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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1995; v. 97; p. 25-32;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1995.097.01.04
© 1995 Geological Society of London

Database design

Database design in geochemistry: BGS experience

J. S. Coats & J. R. Harris1

Minerals Group, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
1 Nottingham City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, UK

The Minerals Group of the British Geological Survey (BGS) has been successfully using a relational database for over seven years to hold geochemical and related locational and geological data collected by the DTI-sponsored Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP) since 1972. Operational experience has shown that several problems and deficiencies of the database are the result of the lack of normalization of the original data model. A new data model, derived from analysis of the data collected by the MRP and other geochemical programmes, is presented and solves many of these problems. It is designed to hold all BGS geochemical data for the UK landmass and is currently being implemented. It is presented as a contribution to a wider debate on generalized data models for geochemistry.