Distribution and abundance of arsenic and mercury in stream sediments and moraine debris, McCarthy quadrangle, Alaska

A geochemical survey was conducted in the McCarthy quadrangle Alaska, to identify areas containing anomalous concentrations of various metallic and nonmetallic elements. This study incorporates the results of analyses for arsenic and mercury from 426 and 424 stream sediment and glacial moraine debris samples collected in the quadrangle, and analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1961 and 1976 using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No analytical results for arsenic and mercury are available for stream sediment samples from the White River area, located in the northeastern part of the quadrangle. 

The accompanying map shows the distribution and relative abundance of arsenic and mercury in stream sediment and glacial moraine debris samples. Geochemical analyses have been grouped and are represented by symbols on a base map, which includes topography and generalized geology. The range of analytical values and the symbol that represents it are shown on the histogram. Graphical representation of analytical values on the map permits easy observation of any large variation resulting from separate or duplicate samples collected at the same or nearby localites.