What is WebGeochem?

WebGeochem is a simplified search engine that uses predefined queries to select and display geochemical data from multiple published DGGS sources.

The search engine has three main components:

• A search component allowing you to select specific sample types and analysis types of geochemical analyses.
• A secondary search component based on either geographic parameters or on preexisting compiled datasets.
• A resulting table of sample analyses.

User instructions for each component are provided below.

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What type of geochemical data does WebGeochem produce?

The data produced from your search criteria are "raw data":

• The data have not been averaged or normalized
• The data have been quality checked for analytical accuracy and repeatablilty
• The data are presented as they were received from the laboratory with full documentation when possible

WebGeochem provides you with raw data, so that you can perform any additional data quality checking, manipulation and secondary analysis on your own.

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Required Tools for WebGeochem

An internet connection and Web browser.

• At minimum we recommend Netscape 7.0
• Your internet browser options must have Java applets enabled. Click here for instructions on how to confirm or enable this option.
• With Internet Explorer or Netscape, the pop-up blocker must be disabled for this search engine to function properly. Click here for instructions.

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WebGeochem Search Philosophy

We recommend keeping your search criteria as restrictive as possible; the database will eventually contain more than 18,000 individual sample analyses. Broad search parameters could cause delays or problems in serving the data.

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Getting Started

Step 1: Sample Types

The sample type refers to the material sampled and how the sample was taken in the field by a geologist or other field crew member.

Select one or more sample types from the "Sample Type" drop-down list and click the Submit button.

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Step 2: Analysis Types

Analysis types are arbitrary groupings of individual chemical determinations, generally reflecting the suite of elements requested by the geologist and reported by the laboratory for each sample. Each type listed is a combination of the following:

• Major Oxide includes analyses whose concentrations are reported as oxide molecule weight percent, and include the many or all of the primary rock-forming cations Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, K, Na, Mn, Ti.



• Minor Oxide includes analyses whose concentrations are reported as oxide molecule weight percent, and include minor rock forming cations Cr and P.



• Trace Element includes analyses whose concentrations are reported as elemental weight portions of the total sample. When reported together with Major or Major and Minor Oxides, the analyses are generally high quality determinations used for petrogenetic studies. When reported without either oxide, the analyses frequently determine the concentration of valuable, toxic and/or indicator elements in a sample.



• Rare Earth Element includes analyses whose concentrations are reported as elemental weight proportions of the total sample, have determinations of at least six elements with atomic number between 57 and 71, and use a "research quality" analysis method such as INAA or ICP/MS.

Select one or more analysis types from the "Analysis Type" drop-down list and click the Submit button.

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Step 3: Narrowing Your Search

The third step provides the user with two choices:

• Geographic Area: You can choose from USGS quadrangles, USGS map sheets, GNIS Place Names, or define specific latitude and longitude values to find sample analyses.



• Preexisting Dataset: You can choose from pre-compiled groups of sample analyses according to publication, field project or thematic categories.

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Geographic Area Search

Upon choosing "Geographic Area," you will be prompted to select a type of geographic area by which to search for geochemical sample analyses.

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Search by USGS Quadrangles (1:250,000 scale)

The list of quadrangles at the top of the page indicates which quadrangles have geochemical data available. The number indicates how many samples are currently available that are located within the quadrangle.

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Search by 1:63,360 or 1:24,000 Map Sheets

The list of quadrangles at the top of the page indicates which quadrangles have geochemical data available. The number indicates how many samples are currently available that are located within the quadrangle.

Select a quadrangle by one of these methods:

• Click link of quadrangle name and number of samples
• Type full quadrangle name in the text box
• Select quadrangle from colored map

You will then be returned to the Main Page, where you can select a Map Sheet within the selected quadrangle.

If your results window is inadvertently closed, you must click the "Re-Submit Request" button to regenerate the query. Selecting another option from the map sheet drop-down list will also open a new search results window.

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Search by (GNIS) Area Place Name

The Area Place Name search allows you to search for geochemical sample analyses by USGS place names. It uses the bounding coordinates of the map sheet on which the place name is located in order to find sample analyses. After selecting the Area Place Name radio button, you must enter a full or partial USGS place name in the text field.

After clicking the Submit Request button, you will be provided a list of area place names that match your entry. Select one area place name from the list in order to view the geochemical sample analyses available for the place name. If the "Sample Count" column equals 0, this indicates that no sample analyses are currently available for the place name.

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Search by (GNIS) Point Place Name

The Point Place Name search also allows you to search for sample analyses by the same USGS place names, but allows you to customize the bounding coordinates by entering a specific search distance from the latitude and longitude of the place name. After selecting the Point Place Name radio button, you must enter a full or partial USGS place name in the text field.

After clicking the Submit Request button, you will be provided a list of point place names that match your entry. Select one point place name from the list in order to view the geochemical sample analyses available for the place name. If the "Sample Count" column equals 0, this indicates that no sample analyses are currently available for the place name.

After selecting a place name from the list where the Sample Count is greater than zero, you will be returned to main page to enter the distance from the point selected, to calculate an area in which to search for sample analyses.

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Search by Bounding Coordinates

After selecting Bounding Coordinates as the Geographic Area, you will be prompted to enter four coordinate values, two latitude values and two longitude values in decimal degrees. For most Alaska locations, the longitude values should be negative.

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Preexisting Dataset Search

Upon choosing Preexisting Dataset in Step 3, you will be prompted to select a type of dataset (publication, project or thematic dataset) by which to search for geochemical sample analyses.

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Search by Project

Select a field project from the drop-down list of available projects with geochemical data. PLEASE NOTE: These queries may take a long time due to the amount of geochemical data in a project.

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Search by Publication Number

Select a publication number from the drop-down list of available publications with geochemical data. PLEASE NOTE: These queries may take a long time due to the amount of geochemical data in a project.

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Search by Thematic Dataset

Select a thematic dataset from the drop down list of available datasets with geochemical data. PLEASE NOTE: these queries may take a long time due to the amount geochemical data in a thematic dataset.

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View Search Results

Once your search criteria have been submitted, the following window will pop up while your query is being processing.

A table of geochemical analyses matching your search criteria will appear in a new pop-up window, similar to the example below. In the top left corner of the table, the title bar will depict your search criteria. This title will change each time you make a new query. Your search criteria also appear in a list at the bottom of the table.

These search results as well as the "Documentation" tables are for viewing purposes only. Phase II of the DGGS WebGeochem Application will enable users to download these results in a table format.

The search results table has hyperlinks that open a new window to the documentation you will need for these geochemical results. They are as follows:

• Sample Documentation
• Analysis Reference Documentation
• Publication Documentation
• Geochemical Parameter Documentation

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Sample Documentation

After clicking on a sample from the Sample Identifier column, the Sample Documentation table will appear in a new window with the record you selected highlighted in LIGHT BLUE.

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Analysis Reference Documentation

After clicking on an analysis identifier from the Analysis Reference column, the Analysis Reference Documentation table will appear in a new window with the record you selected highlighted in LIGHT BLUE.

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Publication Documentation

After clicking on a publication number from the Citation column, the Publication Documentation table will appear in a new window with the record you selected highlighted in LIGHT BLUE.

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Geochemical Parameter Documentation

After clicking on a chemical species in one of the Geochemical Parameter columns, the Geochemical Parameter Documentation table will appear in a new window with the parameter you selected highlighted in LIGHT BLUE.

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Troubleshooting

Search Results and Documentation windows are not appearing

The search results should appear in a new pop-up window, separate from the main page. If your internet browser has pop-up windows blocked, then you will not be able to see the search results of your query. Please refer to the instructions on How to Disable your Pop-up Blocker.

No samples available

If your search results return the window pictured below, there are currently no samples loaded into the database that match your query. We are slowly loading new geochemical data into the database. There is a limited amount of data available in certain geographical areas. Please click on the "Database Status" link at the bottom of the main page to determine where we our in our data loading progress.

Contact Us

If you have any additional problems or questions, please email us.

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Enable Java Applets

Please follow these instructions to enable the Java applets on your browser.

Internet Explorer 4.x and 5.x

1. Select "Tools" menu and then "Internet Options".
2. Select the "Advanced" tab, and scroll down to "Java (Sun)".
3. Check the box next to the "Use Java 2" version
4. Next, select the "Security" tab, and select the "Custom Level" button.
5. Scroll down to "Scripting of Java applets".
6. Make sure the "Enable" radio button is checked.
7. Click OK to save your preference.

Internet Explorer 6.x

1. Select "Tools" menu and then "Internet Options"
2. In "Internet Options" dialog box select the "Security" tab.
3. Click "Custom Level" button at bottom. The "Security Settings" dialog box will pop up.
4. Under "Scripting" category enable "Active Scripting", "Allow paste options via script" and "Scripting of Java applets".
5. Click OK twice to close out.

Netscape 7.x

1. From the menu bar, choose "Edit" --> "Preferences"
2. Select the "Advanced" category
3. Check the box labeled "Enable Java"
4. Click OK to save your preference.

Netscape 4.x

1. From the menu bar, choose "Edit" --> "Preferences"
2. Select the "Advanced" category
3. Select "Certificates"
4. Check the box labeled "Enable Java"
5. Check the box labeled "Enable Java Plug-in"
6. Click OK to save your preference.

Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.5

1. Select the "Tools" menu then "Options".
2. Select the "Content" category
3. Check the box labeled "Enable Java"
4. Click OK to save your preference.

Close browser and reopen another browser window.

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Disable Pop-up Blocker

To disable the pop-up blocker for the DGGS website ONLY:

Internet Explorer 6.x

1. On the Tools menu, point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click Pop-up Blocker Settings.
2. In the Address of Web site to allow box, type the URL address http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us and then click Add.

Internet Explorer 7.x

Instructions coming soon, but click here for more information.

Netscape

1. On the Tools menu, point to Popup Manager, and then click Allow Popups from This Site.
2. In the top entry field, enter http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us and then click Add.
3. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. On the Tools menu, select Options.
2. Click on "Allowed Sites" next to "Block Popup Windows".
3. Enter "www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us" in "Address of web site" box.
4. Click Allow to add DGGS's web site to the exceptions list.

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About WebGeochem

The DGGS WebGeochem Search Engine was developed by a team of programmers led by John McCamish at the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Support Services, Land Records Information Section, Business Processing Unit. The Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Database project team, including Larry Freeman, Carrie Browne, and Susan Seitz developed the requirements for this application and the supporting database. The search engine operates using Java Server Pages and Java Servlet technology, which access the geochemical data via a JDBC connection to an Oracle database. Both the application and the database are hosted by the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. Additional information about the WebGeochem search engine and the database behind the application can be provided upon request.

Phase 2 plans for DGGS WebGeochem include (timeline still to be determined):

• A geographic search interface including map display of sample locations
• Area name searches (using boroughs, mining districts, etc.), which will return samples within the area of the mining district
• Download options for Search Results table and Documentation tables

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