Concentration of inorganic chemistry associated with suspended sediment at Muddy Creek below Paonia Reservoir, U.S. Geological Survey site number 385626107212000.

Dataset includes the analysis results of 49 inorganic chemical elements bound to suspended-sediment particles below Paonia Reservoir during a sediment release in September 2017. Suspended-sediment samples were collected at U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) station number 385626107212000 by following data collection procedures and protocols in Edwards and Glysson (1999). The samples were freeze-dried after collection and then decomposed using a mixture of nitric, hydrofluoric, and perchloric acids. The dried residue after acid digestion was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry following procedures and protocols in Taggart (2002). Reference samples of flue gas desulfurization gypsum were also analyzed to test for contamination during the freeze-drying process.

Edwards, T.K., and Glysson, D.G., 1999, Field methods for measurement of fluvial sediment: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, chap. 2, 89 p.

Taggert Jr., J. E., 2002, Analytical methods for chemical analysis of geologic and other materials: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-223, version 5.0, 20 p.