Full Chemical Analysis Data Description

Associated with one Subsample (and therefore also to one Sample).

REQUIRED FIELDS

SAMPLE NUMBER

  • Must correlate to existing sample in database. For information on uploading samples to the database see above.
SUBSAMPLE
  • Must correlate to existing subsample of the given sample number. See What is a Subsample? If a subsample has not yet been created, you may create one here, but you must provide a subsample type (see below).
MINERAL *This must be in agreement with minerals or mineral modes listed as present for the sample. If the analysis is a whole rock analysis, this field should read “whole rock”.

METHOD *Method of analysis, i.e. EMP, LA-ICPMS, SIMS, etc.

SUBSAMPLE TYPE – required to create subsamples at bulk upload

  • In order to create a subsample during bulk upload of chemical analysis, you must specify a type for the new subsample. Subsample types accepted: Thin section, Polished thin section, Rock Chip, or Mineral separate. Subsample type only needs to be specified for the first chemical analysis for a particular subsample in a list. For example, if you have 5 garnet analyses on a new polished thin section that you want to upload, you only need to enter “polished thin section” in the subsample type column for the first (topmost) analysis.
REFERENCE – required for published data.
  • Data that are published require a reference to the publication. MetPetDB uses the GeoRef assension number (the same as NAVDAT), which can be found from a GeoRef search.

OPTIONAL FIELDS

ANALYTICAL FACILITY

  • The analytical facility where analysis was performed. This can be the name of an institution or department.
ANALYSIS DATE
  • Must be a date in MM-DD-YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD or any shortened version (i.e. YYYY, or, YYYY-MM).
ANALYST
  • The name of the person who analyzed the sample. Preferred format: Lastname, First initial.
REFERENCE IMAGE
  • The filename of image on which the analysis location is referenced. The goal here is to allow the user to easily find an image showing the context of a chemical analysis, so please be sure to upload the reference image.
POINT
  • The analysis number. It should be unique to the subsample to allow differentiation between different points for a particular subsample.
X STAGE
  • The stage X-coordinate recorded by a microscope or microprobe. These are in microns.
Y STAGE
  • The stage Y-coordinate recorded by a microscope or microprobe. These are in microns.
ELEMENTS/SPECIES – at least one required
  • Headers should be different elements /species (e.g. CaO, SiO2, Mg).
  • UNITS – must be in second row and in proper format, (e.g. wt%, ppm)
  • Non numerical values can be used to indicate information about an analysis as in the table below:
Values for Elements/Species can be numeric or these abbreviations:
  • n.d. = not determined
  • (blank) = not determined
  • n.a. = not determined (literally not analyzed)
  • - = not determined
  • b.d. = below detection
  • b.d.l. = below detection limit
  • < (a value) = less than the specified value
PRECISION
  • Uncertainty of measurement (relative or absolute). Each precision column must refer to the preceding column of Elements/Species concentrations.
  • UNITS – must be in second row and in proper format, including –abs or -rel for absolute vs. relative.
TOTAL
  • The total weight percent of measured elements/species for this point. This indicates the completeness of the analysis to a user.
COMMENT
  • There may be any number of comment columns. You can input any type of description of the analytical strategy.

RE: Bulk Upload

For organization purposes, it is probably best to put separate types of information in separate comment columns, rather than strung together in a single comment. The key to using the comment field is to put in information that will describe the analysis, and will help others find it in a search.