Quick Reference Guide

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This document is intended to be an easy-to-read reference the currently recommended terms of the Mineralogy Extension. This document is not part of the standard. It draws on the term names and definitions from the normative part of the standard and combines them with comments and examples that are not normative, but that are meant to help people to use the terms consistently. Comprehensive metadata for current and obsolete terms in human readable form are found in a list of terms document. List of files and types can be found in the Mineralogy Extension repository.

Required Classes
Class Label Required
geoext:ConstituentPart Constituent Part True
Required Terms
Term Label Class Required
geoext:constituentPartType Constituent Part Type ConstituentPart True
geoext:constituentPartID Constituent Part ID ConstituentPart True
geoext:materialEntityID Material Entity ID ConstituentPart True
geoext:name Name Name True

Mineralogy Extension

Chemistry

geoext:Chemistry geoext:measuredChemistry geoext:chemistryRemarks geoext:measuredFormulaSource geoext:mineralogicalAnalysisProtocol
Label Chemistry
Definition Properties that describe the chemical composition of a mineral
geoext:measuredChemistry Property
Label Measured Formula
Definition A concise expression of the chemical composition of a mineral that shows the number of atoms of each element in a molecule, their spatial arrangement, and their linkage to each other.
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • SiO2 (65.76), TiO2 (32.120), Al2O3 (2.21)
  • (Mg0.77Fe0.23)2SiO4
  • An6.4 Ab73.6 Or20
geoext:chemistryRemarks Property
Label Chemistry Remarks
Definition General remarks about the chemical and isotopic composition of a mineral
Material Scope Constituent Part
geoext:measuredFormulaSource Property
Label Measured Formula Source
Definition A list (concatenated and separated) of resources associated with the reported measured chemistry described specifically enough to allow anyone in the future to use the same resources.
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Novak, G. A., & Gibbs, G. V. (1971). The crystal chemistry of the silicate garnets. American Mineralogist: Journal of Earth and Planetary Materials, 56(5-6), 791-825.
geoext:mineralogicalAnalysisProtocol Property
Label Mineralogical Analysis Protocol
Definition The technique utilized to determine the chemical composition or crystallography of a mineral
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Wet Chemistry
  • X-ray fluorescence
  • Electron probe microanalysis
  • Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
  • X=ray diffraction

ChronometricAge

chrono:ChronometricAge chrono:chronometricAgentGeologicProcess
Label ChronometricAge
Definition An approximation of a temporal position (in the sense conveyed by https://www.w3.org/TR/owl-time/#time:TemporalPosition) that is supported via evidence.
chrono:chronometricAgentGeologicProcess Property
Label Chronometric Age Geologic Process
Definition The name of the geologic process associated with the chronometric age
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Igneous Crystallization
  • magmatic cooling

Conservation

geoext:Conservation geoext:treatments geoext:handlingRequirements geoext:damageRemarks
Label Conservation
Definition Processes, protocols, and techniques established for the purpose of the protection and preservation of a mineral or specimen
geoext:treatments Property
Label Treatments
Definition Description of any processes or curatorial actions taken specifically to mitigate damage
Material Scope Specimen
geoext:handlingRequirements Property
Label Handling Requirements
Definition A summary of the procedural requirements employed to preserve and protect the specimen during physical interaction
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Handle with gloves
  • Not to be taken ourt of storage medium
  • delicate
  • avoid contact with direct sunlight
geoext:damageRemarks Property
Label Damage Remarks
Definition A general description of any material changes to a mineral which is perceived to have negatively affected an item’s value-defining aspects.
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Due to oxidation and hydration of the pyrite in the coal, the sample has largley decayed to a coal powder with some larger coal pieces
  • Some terminations broken off
  • Attached label not legible (or torn, or covered)

ConstituentPart

geoext:ConstituentPart geoext:materialEntityID geoext:constituentPartID geoext:constituentPartType geoext:constituentPartProportion geoext:constituentPartRole
Label Constituent Part
Definition A physically discernable part of a compound specimen that has a distinct proportion and role relative to the parent object and a discrete determination based on physical and chemical characteristics. All parts of a compound specimen are unified through physical attachment or other unifying criteria.
Usage Note Specimens comprised of and defined by Constituent Parts unified through physical attachment or other unifying criteria are referred to as Compound Specimens
geoext:materialEntityID Property
Label Material Entity ID
Definition Globally unique identifier of the parent dwc:MaterialEntity. Establishes a relationship with an Material Entity record
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • 8fa58e08-08de-4ac1-b69c-1235340b7111
geoext:constituentPartID Property
Label Constituent Part ID
Definition A unique identifier for an instance of a ConstituentPart.
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • 8fa58e08-08de-4ac1-b69c-1235340b7111
geoext:constituentPartType Property
Label Constituent Part Type
Definition Term belonging to an upper-level, generalized classification scheme of geoext:ConstituentPart
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note The formal name assigned to a geoscience collection is traditionally based on the predominant Constituent Part Type of specimens in the collection or the field of science associated with the respective part type (e.g., Mineral Collection or Mineralogy Collection).
Examples
  • Mineral
  • Fossil
  • Rock
geoext:constituentPartProportion Property
Label Proportion
Definition The qualitative or quantitative fraction the geologic specimen is composed of the constituent part
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • 20%
  • minor
  • dominant
geoext:constituentPartRole Property
Label Role
Definition Specifies the relationship between a constituent part and its parent geologic specimen
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note The role defines the relationship between a constituent part and its parent compound object.
Examples
  • matrix
  • groundmass
  • phenocryst
  • xenolith
  • vein

GeologicContext

dwc:GeologicContext geoext:geologicProvince geoext:lithodemicUnit geoext:geologicEvent geoext:mineralSequence geoext:tectonicUnits
Label Geologic Context
Definition Geological information, such as stratigraphy, that qualifies a region or place.
geoext:geologicProvince Property
Label Geologic Province
Definition Extensive named region with a similar geologic history throughout or similar structural, petrographic, or physiographic features in which the dwc:Location occurs
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Coastal Plain
  • Piedmont
  • Blue Ridge
  • Colorado Plateaus
  • Basin and Range
  • Dalradian Metamorphic Belt
geoext:lithodemicUnit Property
Label Lithodemic Unit
Definition Geologic unit that lacks stratification, primarily comprised of intrusive, deformed, and (or) metamorphosed rock, and characterized by irregularly mixed lithology or highly complicated structural relations.
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Catalina Core Complex (named unit) igneous complex
  • injection complex
  • metamorphic complex
  • basement complex
geoext:geologicEvent Property
Label Geologic Event
Definition An identifiable event during which one or more geological processes associated with the formation of a geological specimen or act to modify an existing geological specimen.
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Sevier orogeny
  • Alleghanian orogeny
  • Alpine orogeny
  • Variscan orogeny
  • Waipounamu Erosion surface
  • Vredefort impact
geoext:mineralSequence Property
Label Mineral Sequence
Definition A list of minerals in a specimen ordered in a manner that illustrates the relative timing of mineral formation within a specimen.
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Sphalerite > Quartz > Pyrite
  • Calcite > Quartz > Sphalerite > Pyrite
geoext:tectonicUnits Property
Label Tectonic Units
Definition The combination of all tectonic unit names for the rock from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Upper Helvetic, Wildhorn Nappe Complex, Sublage Nappe

Hazard

geoext:Hazard geoext:hazardType geoext:hazardRemarks
Label Hazard
Definition Properties that describe sources of of potential damage, harm, or adverse health effects on something or someone.
geoext:hazardType Property
Label Hazard Type
Definition Term that belongs to a hazard classification scheme based on a set of unique characteristics and negative health outcomes.
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Carcinogen
  • skin irritant
  • radioactive
  • toxic
geoext:hazardRemarks Property
Label Hazard Remarks
Definition General remarks regarding the hazard type within the scope of the specific collection object
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • asbestos
  • slightly radioactive

Location

dwc:Location geoext:sampledFeature geoext:namedPlace geoext:isTypeLocality
Label Location
Definition A spatial region or named place.
geoext:sampledFeature Property
Label Sampled Feature
Definition The type of physical feature, both naturally-occuring and anthropogenic in origin, sampled during a sampling event (dwc:Event) at a dwc:Location
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • float
  • mine dump
  • mine/quarry pit
  • outcrop
  • erratic boulder
geoext:namedPlace Property
Label Named Place
Definition The full, unabbreviated name of a geographic location not otherwise categorized by a dwc:Location property that is naturally occurring or anthropogenic in origin within a historical, administrative, or cultural context in which dcterms:Location occurs.
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Susanna Mine
  • Craigleith Quarry
  • Red Cloud Mine
geoext:isTypeLocality Property
Label Is Type Locality
Definition Whether or not the dwc:Location is the same locality where the original material used for the formal definition of the mineral species originated.
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • True
  • False

MaterialAssertion

dwc:MaterialAssertion geoext:specimenDescription geoext:verbatimSize geoext:measuredWidthInMillimeters geoext:measuredHeightInMillimeters geoext:measuredDepthInMillimeters geoext:verbatimMass geoext:measuredMassInGrams geoext:mineralDescription geoext:maxCrystalDimensionInMillimeters geoext:associatedMinerals geoext:aggregateForm geoext:crystalHabit geoext:crystalForm geoext:twinningLaw geoext:color geoext:exsolutionTexture geoext:cleavage geoext:luster geoext:inclusions geoext:luminescence geoext:alterationDescription
Label Material Assertion
Definition An Assertion is a statement about an entity and the process by which it was ascertained. An Assertion can be made at one time and assert the state of something at another time. Examples: a measurement, an observation, an annotation.
geoext:specimenDescription Property
Label Specimen Description
Definition Comments or notes about the specimen (physical object) especially those that distinguish the specimen from similar materials in a collection
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Showpiece
  • Historically valuable
  • Extraordinary composition
  • Two generations of quartz
geoext:verbatimSize Property
Label Verbatim Size
Definition The verbatim size of a specimen as originally described in primary source material
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • 10 cm x 5 cm X 5 cm
  • largest diameter 16 cm
  • width 3 inches
geoext:measuredWidthInMillimeters Property
Label Measured Width in Millimeters
Definition Measured width of specimen reported numerically in millimeters
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • 10
geoext:measuredHeightInMillimeters Property
Label Measured Height in Millimeters
Definition Measured height of specimen reported numerically in millimeters
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • 5
geoext:measuredDepthInMillimeters Property
Label Measured Depth in Millimeters
Definition Measured depth of specimen reported numerically in millimeters
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • 2
geoext:verbatimMass Property
Label Verbatim Mass
Definition The original reported verbatim mass includes original units of measurement
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • 11.01 Lbs
  • 105.07 g
  • 2.45 kg
geoext:measuredMassInGrams Property
Label Measured Mass In Grams
Definition Mass of specimen measured in grams
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • 4994
geoext:mineralDescription Property
Label Mineral Description
Definition Comments or notes about the mineral instance, especially those that distinguish the mineral from similar materials in a collection
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Pink fluorite on quartz
  • Lengenbachite on sugar-grained dolomite
  • Epitaxial growth on kyanite
  • Doubly terminated quartz crystals
geoext:maxCrystalDimensionInMillimeters Property
Label Maximum Axial Dimension
Definition Maximum axial dimension of largest crystal measured in millimeters
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • 30
geoext:associatedMinerals Property
Label Associated Minerals
Definition List of secondary minerals associated with a mineral in a specimen
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • calcite
  • dolomite
  • baryte
geoext:aggregateForm Property
Label Aggregate Form
Definition Observable crystal shapes of an assemblage of minerals
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • radial
  • botryoidal
  • oolithic
geoext:crystalHabit Property
Label Crystal Habit
Definition A general term for describing the outward appearance of a mineral
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • isometric
  • tabular
  • fibrous
  • dogtooth
  • nailhead
geoext:crystalForm Property
Label Crystal Form
Definition Geometric shape of a crystal
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note Alternate definition: A crystal form is a set of crystal faces that are related to each other by symmetry.
Examples
  • cube
  • ditrigonal pyramid
  • scalenohedron
geoext:twinningLaw Property
Label Twinning Law
Definition Short description of any physically discernable twinning
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Dauphine twinning/Dauphine Law
  • Japan twinning/Japan Law
  • Brazil twinning/Brazil Law
geoext:color Property
Label Color
Definition The intrinsic color of a mineral under natural light
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note Color under natural light conditions
Examples
  • Blue
  • green
  • red
  • iridescent
geoext:exsolutionTexture Property
Label Exsolution Texture
Definition A brief description of textures formed by exsolution
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Ilmenite lamellae in olivine
  • Clinopyroxene lamellae along the (100) plane of orthopyroxene
  • Antiperthite exsolution.
geoext:cleavage Property
Label Cleavage
Definition Type of breakages along a plane of weakness, especially those parallel to crystal faces
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Extraordinary well developed rectangular cleavage
geoext:luster Property
Label Luster
Definition The reflection of light from the surface of a mineral, described by its quality and intensity
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Metallic
  • Glassy
  • Waxy
geoext:inclusions Property
Label Inclusions
Definition Short description of any inclusions present within a mineral that includes the phase and physical characteristics
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note Inclusions are defined as small foreign bodies (solid, liquid, or gas) within the physical bounds of a material commonly trapped during formation
Examples
  • Star-shaped rutile needles in quartz
  • Needles of tourmaline in quartz (blue quarz)
  • Fluid inclusions (liquid bubble and single crystal) in quartz
geoext:luminescence Property
Label Luminescence Description
Definition The type and nature of light emitted from the mineral upon receiving energy from an external source.
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Green fluorescence
  • Pink under short wave UV light
geoext:alterationDescription Property
Label Alteration Description
Definition A description of any observed changes in the composition of a mineral brought about by physical or chemical processes related to changes in the physical or chemical environment.
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • Dolomitization
  • Fenitization
  • Rodingitization

Name

geoext:Name geoext:catalogedName geoext:name geoext:nameIdentifier dcterms:language geoext:mineralNamePublishedIn geoext:classificationCode geoext:nameType geoext:nameConfirmationTechnique geoext:nameRemarks
Label Name
Definition The designation of a mineral by a linguistic expression including both informal (verbatim) and formal (classifications) types
geoext:catalogedName Property
Label Cataloged Name
Definition A human-readable lexical label assigned at the specimen level for cataloging and other administrative purpose
Material Scope Specimen
Examples
  • Quartz (var. Amethyst)
  • Calcite on Quatz
geoext:name Property
Label Name
Definition A human-readable lexical label assigned to a mineral includes both informal (e.g., variety, synonym) and formal (classification) forms
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note For linked data and semantic purposes, the classification name is the skos:prefLabel and all other informal names are skos:altLabel
Examples
  • Quartz
  • Smoky Quartz
  • Muscovite
  • Garnet Group
geoext:nameIdentifier Property
Label Name Identifier
Definition An identifier for the set of dwc:MineralName information. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • 8fa58e08-08de-4ac1-b69c-1235340b7001
  • https://api.mindat.org/minerals_ima/21
dcterms:language Property
Label Language
Definition Language of the name
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • en
geoext:mineralNamePublishedIn Property
Label Mineral Name Published In
Definition A reference to the publication in which the name is derived, provided as formal citations or URI to an external resources
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note The term 'mineral' is prepended to term in order to distinguish them from similarly named terms in Darwin Core
Examples
  • Strunz
  • H. & Nickel
  • E.H. (2001): Strunz mineralogical tables. Schweizerbart
  • Stuttgart
  • 869 p.
  • Gaines
  • R.V.
  • Skinner
  • H.C.
  • Foord
  • E.E.
  • Mason
  • B.
  • Rosenzweig
  • A. (1997): Dana’s new mineralogy. Wiley & Sons
  • New York
  • 1819 p.
geoext:classificationCode Property
Label Classification Code
Definition Alphanumeric pattern that adheres to a defined encoding scheme that identifies a particular term in a classification scheme
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note Classification codes conform to a specific pattern specific to the scheme. See xkos:notationPattern
Examples
  • 71.02.02a.01
  • 9.AD.25
geoext:nameType Property
Label Name Type
Definition A term belonging a categorization scheme for organizing names based on usage and concept lineage
Material Scope Constituent Part
Usage Note Best suited for enumerated domains, but careful quantification is challenging with very specific definitions.
Examples
  • Variety
  • Synonym
  • Classification
  • Historical
  • Group Name
geoext:nameConfirmationTechnique Property
Label Name Confirmation Technique
Definition Analytical technique utlized to confirm the identity of a mineral
Material Scope Constituent Part
Examples
  • X-ray Diffraction
  • Raman Spectroscopy
geoext:nameRemarks Property
Label Name Remarks
Definition Statements that provide further information on any part of a mineral name, especially information not captured elsewhere in the mineral name class
Material Scope Constituent Part