2004 pilot study data from the U.S. Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada, and Mexican Geological Survey for the Geochemical Landscapes Project. It provides major- and trace-element concentrations in soils across a 20,000-km area of northern California. The dataset was designed to test sampling protocols and establish baseline geochemistry for a region with diverse geology, climate, and land use.
Use Cases
- Map spatial distributions of trace elements like mercury or gold to assess contamination from historical mining activities.
- Analyze correlations between soil element concentrations and land-use types such as agriculture, forestry, or urban areas.
- Establish regional geochemical baselines for major elements to inform environmental monitoring and policy.
- Investigate relationships between soil chemistry and underlying geology or ecoregions within the study area.
Strengths
- Covers a 20,000-km study area representing diverse topography, climate, and ecoregions.
- Data collected by multiple national geological surveys (USGS, GSC, SGM) using standardized pilot protocols.
- Designed for high-resolution regional analysis following a lower-density continental-scale survey.
Limitations
- Specific sample count, row count, and measurement precision are unknown from the description.
- Data is from a 2004 pilot study and may not reflect current soil conditions.
- Geographic scope is limited to northern California, not the full intended continental survey.
Provenance
- Source
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), Mexican Geological Survey (SGM).
- Collection Method
- Regional-scale soil geochemical survey conducted as a pilot study for the Geochemical Landscapes Project.
- Time Range
- 2004
- Geography
- 20,000-km area of northern California, including the Sacramento Valley, Sierra Nevada, and urban centers like Sacramento.