US Radiometric Rock Age Database with Sample Locations
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Description
Over 18,000 records containing more than 30,000 individual isotopic ages for rock samples across the United States, compiled from published literature. The database was established by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 1974, with records compiled through at least 1991. It provides information on sample location, rock description, analytical data, age interpretation, and literature citations.
Use Cases
Map geological unit ages by analyzing the `sample location` and `age` fields to create regional geochronology charts.
Correlate rock types and ages by examining the `rock description` and `analytical data` columns for specific mineral or isotopic systems.
Trace published research sources using the `literature citation` field to find original studies for specific samples or regions.
Perform spatial analysis of age distributions by integrating `sample location` data into a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Strengths
Contains over 18,000 sample records with more than 30,000 individual age determinations.
Represents approximately half of all published radiometric ages for the United States through 1991.
Data is structured with fields for location, description, analytical data, age, and citation.
Limitations
Data compilation was largely halted after 1996, making the dataset temporally stale for modern studies.
The 18,000 records represent only about half of published US ages up to 1991, indicating incomplete coverage.
Original maintenance ceased in 1996, and subsequent updates or error corrections are unlikely.
Provenance
Source
United States Geological Survey (USGS), compiled from published scientific literature.
Collection Method
Manual compilation and entry of isotopic age data from published sources into a computerized database.
Time Range
Records compiled from literature published through 1991; database active from 1974 to 1996.
Freshness
null
Geography
United States, with a noted pilot program for the State of Wyoming.
Data is provided in legacy formats (*.mdb, *.xls) and a tab-separated text file; the organizational unit maintaining it was abolished in 1996. A non-relational subset file is provided for ease of use.