Survey Metadata

A detailed hydrogeochemical, stream sediment and biogeochemical survey was carried out in the northwestern part of the Bathurst Mining Camp in the Restigouche-Murray Brook area, New Brunswick.  A total of 429 sites were sampled during the summer of 1997 (water, sediment, balsam fir).  An additional 136 sites around the Restigouche deposit were sampled during the summers of 1995 and 1996 (water and sediment only).  Samples were collected at approximately 500 m intervals (100 and 200 m intervals around the Restigouche deposit) and were located at least 50 m upstream of roads and culverts to minimize anthropogenic contamination.  The data are published in Geological Survey of Canada Open File 3763.

Surface waters were collected in 125 ml pre-washed Nalgene bottles (cations and anions) and in an acid-washed 60 ml Nalgene bottle (Hg).  Sediments were collected from the active part of the stream in kraft paper bags.  Balsam fir sample sites were all close to those at which stream sediment and waters were collected.  At each site, 200-250 g of fresh twigs and needles were snipped from a single balsam fir tree.  Usually 5-7 twigs comprising 5-7 years growth provided the required amount of material.  This amount of growth was commonly 35-40 cm length of twig.