USGS Geochemical and Microanalytical Reference Materials Distribution Active

Please read the content of this site in its entirety as the process for obtaining USGS geochemical reference materials (GRMs) and microanalytical reference materials (MRMs) has changed. 

Thanks to all for your patience as we updated USGS Geochemical Reference Materials documents and processes to meet current science and administrative policies and completed an inventory of GRMs and MRMs. We are now distributing our current inventory of reference materials. Tables 1 and 2 below provide information on USGS reference materials that are available for order.

Ordering

Collaborators From a United States Federal Organization (Including USGS)

Please send an inquiry to g3grm@usgs.gov for details on placing orders.

All Other Collaborators

• USGS Facility Use and Service Agreement (FUSA)
  Before you can place an order, you must complete the FUSA form and email to g3grm@usgs.gov. Any agreements that were in place prior to October 3, 2022 are no longer valid. All collaborators must complete a new agreement. The new agreement may be valid for up to 5 years. The amount of time for the USGS to review and complete FUSAs varies and may take up to several weeks. Failure to fill out the agreement accurately and completely could result in further delays.
  Instructions for Section 7: The FUSA is a five year agreement. Estimate of the amount you expect to spend on USGS GRMs/MRMs over the next five years and enter this as the “not to exceed” amount in section 7.

• Geochemical Reference Materials Order Form
  Once you have been notified by email that your FUSA has been signed by the USGS, complete the order form. Specific instructions are provided on the first page of the form. Please adhere to the annual maximum units of each available reference material per collaborator listed in Tables 1 and 2 below. A valid FUSA number must be included on the order form and the contact and address on the form must match that on the FUSA on record. Email the completed order form to g3grm@usgs.gov.

• Payment
  You will receive an invoice for your order within approximately two weeks of receipt of your order form. Follow the directions on the invoice to complete payment via Pay.gov. Accepted payment methods through Pay.gov are bank account (ACH), Amazon account, PayPal account, and debit or credit card.

• Shipping
  Collaborators must provide a FedEx or United Parcel Service (UPS) account number on the order form to be used for shipment of materials (or arrange for alternate shipping). Orders will be shipped within approximately two weeks of payment receipt.

Tables of Reference Material Availability and Information

*Units of powdered GRMs typically contain approximately 30 grams of materials, but this may vary considerably.

**To preserve inventory for as many collaborators as possible, each collaborating laboratory is limited to the maximum units of each GRM or MRM listed per calendar year.

*The default unit of glass MRMs is approximately 0.7 to 0.9 grams of loose chip(s). There is limited supply of chip(s) mounted in 11 mm diameter epoxy plugs. If an epoxy plug is the preferred unit for a particular MRM, please include this request in the body of the email to which your order form is attached. 

**To preserve inventory for as many collaborators as possible, each collaborating laboratory is limited to the maximum units of each GRM or MRM listed per calendar year.