Sample Object

REQUIRED FIELDS

SAMPLE NUMBER

  • Each sample name must be unique to the sample owner. That is, there may be more than one sample with a specific number (e.g. 93-24) but only one sample with a particular owner can have this number.
ROCK TYPE - PRIMARY
  • This is not an exercise in taxonomy. However, every rock in the database must have a name. The " Rock Type - Primary" must be from list of rock types (see Appendix A). Additionally, multiple rock names are not only permitted, but encouraged (simply add an additional rock names as "Rock Type – Supplemental" – see below). However, a single rock type is required. The list in Appendix A is largely from the British Geological Survey's recommendations.
LATITUDE
  • Must be between -90 and 90 (negative for south). Units are decimal degrees (DD.DDDDD). For notes on converting to decimal degrees see Appendix B. Note that five (5) decimal places corresponds to roughly 1 meter spatial resolution.
LONGITUDE
  • Must be between -180 and 180 (negative for west). Units are decimal degrees (DD.DDDDD). For notes on converting to decimal degrees see Appendix B.
REFERENCE – required for published data.
  • Data that are published require a reference to the publication. MetPetDB uses the year and the GeoRef assension number (the same as NAVDAT), which can be found from a GeoRef search. For example, “1983-018415”.

OPTIONAL FIELDS

LATITUDE ERROR

  • Units are in meters
  • Latitude and longitude errors are an optional field for samples that are not well located.
LONGITUDE ERROR
  • Units are in meters
  • Latitude and longitude errors are an optional field for samples that are not well located.
IGSN
  • IGSN (International Geological Sample Numbers) are unique identifiers that are created by SESAR (System for Earth SAmple Registration http://www.geosamples.org/). You must register your samples to obtain an IGSN. If you have an IGSN you can enter it here. We plan to have a tool for automatic sample registration through MetPetDB in the future.
REGION
  • This is the region from which the sample was collected. It can be any text you choose and there can be any number of regions. Regions can be geographic (e.g. Alps, Valhalla Complex, Raging River Valley, Pine Island) or political (e.g. Vermont, Cooke County).
  • When specifying multiple regions, put each distinct region in a separate spreadsheet column. Each column should be headed by the word "Region".
  • Also: you may want to look through the database to see if your region already exists.
COUNTRY
  • Where sample was collected. Pretty obvious, except where countries change names or the boundaries change. For consistency, input the country of collection at the time the sample was collected.
ALIAS (alternate sample number)
  • In some cases the same rock sample has been referred to by different sample numbers. These are sample aliases. * There can be any number of aliases.
COLLECTOR
  • The name of the person who collected the sample. Preferred format: Lastname, First name middle initial.
DATE OF COLLECTION
  • Must be a date in MM-DD-YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD or a shortened version (i.e. YYYY, or, YYYY-MM).
PRESENT SAMPLE LOCATION
  • Institution, department, or lab where the sample currently resides (in case someone wishes to find the sample).
GRADE
  • This is the grade of metamorphism. The grade must be from the list of metamorphic grades. Alternate descriptions of the metamorphic grade are encouraged, and should included as "Comments".
ROCK TYPE – SUPPLEMENTAL
  • Additional rock type beyond the primary rock type or name. There may be as many supplemental
rock types as you want, and you may use any name you like.

COMMENT

  • There may be any number of comment columns. You can input alternate rock names or alternate descriptions of the metamorphic grade (or anything else) as comments.
MINERALS PRESENT and MINERAL MODES

A list of minerals present in the sample and, if available, the modes of the minerals are very useful information. For an individual spreadsheet, the format is to

  • (1) Put the name of a specific mineral as the column header. Headers must be from LIST OF MINERALS.
  • (2) If the mineral is present but the mode is unknown, put "x" in the field
  • (3) If the mineral is present and the mode is known, put the mode in the field (note: modes typically sum to 100%).
  • (4) If the mineral is not present, leave the field blank.
For example, for a suite of schists, this part of the spreadsheet might look like this:
QuartzPlagioclaseMuscoviteBiotiteGarnetChloriteIlmeniteZirconStauroliteKyanite
xxxxxxx   
3053020101   
xxx20x<1?x  
xxxxxxxx  

Any text or number field is permissible and signifies a mineral is present. Common usage included

  • (1) A number (= mode)
  • (2) < or > a number
  • (3) x = present
  • (4) ? = may be present
  • (5) t = present in trace amounts

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 sample, and will help others find it in a search.