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User's guide to the Radiometric Age Data Bank (RADB)

January 1, 1976

The Radiometric Age Data Bank (RADB) has been established by the U.S. Geological Survey, as a means for collecting and organizing the estimated 100,000 radiometric ages presently published for the United States. RADB has been constructed such that a complete sample description (location, rock type, etc.), literature citation, and extensive analytical data are linked to form an independent record for each sample reported in a published work. Analytical data pertinent to the potassium-argon, rubidium-strontium, uranium-thorium-lead, lead-alpha, and fission-track methods can be accommodated, singly or in combinations, for each record.

Data processing is achieved using the GIPSY program (University of Oklahoma) which maintains the data file and builds, updates, searches, and prints the records using simple yet versatile command statements. Searching and selecting records is accomplished by specifying the presence, absence, or (numeric or alphabetic) value of any element of information in the data bank, and these specifications can be logically linked to develop sophisticated searching strategies. Output is available in the form of complete data records, abbreviated tests, or columnar tabulations. Samples of data-reporting forms, GIPSY command statements, output formats, and data records are presented to illustrate the comprehensive nature and versatility of the Radiometric Age Data Bank.

Publication Year 1976
Title User's guide to the Radiometric Age Data Bank (RADB)
DOI 10.3133/ofr76674
Authors Robert Eugene Zartman, J. C. Cole, Richard F. Marvin
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 76-674
Index ID ofr76674
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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