U.S. Geological Survey
2001
Geochemistry of soils in the US from the PLUTO database
map
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
Baedecker, Philip A.
Grossman, Jeffrey N.
Buttleman, Kim P.
1998
National Geochemical data base: PLUTO geochemical data base for the United States
Tabular digital data
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series
DDS-47
This dataset contains geochemical data for soils collected in the
United States and analyzed in the analytical laboratories of the
Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These data
represent analyses of soil samples collected in support of various
USGS programs. The data were originally entered into the in-house
PLUTO database which was used by the Geologic Division from the mid-
1970's through the mid-1990's to archive geochemical data. A portion
of the PLUTO data base is published as: Baedecker, P.A., Grossman,
J.N., and Buttleman, K.P., 1998, National Geochemical Data base: PLUTO
geochemical data base for the United States: U.S. Geological Survey
Digital Data Series DDS-47. The data presented here are derived from
DDS-47.
The PLUTO data base is comprised of inorganic geochemical data
obtained by the analytical laboratories of the Geologic Division of
the U.S. Geological Survey for samples collected throughout the
United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, in support of USGS
research.
1960
1995
Publication date
None planned. The PLUTO database has been subsumed into the National
Geochemical Database; further changes will be reflected in that
collection, not published as revisions of PLUTO itself.
-179.1833
-67.2833
71.05
19.3997
None
soil
geochemistry
geochemical data
ISO 19115 Topic Categories
geoscientificInformation
None
United States of America
None
2001
None
None
Smith, David B.
U.S. Geological Survey
Mailing address
Box25046, MS 973
Denver Federal Center
Denver
Colorado
80225
United States of America
1-303-236-1849
1-303-236-3200
<dsmith@usgs.gov>
The samples in this dataset were chemically analyzed by a variety
of techniques over a period of time from the early 1960's to the
mid-1990's. The accuracy of the data varies with the analytical
methodology and with the concentration of the element being
analyzed. A qualifier such as "<" (less than) or ">" (greater
than) accompanies some analytical data values. These qualifiers
are defined as follows:
Sumbol < = the element was detected by the technique but at a level below the lower limit of determination for the method. The value of the lower limit of determination is given in the accompanying data field.
Symbol > = the element was measured at a concentration greater than the upper limit of determination for the method. The value of the upper limit of determination is given in the accompanying data field.
Symbol N = the element was measured at a concentration less than the lower limit of determination for the method. The value of the lower limit of determination is given in the accompanying data field.
Symbol B = the element was requested for analysis by the sample submitter, but for some reason the laboratories did not analyze for this element.
When appropriate, these qualifying values appear in this dataset
as a separate field preceding each element. The attribute, or
field name, for the qualifying values field are always labelled
Q. For example, "<" in the "Si_Q" field preceding an analytical
data field labelled Si would indicate the actual concentration of
silicon is less than the data value listed.
More than one analytical technique may have been used to produce
data for a given sample. In these cases, more than one record will
be listed for one sample with each record representing a different
analytical method.
This dataset provides chemcial data for Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K,
Ti, P, Ag, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, La, Mo, Nb, Ni,
Pb, Pd, Pt, Sb, Sn, Sr, U, V, W, Y, Zr, Ce, Li, Th, Tl, Rh, Ru, Rb,
Zn, F, Hg, S, Te, Se, organic carbon and FeO. In addition, the
dataset provides location and descriptive information for each
sample. Not all the descriptive fields contain information for a
particular sample because it was not recorded by the submitter or
because it was never entered into the PLUTO database. The
analytical methods used were selected by the sample submitter based
on the goals of the project and will vary throughout the data set.
The analytical methods used are documented in the following
publications:
Arbogast, B.F., editor, 1990, Quality assurance manual for the
Branch of Geochemistry: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
90-668.
Baedecker, P.A., editor, 1987, Methods of geochemical analysis:
U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1770.
Sample locations were determined from USGS topographic maps of
various scales. The accuracy is dependant on the scale of the
map from which the determination was made as well as the care
taken by the individual who made the determination. When
submitters reported locations as degrees, minutes, and seconds
of latitude and longitude the accuracy should be within a few
seconds. When submitters only reported locations as degrees
and minutes the accuracy is only to the nearest minute. The
latitude and longitude degrees, minutes, and seconds have been
converted to decimal degrees for this dataset. The base maps,
from which latitude and longitude coordinates were determined,
use the 1927 North American Datum (NAD27) based on the Clarke
1866 ellipsoid.
The data were generated by the analytical laboratories of the
U.S. Geological Survey over several years, beginning in the
early 1960s and ending about 1995. Upon completion of the
chemical analysis, the data were stored in the PLUTO database.
Portions of this database were published in 1998 in DDS-47.
USGS DDS-47 was used to generate the sediment data set. The
GSSEARCH software accompanying DDS-47 was used to retrieve all
sample media labeled as "unconsolidated sediment" from the CD
and was stored in ASCII format. Another program contained on
DDS-47 was used to convert the ASCII file to a .dbf file. This
file contains data for a total of 79,709 sediment samples.
However, the total number of records in the file is 127,288.
This is because each sediment sample analyzed by more than one
analytical technique has a separate record for each technique.
Thus, one sediment sample may be listed several times.
The following codes are used to represent the analytical methods:
>WX = wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis
>EX = energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis
>SQ = semiquantitative spectro-analysis
>QS = quantitative spectro-analysis
>IN = instrumental neutron activation analysis
>AA = flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption analysis
>CH = miscellaneous chemical analysis
>DN = delayed neutron anaysis
>MS = inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrographic analysis
Note that many of the samples have no analytical method
identified. This is a shortcoming of the PLUTO database.The
PLUTO DBF file was imported into ArcView 3.2 and an ArcView
shapefile was generated which contained 127,288 sample
locations.
200101
vector
Point
59064
Variable, generally a few thousandths of a degree.
Variable, generally a few thousandths of a degree.
Decimal degrees
North American Datum of 1927
Clarke 1866
6378206.4
294.98
Soil sample analysis
Information about each sample and its chemical composition
labno
Unique identification number assigned by the laboratory
field
Field number assigned by the submitter designated in the "name" field.
U.S. Geological Survey
jobn
Laboratory job number assigned by the analytical laboratory. One job number
may contain from one to a few hundred samples.
U.S. Geological Survey
state
State in which the sample was collected.
U.S. Geological Survey
2-letter state abbreviation; for example CO, CA, VA, etc.
FIPS 5-2
county
County in which the sample was collected.
U.S. Geological Survey
lat
North latitude of sample site reported in decimal degrees. (NAD27, Clarke 1866)
U.S. Geological Survey
19.3997
71.05
Decimal degrees
lon
Longitude of sample site reported in decimal degrees.
Longitudes up to 180 degrees west are reported in negative decimal degrees.
Longitudes up to 180 degrees east are reported in positive decimal degrees. (NAD27, Clarke 1866)
U.S. Geological Survey
-179.1833
-67.2833
Decimal degrees
mat
Category of sample material
U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 93-533: Sample Submittal
Manual, Fourth Edition, 1993; Instructions for Submitting Samples to the Branch of Geochemistry
F
Soil
U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 93-533.
Descriptn.
Sample description and comments. This column is provided for noting the
sample material and/or distinguishing characteristics of the sample.
U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 93-533.
name
Name of person who sumbitted the sample to the laboratory for chemical analysis.
U.S. Geological Survey
Sub. Date
Date sample was submmitted to the laboratory for preparation and analysis.
YYYYMMDD
4-digit year followed by 2-digit month and 2-digit day
b12
Character of sample
A
Single sample (e.g., hand specimen, grab sample) typical
of a larger body or population at the sample site.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
B
Single sample (e.g., hand specimen, grab sample) atypical
of a larger body or population from which the sample was taken. (Sample was selected for
some special attribute and is not intended to be typical.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
C
Single sample (e.g., hand specimen, grab sample);
typicality unknown or uncertain.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
D
Composite sample (e.g., chip sample) typical of a larger
body or population at the sample site.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
E
Composite sample (e.g., chip sample) atypical of the larger
body or population from which the sample was taken. (Sample was selected for some special
attribute and is not intended to be typical.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
F
Composite sample (e.g., chip sample); typicality unknown
or uncertain.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
G
Channel sample typical of a larger body or population at the sample site.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
H
Channel sample atypical of the larger body or population from which
the sample was taken. (Sample was selected for some special attribute and is not intended
to be typical.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
I
Channel sample; typicality unknown or uncertain.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
J
Single, composite, channel, or any other type sample
processed in the field or laboratory (e.g., panned concentrate, mineral separate, purified,
leached, ashed, evaporated, etc.) typical of a larger body or population at the sample site.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
K
Single, composite, channel, or any other type sample
processed in the field or laboratory (e.g., panned concentrate, mineral separagte, purified,
leached, ashed, evaporated, etc.) atypical of the larger body or population from which the
sample was taken. (Sample was selected for some special attribute and is not intended to
be typical.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
L
Single, composite, channel, or any other type sample
processed in the field or laboratory (e.g., panned concentrate, mineral separate, purified,
leached, ashed, evaporated, etc.) whose typicality is unknown or uncertain.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
X
Other type of sample typical of a larger body or
population at the sample site.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
Y
Other type of sample atypical of the larger body or
population from which the sample was taken. (Sample was selected for some special
attribute and is not intended to by typical.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
Z
Other type of sample whose typicality is unknown or
uncertain.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
b13
Source of sample
A
Natural outcrop (or surface layer)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
B
Road cut
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
C
Float
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
D
Open pit mine or quarry
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
E
Prospect pit
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
F
Underground mine
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
G
Mine dump
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
H
Mill product (smelter, tailings)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
I
Refinery product
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
J
Drill core or auger sample
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
K
Drill cutting, sludge
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
L
Produced from well (oil, water, etc.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
M
marine
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
Z
Other
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
b20
Soil Horizon
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
A
Top Soil (A horizon)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
B
Intermediate zone (B horizon)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
C
Bottom zone (C horizon)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
E
Composite (mixture of zones)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
F
No zoning apparent
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
b21
Soil Category (According to the following reference: Ball, D.F., 1967,
Classification of soils, in Peterson, G.F., ed., Guide to the Check Sheet of IBP Areas,
p. 121-125: Oxford and Edinburgh, Blackwell Scientific Publications, p. 133.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
A
Saline soil
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
B
High sesquioxide (ferritic) soil (red to reddish-brown
in some or all horizons)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
C
Organic soil (highly organic throughout profile; peat,bog)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
D
Well-drained non-saline, non-ferritic, calcareous soil
with well-marked soil horizons (strong profile development)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
E
Well-drained non-saline, non-ferritic, non-calcareous
soil with well-marked soil horizons
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
F
Poorly drained non-saline, non-ferritic, calcareous soil
with well-marked soil horizons
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
G
Poorly drained non-saline, non-ferritic, non-calcareous
soil with well-marked soil horizons
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
H
Soil with poorly defined soil horizons (weak profile
development) caused by climate (e.g., some desert soils, some arctic soils)
I
Soil with poorly defined soil horizons caused by youth
of soil (e.g., soil derived from recent alluvium, colluvium, residual bedrock)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
J
Humus (forest litter, etc.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
b22
Present Biotic Setting
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
1
Cultivated land (including orchards, pastures)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
2
Native grassland
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
3
Scattered timber land
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
4
Forest
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
5
Swamp (including bog)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
6
Desert
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
7
Tundra (including alpine tundra)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
8
Shrub or brush covered (chaparral, sagebrush)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
Z
Other
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533
TOA
Type of analysis (Chemical method by which the sample was analyzed)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
SQ
Semi-quantitative spectro-analysis
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
WX
Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
IN
Instrumental neutron activation analysis
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
QS
Quantitative spectro-analysis
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
CH
Miscellaneous chemical methods
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
DN
Delayed neutron analysis for U and Th
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
AA
Flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption analysis
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
EX
Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescense analysis
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47
SI-PPM
Silicon concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
AL-PPM
Aluminum concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
FE-PPM
Iron concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
MG-PPM
Magnesium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
CA-PPM
Calcium concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
NA-PPM
Sodium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
K-PPM
Potassium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
TI-PPM
Titanium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
P-PPM
Phosphorus concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
AG-PPM
Silver concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
AS-PPM
Arsenic concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
AU-PPM
Gold concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
B-PPM
Boron concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-47.
BA-PPM
Barium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
BE-PPM
Beryllium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
BI-PPM
Bismuth concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
CD-PPM
Cadmium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
CO-PPM
Cobalt concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
CR-PPM
Chromium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
CU-PPM
Copper concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
LA-PPM
Lanthanum concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
MO-PPM
Molybdenum concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
NB-PPM
Niobium concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
NI-PPM
Nickel concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
PB-PPM
Lead concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
PD-PPM
Paladium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
PT-PPM
Platinum concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
SB-PPM
Antimony concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
SN-PPM
Tin concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
SR-PPM
Strontium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
U-PPM
Uranium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
V-PPM
Vanadium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
W-PPM
Tungsten concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
Y-PPM
Yttrium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
ZR-PPM
Zirconium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
CE-PPM
Cerium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
LI-PPM
Lithium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
TH-PPM
Thorium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
TL-PPM
Thallium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
RH-PPM
Rhodium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
RU-PPM
Ruthenium concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
RB-PPM
Rubidium concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
ZN-PPM
Zinc concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
F-PPM
Fluorine concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
ORG-C-PPM
Organic carbon concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
HG-PPM
Mercury concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
S-PPM
Sulfur concentration in parts per million
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
TE-PPM
Tellurium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
SE-PPM
Selenium concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
FEO-PPM
Ferrous iron oxide concentration in parts per million (ppm)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
pH-%
pH of soil sample (Note that the column heading has units of %--this is a
function of a bug in the program that creates the column headings.)
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
ASH-%
Percent of sample remaining after combustion.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-533.
Smith, David B.
U.S. Geological Survey
Research Geologist
Mailing address
Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, MS 973
Denver
Colorado
80025
United States
1-303-236-1849
1-303-236-3200
dsmith@usgs.gov
These data are released on the condition that neither the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) nor the United States Government may be
held liable for any damages resulting from authorized or
unauthorized use. The USGS provides these data "as is" and makes
no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information
contained in the data. The USGS further makes no warranties,
either expressed or implied as to any other matter, whatsoever,
including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its
fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining
fitness for use lies entirely with the user.
ESRI shapefile
1.0
Geochemical sample analysis
unzip
3 megabytes
http://mrdata.usgs.gov/pluto/soil/plutosoil.zip
none
20000111
Smith, David B.
U.S. Geological Survey
Research Geologist
Mailing address
Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, MS 973
Denver
Colorado
80225
United States
1-303-236-1849
1-303-236-3200
dsmith@usgs.gov
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998