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Research Chemistry

Project Objectives

Many projects within the Geologic and Biologic Resources Disciplines use chemical analyses as a tool in the study of various earth, ecological, and biological processes and features. Often, the success of these projects is dependent upon the availability of modern, rapid, multi-element analytical instruments and techniques that are beyond the scope and capability of most individual projects. The Research Chemistry Project provides access to state-of-the-art chemical analysis hardware and software, as well as the expertise of highly experienced research scientists to help solve unusually difficult problems in the field of analytical geochemistry that cannot be addressed by the routine methods of even the best commercial laboratories. Techniques currently supported, or under development, include ultra-trace analyses (sub-ppb concentrations) of both solid and liquid samples for virtually every element in the periodic chart, as well as the quantitative determination of specific chemical species (e.g. As(III), As(V), metal cyanide complexes) and mode of occurrence of elements in minerals. These methods permit the USGS to participate in a broad spectrum of scientific studies ranging from petrology and mineralogy to ecology and geo-environmental issues. Long term efforts of this project include the development of new standard reference materials that are used by USGS analytical labs and projects to assure the highest analytical accuracy possible; in addition, these standards are used by more than 20 countries to monitor the quality of geochemical data produced by laboratories from around the globe.

The objectives of the Research Chemistry Project are fivefold:

develop new and emerging geoanalytical techniques that the Geologic Discipline will need within the next 5 years,
maintain geochemical analysis instrumentation, laboratories, and techniques for use by other projects,
provide training and oversight to other scientists in the use of geoanalytical hardware and software,
develop new geological standard reference materials that can are used by scientists to calibrate analytical instruments and monitor laboratory performance, and
maintain a specialized in-house chemical analysis capability for use in the characterization of new reference materials, and for use with outside funded projects on difficult-to-analyze sample matrices that are beyond the capabilities of the contract laboratory.

Relevance & Impact

The primary goal of this project is the continued development of new, state-of-the-art geoanalytical tools that can be applied to topical studies in geology, climate history, mineralogy, ecology, and biology. Therefore, the impact of this project is highly significant to integrated science activities across the USGS.

This project has participated in NOAA-sponsored sediment round-robin exercises for the past 9 years. Our geochemistry laboratories have consistently achieved high scores for both precision and accuracy, and for the past two years (rounds 13 and 14) we were the highest rated laboratory out of 30 internationally recognized geochemistry laboratories. (Ref: Willie, S., 2003, Sixteenth round intercomparison for trace metals in marine sediments and biological tissues: Prepared for the Coastal Monitoring and Bioeffects Division Office of Ocean Resources Conservations and Assessment, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

Several projects within the Mineral Resources Program utilize the sequential extraction techniques that have been developed in this project for the determination of mode-of-occurrence of constituents. This technique provides information on current and potential availability and mobility of chemical elements, especially those with possible ecosystem health effects such as arsenic (As). It will be applied to studies in (1) the Fairbanks As in drinking water project, (2) Warrior Basin As Project, looking at the residence of As in sediments related to coal and Au mining in the basin, (3) Alaskan biogeochemical studies looking at Cd and other trace element mobilities in mineralized and un-mineralized areas, and (4) Bangladesh As studies, looking at the mode of occurrence of As in sediments to assess sources of high As in drinking water wells.

Project Chief:

Paul Lamothe	Box 25046 MS 964 Denver, CO 80225	303-236-1923 Email Paul Lamothe


Mineral Resources	Eastern / Central / Western / Alaska / Minerals Information
Mineral Resources	Crustal Imaging & Characterization / Spatial Data