Largest Ediacaran discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone,Marwar Supergroup,India: Their palaeobiological signi?cance

Ediacaran discs from the Jodhpur Sandstone of the Marwar Supergroup, Rajasthan, exhibit a wide size ranging from a few millimetres to 75 cm in diameter. Exceptionally large size of the discs in these rocks represent the largest reported so far from any Ediacaran assemblage. Although, larger medu-soid discs have been reported from USA, they are from the middle Cambrian and even younger rocks. Presence of microbial mats and weed-like structures with well preserved hold fasts and horizontal rhizome-like structures in association with some of these large-sized discs support their animal affinity, which probably feed on this weed-like vegetations. This association also supports their benthic habitat. Unlike the general trend of sudden increase in size of organisms in Ediacaran period and further decrease in size during Cambrian, these discs continued increasing in size in Cambrian also.     

Thermal expansion of kyanite at ambient pressure： An X-ray powder diffraction study up to 1000 ℃

The thermal expansion coefficients of kyanite at ambient pressure have been investigated by an X-ray powder diffraction technique with temperatures up to 1000 °C. No phase transition was observed in the experimental temperature range. Data for the unit-cell parameters and temperatures were fitted empirically resulting in the following thermal expansion coefficients: αa = 5.8(3) × 10?5, αb = 5.8(1) × 10?5, αc = 5.2(1) × 10?5, and αV = 7.4(1) × 10?3 °C?1, in good agreement with a recent neutron powder diffraction study. On the other hand, the variation of the unit-cell angles α, β and γ of kyanite with increase in temperature is very complicated, and the agreement among all studies is poor. The thermal expansion data at ambient pressure reported here and the compression data at ambient temperature from the literature suggest that, for the kyanite lattice, the most and least thermally expandable directions correspond to the most and least compressible directions, respectively.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115001152

The nature of crustal and lithospheric mantle evolution of the Archean shields as well as their subsequent deformation due to recent plate motions and sustained intraplate geodynamic activity, has been a subject of considerable interest. In view of this, about three decades ago, a new idea was put forward suggesting that out of all shield terrains, the Indian shield has an extremely thin lithosphere(w100 km,compared to 250e350 km, elsewhere), apart from being warm, non-rigid, sheared and deformed. As expected, it met with scepticism by heat flow and the emerging seismic tomographic study groups, who on the contrary suggested that the Indian shield has a cool crust, besides a coherent and thick lithosphere(as much as 300e400 km) like any other shield. However, recently obtained integrated geological and geophysical findings from deep scientific drillings in 1993 Killari(M w: 6.3) and 1967 Koyna(M w: 6.3)earthquake zones, as well as newly acquired geophysical data over other parts of Indian shield terrain,have provided a totally new insight to this debate. Beneath Killari, the basement was found consisting of high density, high velocity mid crustal amphibolite to granulite facies rocks due to exhumation of the deeper crustal layers and sustained granitic upper crustal erosion. Similar type of basement appears to be present in Koyna region too, which is characterized by considerably high upper crustal temperatures.Since, such type of crust is depleted in radiogenic elements, it resulted into lowering of heat flow at the surface, increase in heat flow contribution from the mantle, and upwarping of the lithosphereasthenosphere boundary. Consequently, the Indian shield lithosphere has become unusually thin and warm. This study highlights the need of an integrated geological, geochemical and geophysical approach in order to accurately determine deep crust-mantle thermal regime in continental areas.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111001083

Stable carbon isotope geochemistry provides important information for the recognition of fundamental isotope exchange processes related to the movement of carbon in the lithosphere and permits the elaboration of models for the global carbon cycle.Carbon isotope ratios in fluid-deposited graphite are powerful tools for unravelling the ultimate origin of carbon（organic matter,mantle,or carbonates） and help to constrain the fluid history and the mechanisms involved in graphite deposition.Graphite precipitation in fluid-deposited occurrences results from CO₂- and/or CH₄-bearing aqueous fluids.Fluid flow can be considered as both a closed（without replenishment of the fluid） or an open system（with renewal of the fluid by successive fluid batches）.In closed systems,carbon isotope systematics in graphite is mainly governed by Rayleigh precipitation and/or by changes in temperature affecting the fractionation factor between fluid and graphite.Such processes result in zoned graphite crystals or in successive graphite generations showing,in both cases, isotopic variation towards progressive ^l3C or ¹²C enrichment（depending upon the dominant carbon phase in the fluid.CO₂ or CH₄,respectively）.In open systems,in which carbon is episodically introduced along the fracture systems,the carbon systematics is more complex and individual graphite crystals may display oscillatory zoning because of Rayleigh precipitation or heterogeneous variations of 5’ C values when mixing of fluids or changes in the composition of the fluids are the mechanisms responsible for graphite precipitation.     

Biostratigraphy of a Paleocene–Eocene Foreland Basin boundary in southern Tibet

This study of the Paleocene–Eocene boundary within a foreland basin of southern Tibet, which was dominated by a carbonate ramp depositional environment, documents more complex environmental conditions than can be derived from studies of the deep oceanic environment. Extinction rates for larger foraminiferal species in the Zongpu-1 Section apply to up to 46% of the larger foraminiferal taxa. The extinction rate in southern Tibet is similar to rates elsewhere in the world, but it shows that the Paleocene fauna disappeared stepwise through the Late Paleocene, with Eocene taxa appearing abruptly above the boundary. A foraminifera turnover was identified between Members 3 and 4 of the Zongpu Formation—from the Miscellanea–Daviesina assemblage to an Orbitolites–Alveolina assemblage. The Paleocene and Eocene boundary is between the SBZ 4 and SBZ 5, where it is marked by the extinction of Miscellanea miscella and the first appearance of Alveolina ellipsodalis and a large number of Orbitolites. Chemostratigraphically, the δ13C values from both the Zongpu-1 and Zongpu-2 Sections show three negative excursions in the transitional strata, one in Late Paleocene, one at the boundary, and one in the early Eocene. The second negative excursion of δ13C, which is located at the P–E boundary, coincides with larger foraminifera overturn. These faunal changes and the observed δ13C negative excursions provide new evidence on environmental changes across the Paleocene–Eocene boundary in Tibet.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115000584

The spatial distribution patterns of surficial sediment samples from different sedimentary domains(shallow to deep-sea regions) of the eastern Arabian Sea were studied using sediment proxies viz.environmental magnetism,geochemistry,particle size and clay mineralogy.Higher concentrations of magnetic minerals(high x_(lf)) were recorded in the deep-water sediments when compared with the shallow water sediments.The magnetic mineralogy of one of the shallow water samples is influenced by the presence of bacterial magnetite as evidenced from the x_(ARM)/x_(lf)~(vs).x_(arm_/x_(fd)biplot.However,the other samples are catchment-derived.The high correlation documented for x_(lf).anhysteretic remanent magnetisation(x_(arm)) and isothermal remanent magnetisation(IRM) with Al indicates that the deep-sea surficial sediments are influenced by terrigenous fluxes which have been probably derived from the southern Indian rivers,the Sindhu(the Indus) and the Narmada-Tapti rivers.A lower Mn concentration is recorded in the upper slope sediments from the oxygen minimum zone(OMZ) but a higher Mn/Al ratio is documented in the lower slope and deep-sea sediments.Clay minerals such as illite(24-48.5%),chlorite(14.1-34.9%),smectite(10.6-28.7%) and kaolinite(11.9-27.5%) dominate the sediments of shallow and deep-sea regions and may have been derived from different sources and transported by fluvial and aeolian agents.Organic carbon(OC) data indicate a low concentration in the shallow/shelf region(well oxygenated water conditions) and deeper basins(increased bottom-water oxygen concentration and low sedimentation rate).High OC concentrations were documented in the OMZ(very low bottom-water oxygen concentration with high sedimentation rate).The calcium carbonate concentration of the surface sediments from the continental shelf and slope regions( 1800 m) up to the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge show higher concentrations(average = 58%) when compared to deep basin sediments(average = 44%).Our study demonstrates that particle size as well as magnetic grain size,magnetic minerals and elemental variations are good indicators to distinguish terrigenous from biogenic sediments and to identify sediment provenance.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000399

Using a Diamond Anvil Cell combined with micro Raman spectroscopy,the quantitative relations among Raman shifts,pressure and temperature were obtained for the vibration of O-H in H₂O-NaCl,C-O in CO₃^2-,S-O in SO₄^2- and C-H in n-heptane-cyclohexane.Based on the quantitative relationships obtained,it is possible to determine the inner pressure for single fluid inclusions and to further determine the isochore of the systems.It is not only helpful to obtain the forming temperatures and pressures of the enclosing minerals,but also to be able to provide information concerning the chemical compositions of the fluid inclusions.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001521

The Tarim Basin is a representative example of the basins developed in the northwest China that are characterized by multiple stages of heating and cooling.In order to better understand its complex thermal history,apatite fission track （AFT） thermochronology was applied to borehole samples from the Tazhong Uplift Zone （TUZ）.Twelve sedimentary samples of Silurian to Triassic depositional ages were analyzed from depths coinciding with the apatite partial annealing zone （～60-120 ℃）.The AFT ages,ranging from 132 ± 7 Ma （from a Triassic sample） to 25 ± 2 Ma （from a Carboniferous sample）,are clearly younger than their depositional ages and demonstrate a total resetting of the AFT thermometer after deposition.The AFT ages vary among different tectonic belts and decrease from the No.Ten Faulted Zone （133-105 Ma） in the northwest,the Central Horst Zone in the middle （108-37 Ma）,to the East Buried Hill Zone in the south （51 25 Ma）.Given the low magnitude of post-Triassic burial heating evidenced by low vitrinite reflectance values （Ro ＜ 0.7％）,the total resetting of the AFT system is speculated to result from the hot fluid flow along the faults.Thermal effects along the faults are well documented by younger AFT ages and unimodal single grain age distributions in the vicinity of the faults.Permian-early Triassic basaltic volcanism may be responsible for the early Triassic total annealing of those samples lacking connectivity with the fault.The above arguments are supported by thermal modeling results.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000036

The paper evaluates sensitivity of various spaceborne digital elevation models （DEMs）, viz., Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer （ASTER）, Shuttle Radar Topography Mapping Mission （SRTM） and Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010 （GMTED）, in comparison with the DEM （TOPO） derived from contour data of 20 m interval of Survey of India topographic sheets of 1 ： 50,000 scale. Several topographic attributes, such as elevation （above mean sea level）, relative relief, slope, aspect, curvature, slope-length and -steepness （LS） factor, terrain ruggedness index （TRI）, topo- graphic wetness index （TWI）, hypsometric integral （lhyp） and drainage network attributes （stream number and stream length） of two tropical mountain river basins, viz. Muthirapuzha River Basin and Pambar River Basin are compared to evaluate the variations. Though the basins are comparable in extent, they differ in respect of terrain characteristics and climate. The result.,; suggest that ASTER and SRTM provide equally reliable representation of topography portrayed by TOP（） and the topographic attributes extracted from the spaceborne DEMs are in agreement with those derived from TOPO. Despite the coarser resolution, SRTM shows relatively higher vertical accuracy （RMSE -- 23 and 20 m respectively in MRB and PRB） compared to ASTER （RMSE - 33 and 24 m） and GMTED （RMSE - 59 and 48 m）. Vertical accuracy of all the spaceborne DEMs is influenced by relief of the terrain as well as type of vegetation. Further, GMTED shows significant deviation for most of the attributes, indicating its inability for mountain-river-basin-scale studies.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115001322

Zircon U-Pb geochronology has become a keystone tool across Earth science,arguably providing the gold standard in resolving deep geological time.The development of rapid in situ analysis of zircon（via laser ablation and secondary ionization mass spectrometry） has allowed for large amounts of data to be generated in a relatively short amount of time and such large volume datasets offer the ability to address a range of geological questions that would otherwise remain intractable（e.g.detrital zircons as a sediment fingerprinting method）.The ease of acquisition,while bringing benefit to the Earth science community,has also led to diverse interpretations of geochronological data.In this work we seek to refocus U-Pb zircon geochronology toward best practice by providing a robust statistically coherent workflow.We discuss a range of data filtering approaches and their inherent limitations（e.g.discordance and the reduced chi-squared;MSWD）.We evaluate appropriate mechanisms to calculate the most geologically appropriate age from both ²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios and demonstrate the cross over position when chronometric power swaps between these ratios.As our in situ analytical techniques become progressively more precise,appropriate statistical handing of U-Pb datasets will become increasingly pertinent.     

The Muruntau gold deposit(Uzbekistan)——A unique ancient hydrothermal system in the southern Tien Shan

The Muruntau gold deposit in the Central Kyzylkum,Uzbekistan is one of the largest single gold deposits worldwide.Data available from the literature are reviewed with the aim to(1) integrate the present knowledge on this unique deposit from Russian and English literature;(2) show the considerable progress made in the understanding of the genesis of the Muruntau deposit during the last decades;and(3) point to problems still open for future research.Deposit formation occurred through a multi-stage process involving sedimentation,regional metamorphism including thrusting,magmatism with formation of hornfels aureoles and several stages of hydrothermal activity.According to recent knowledge,synsedimentary or pure metamorphic formation of gold mineralization seems unlikely.The role of granite magmatism occurring roughly within the same time interval as the main hydrothermal gold precipitation remains uncertain.There are no signs of interaction of matter between the magma(s) and the hydrothermal system(s).On the other hand,there was an intense,high-temperature(above 400 ℃)fluid- wall rock interaction resulting in the formation of gold-bearing,cone-like stockworks with veins,veinlets and gold-bearing metasomatites.Several chemical and isotope indicators hint at an involvement of lower-crustal or mantle-related sources as well as of surface waters in ore formation.Deposit formation through brecciation involving explosion,hydrothermal or tectonic breccias might explain these data.Further investigations on breccia formation as well as on the exact timing of relevant sedimentary,metamorphic,magmatic and hydrothermal events are recommended.     

A review of the ～1600 Ma sedimentation, volcanism, and tectono-thermal events in the Singhbhum craton, Eastern India

The Palaeoproterozoic–Mesoproterozoic transition (～1600 Ma) is a significant event in the Earth history as a global thermal perturbation affected the pre-1600 Ma landmasses. Like other cratonic blocks of the world, lithospheric thinning, sedimentation, magmatism, metamorphism and crustal melting/anatexis are associated with this significant geological event in the Singhbhum cratonic province of India. This paper is a review of sedimentological, magmatic and tectono-thermal events in the Singhbhum craton at ～1600 Ma. The Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic sedimentation and volcanism in the Singhbhum craton took place in a terrestrial intracontinental rift setting. The available geochronological data are indicative of late Palaeoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic tectono-thermal events in the Chhotanagpur Granite Gneissic Complex (CGGC), an east–west trending arcuate belt of granite gneisses, migmatites and metasedimentary rocks. A detailed multidisciplinary geo-scientific investigation of the Dalma volcanic belt and the area to its north (Chandil Formation) and further north in CGGC will enable us to constrain the extant surface processes and crust-mantle interactions, the collision events between the North and South Indian cratonic blocks, and the position of India in the Columbia supercontinent.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113000303

The Xinjie layered intrusion in the Panxi region,SW China,hosts both Fe-Ti oxide and platinum-group element（PGE） sulfide mineralization.The intrusion can be divided,from the base upward,into UnitsⅠ,ⅡandⅢ,in terms of mineral assemblages.UnitsⅠandⅡare mainly composed of wehrlite and clino-pyroxenite, whereas UnitⅢis mainly composed of gabbro.PGE sulfide-rich layers mainly occur in Unit I, whereas thick Fe-Ti oxide-rich layers mainly occur in UnitⅢ.An ilmenite-rich layer occurs at the top of UnitⅠ.Fe-Ti oxides include magnetite and ilmenite.Small amounts of cumulus and intercumulus magnetite occur in UnitsⅠandⅡ.Cumulus magnetite grains are commonly euhedral and enclosed within olivine and clinopyroxene.They have high Cr₂O₃ contents ranging from 6.02 to 22.5 wt.%,indicating that they are likely an early crystallized phase from magmas.Intercumulus magnetite that usually displays ilmenite exsolution occupies the interstices between cumulus olivine crystals and coexists with interstitial clinopyroxene and plagioclase.Intercumulus magnetite has Cr₂O₃ ranging from 1.65 to 6.18 wt.%, lower than cumulus magnetite.The intercumulus magnetite may have crystallized from the trapped liquid.Large amounts of magnetite in UnitⅢcontains Cr₂O₃（<0.28 wt.%） much lower than magnetite in UnitsⅠandⅡ.The magnetite in UnitⅢis proposed to be accumulated from a Fe-Ti-rich melt.The Fe-Ti-rich melt is estimated to contain 35.9 wt.%of SiO₂,26.9 wt.%of FeO^t,8.2 wt.%of TiO₂,13.2 wt.%of CaO, 8.3 wt.%of MgO,5.5 wt.%of Al₂O₃ and 1.0 wt.%of P₂O₅.The composition is comparable with the Fe-rich melts in the Skaergaard and Sept Iles intrusions.Paired non-reactive microstructures,granophyre pockets and ilmenite-rich intergrowths,are representative of Si-rich melt and Fe-Ti-rich melt,and are the direct evidence for the existence of an immiscible Fe-Ti-rich melt that formed from an evolved ferro-basaltic magma.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000334

The Musgrave Province developed at the nexus of the North,West and South Australian cratons and its Mesoproterozoic evolution incorporates a 100 Ma period of ultra-high temperature(UHT) metamorphism from ca.1220 to ca.1120 Ma.This was accompanied by high-temperature A-type granitic magmatism over an 80 Ma period,sourced in part from mantle-derived components and emplaced as a series of pulsed events that also coincide with peaks in UHT metamorphism.The tectonic setting for this thermal event(the Musgrave Orogeny) is thought to have been intracontinental and the lithospheric architecture of the region is suggested to have had a major influence on the thermal evolution.We use a series of two dimensional,fully coupled thermo-mechanical-petrological numerical models to investigate the plausibility of initiating and prolonging UHT conditions under model setup conditions appropriate to the inferred tectonic setting and lithospheric architecture of the Musgrave Province.The results support the inferred tectonic framework for the Musgrave Orogeny,predicting periods of UHT metamorphism of up to 70 Ma,accompanied by thin crust and extensive magmatism derived from both crustal and mantle sources.The results also appear to be critically dependent upon the specific location of the Musgrave Province,constrained between thicker cratonic masses.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987114000681

We present the disaster-forced biological evolution model as a general framework that includes Darwinian "phylogenic gradualism",Eldredge-Gould's "punctuated equilibrium",mass extinctions,and allopatric.parapatric,and sympatric speciation.It describes how reproductive isolation of organisms is established through global disasters due to supernova encounters and local disasters due to radioactive volcanic ash fall-outs by continental alkaline volcanism.Our new evolution model uniquely highlights three major factors of disaster-forced speciation:enhanced mutation rate by higher natural radiation level,smaller population size,and shrunken habitat size(i.e.,isolation among the individual populations).We developed a mathematical model describing speciation of a half-isolated group from a parental group,taking into account the population size(N_e),immigration rate(m),and mutation rate(μ).The model gives a quantitative estimate of the speciation,which is consistent with the observations of speciation speed.For example,the speciation takes at least 10~5 generations,if mutation rate is less than10~(-3) per generation per individual.This result is consistent with the previous studies,in which μ is assumed to be 10~(-3)-10~(-5).On the other hand,the speciation is much faster(less than 10~5 generations)for the case that μ is as large as 0.1 in parapatric conditions(m μ).Even a sympatric(m ~ 1) speciation can occur within 10~3 generations,if mutation rate is very high(μ~1 mutation per individual per generation),and if N_e 20-30.Such a high mutation rate is possible during global disasters due to supernova encounters and local disasters due to radioactive ash fall-outs.They raise natural radiation level by a factor of 100-1000.Such rapid speciation events can also contribute to macro-evolution during mass extinction events,such as observed during the Cambrian explosion of biodiversity.A similar rapid speciation(though in a much smaller scale) also has been undergoing in cichlid fishes and great African apes in the last several tens of thousand years in the current African rift valley,including the origin of humankind due to the radioactive ash fall-outs by continental alkaline volcanism.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000679

Quasi-integrity of continental crust between Mid-Archaean and Ediacaran times is demonstrated by conformity of palaeomagnetic poles to near-static positions between～2.7-2.2 Ca,～1.5-1.2 Ga and～0.75-0.6 Ga.Intervening data accord to coherent APW loops turning at "hairpins" focused near a continental-centric location.Although peripheral adjustments occurred during Early Proterozoic （～2.2 Ga） and Grenville（～1.1 Ga） times,the crust retained a low order symmetrical crescent-shaped form constrained to a single global hemisphere until break-up in Ediacaran times.Conformity of palaeomagnetic data to specific Eulerian parameters enables definition of a master Precambrian APW path used to estimate the root mean square velocity(v_RMS) of continental crust between 2.8 and 0.6 Ga.A long interval of little polar movement between～2.7 and 2.2 Ga correlates with global magmatic shutdown between～2.45 and 2.2 Ga,whilst this interval and later slowdown at～0.75-0.6 Ga to velocities of <2 cm/year correlate with episodes of widespread glaciation implying that these prolonged climatic anomalies had an internal origin;the reduced input of volcanically-derived atmospheric greenhouse gases is inferred to have permitted freeze-over conditions with active ice sheets extending into equatorial latitudes as established by low magnetic inclinations in glaciogenic deposits.v_RMS variations through Precambrian times correspond to the distribution of U-Pb ages in orogenic granitoids and detrital zircons and demonstrate that mobility of continental crust has been closely related to crustal tectonism and incrementation.Both periods of near-stillstand were followed by rapid v_RMS recording massive heat release from beneath the continental lid at～2.2 and 0.6 Ga.The first coincided with the Lomagundi-Jatuli isotopic event and led to prolonged orogenesis accompanied by continental flooding and reconfiguration of the crust on the Earth’s surface;the second led to continental break-up and instigated the comprehensive Plate Tectonics that has characterised Phanerozoic times.The Mesoproterozoic interval characterised by anorogenic magmatism correlates with low v_RMS between～1.5 and 1.1 Ga.Insulation of the sub-continental mantle evidently permitted high temperature melting and weakening of the crustal lid to enable buoyant emplacement of large plutons at high crustal levels during this magmatic event unique to Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic times.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000886

Six national-scale, or near national-scale, geochemical data sets for soils or stream sediments exist for the United States. The earliest of these, here termed the ‘Shacklette’ data set, was generated by a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) project conducted from 1961 to 1975. This project used soil collected from a depth of about 20 cm as the sampling medium at 1323 sites throughout the conterminous U.S. The National Uranium Resource Evaluation Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (NURE-HSSR) Program of the U.S. Department of Energy was conducted from 1975 to 1984 and collected either stream sediments, lake sediments, or soils at more than 378,000 sites in both the conterminous U.S. and Alaska. The sampled area represented about 65% of the nation. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), from 1978 to 1982, collected samples from multiple soil horizons at sites within the major crop-growing regions of the conterminous U.S. This data set contains analyses of more than 3000 samples. The National Geochemical Survey, a USGS project conducted from 1997 to 2009, used a subset of the NURE-HSSR archival samples as its starting point and then collected primarily stream sediments, with occasional soils, in the parts of the U.S. not covered by the NURE-HSSR Program. This data set contains chemical analyses for more than 70,000 samples. The USGS, in collaboration with the Mexican Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada, initiated soil sampling for the North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project in 2007. Sampling of three horizons or depths at more than 4800 sites in the U.S. was completed in 2010, and chemical analyses are currently ongoing. The NRCS initiated a project in the 1990s to analyze the various soil horizons from selected pedons throughout the U.S. This data set currently contains data from more than 1400 sites. This paper (1) discusses each data set in terms of its purpose, sample collection protocols, and analytical methods; and (2) evaluates each data set in terms of its appropriateness as a national-scale geochemical database and its usefulness for national-scale geochemical mapping.