?. Two quotes: “All of the sciences are subdivisions of geochemistry.” “Why can’t geochemists ever agree on anything?”.
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Canadian Geochemical Data›› Where can you find it?›› What does it look like? S.W. Adcock March 3rd 2010
What is Geochemistry? • Two quotes: • “All of the sciences are subdivisions of geochemistry.” • “Why can’t geochemists ever agree on anything?”
Geochemical Data within the scope of this talk • Soil and Till • Different size fractions • Bulk chemistry • Inorganic • Trace elements • NO mineralogy
Producers of geochemical data • Major • GSC • Provincial surveys: QC, ON, BC, NB, NL • Minor • Provincial surveys: AB, SK, MB, NS • Links: http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/connections_e.php • Hard-to-find / hard-to-use • Other Government departments, academia, mineral exploration companies, EA reports
Catalogues • GSC • Geoscience Data Repository • http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/geochem/index_e.php • Quebec • http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca/mines/geologie/geologie-donnees.jsp • BC Map Place • http:mapplace.ca
Geoscience Data Repository Demo • Geochemical metadata home page • http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/geochem/index_e.php • Metadata for 600 surveys • ~300 soil and/or till surveys • 65 till surveys have enhanced metadata • User manual • GSC Open File 5936
GDR Demo (cont’d) • Sample metadata page • http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/geochem/metadata_svy_e.php?key=210037 • Brief summary of the survey • Links to description of original project and any subsequent projects (re-analyses) • Links to publications • Links to downloadable files (raw data, PDFs etc.)
GDR Demo (cont’d) • Access to enhanced metadata • KML file of 65 enhanced surveys • http://apps1.gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/geochem/kml/index/surveys_ext_e.kml • Periodic Table identifying elements for which KML files are available • http://apps1.gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/geochem/pertable/pertable_e.htm
Explanation of enhanced metadata • http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/geochem/metadata_svy_e.php?key=210037 • Sample locations • Sample Types • Prep lab • Analytical History • Bundles – downloadable spreadsheets • Analytical methods • Individual analytical quantities • KML files of analytical values
Enhanced metadata • Sample Locations
Soil vs. Till • User beware – exactly what was sampled? • “B horizon till” ???
Analytical methods • Three trends over time: • Determination limits are lowered (with a few exceptions) • Number of elements analysed is increasing • 1960s : < 10 elements • 2000s : > 50 elements • Increased automation / multi-element techniques • Less risk of human error • Lower costs
Analytical methods (cont’d) • “Total” vs. “Partial” analysis • Total • 1. Technique does not require dissolution • INAA, XRF • 2. Technique involves total dissolution • Requires nasty chemicals • Partial • Technique involves dissolution by a variety of chemical attacks
Analytical measurementsHow to handle measurements below the determination limit • 3 options • Negative DL: < 2 - 2 • Half DL < 2 1 • Text < 2 < 2 • What if the DL is variable?
Periodic Table, showing analysed elements • http://apps1.gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/geochem/pertable/pertable_e.htm
Additional resources • Environmental Geochemistry textbooks • Frederic Siegel • Statistics for environmental geochemistry • Helsel and Hirsch; downloadable from: • http://pubs.usgs.gov/twri/twri4a3/ • Clemens Reimann et al. (2008) • Data compilations • Dragun and Chekiri • Reimann and de Caritat
Additional resources (cont’d) • Geochemical Atlases • Reimann et al. (1998) Environmental Geochemical Atlas of the Central Barents Region • Reimann et al. (2003) Agricultural Soils in Northern Europe: a Geochemical Atlas • Salminen et al. (2005, 2006) Geochemical Atlas of Europe; Parts 1 and 2 • Journals • Elements • http://www.elementsmagazine.org/