ALASKA GEOCHEMICAL DATABASE (AGDB)—GEOCHEMICAL DATA FOR ROCK, SEDIMENT, SOIL, MINERAL, AND CONCENTRATE SAMPLE MEDIA By Matthew Granitto, Elizabeth A. Bailey, Jeanine M. Schmidt, Nora B. Shew, Bruce M. Gamble, and Keith A. Labay 2011 U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 637 INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE READ ME FIRST! The primary format used to deliver the database found in U.S. Geological Survey, 2011, Alaska Geochemical Database (AGDB)—Geochemical Data for Rock, Sediment, Soil, Mineral, and Concentrate Sample Media, Data Series 637 is Microsoft Access. This database is made available in Access versions 2003 and 2010 to assure compatibility. The minimum system requirements needed to operate the database in Access are greater than those required to operate the database in Excel or ASCII. See MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS section below. Users running Access 2003 or older should use this database in version 2003, while users running Access 2007 or 2010 should use this database in version 2010. Download and install the Access database as suggested below. The AGDB is provided as files on a two-layered DVD as well as data downloads at the USGS publications website http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/637. In either version, this database is 3.45 gigabytes in size when uncompressed from the zip file. Even after compression, its size is considerable and utilization may prove cumbersome. The database is intended to be copied or downloaded to space on a hard drive. Follow these steps for optimum usage. 1. Decide whether files in Access version 2003 or 2010 are preferable. 2. Create folder "AGDB" on your hard drive. 3. Copy or download preferred version of the database files to folder "AGDB" on your hard drive. Unzip, if needed. 4. To create the link between the databases "AGDB" and "AGDB_Chem," open database "AGDB" on your hard drive. 5. Click on the tab "External Data" at the top of the window. 6. Click on the Access icon in the "Import & Link" section to the left. This brings up the popup box "Get External Data - Access Database." 7. Click on "Browse" and find the AGDB folder. 8. Double-click on the file "AGDB_Chem." 9. Click on the button "Link to the data source by creating a linked table," and click on "OK." This brings up the "Link Tables" popup box. 10. Click on "Chem," and click on "OK." The popup box disappears. 11. The link to "Chem" table in the AGDB_Chem database has been created. For more advanced functionality--not necessary, but useful--follow the remaining instructions. 12. Click on the tab "Database Tools" at the top of the window. 13. Click on the "Relationships" icon. This brings up the "Relationships" diagram. Maximize it. 14. Click on the field name "LAB_ID" in the "Geol" table box and drag it to the field name "LAB_ID" in the "Chem" table box. 15. This brings up the popup box "Create Relationships." Click on "Create." 16. Click on the field name "ANALYTIC_METHOD" in the "AnalyticMethod" table box (below "Geol") and drag it to the field name "ANALYTIC_METHOD" in the "Chem" table box. 17. This brings up the popup box "Create Relationships." Click on "Create." 18. Click on the Save icon in the upper left of screen to save the relationships created. This database was created in two other formats in order to facilitate wider usage for users who may prefer formats other than Access. Vigorous attempts were made to avoid inevitable data corruption caused by the reformatting of this database into other formats. The AGDB contains five relational datasets. These datasets comprise all of the data collected as part of the study and all of the data discussed in this report. From these datasets, seven geologic data tables and 26 analytical data tables were created of various sections of data. The seven "GeoData" tables each represent a unique dataset containing spatial, geologic and descriptive data. The 26 "ChemData" tables each represent a unique dataset containing analytical data gathered through the analysis of specific sample media and determined by certain analytic methods (media/method specific datasets). Though this is a certain advantage to the "flatfile" or spreadsheet user, it must be stressed that the parameters and criteria for these datasets were chosen by the database designer and may not meet the specific requirements of the spreadsheet user for geospatial modeling. A table of data field name definitions was also created from the datasets. The table Mnrlgy contains mineralogical data from 18,138 nonmagnetic heavy mineral concentrate samples. The database includes 9,666,206 results for 108,909 rock samples, 92,701 sediment samples, 6,869 soil samples, 7,357 mineral, and 48,209 heavy-mineral concentrate samples. These entries contain quantitative, qualitative, or descriptive measurements. Data definition is provided through the use of 880 unique parameters, or measurement types. DATABASE FORMATS .MDB/.ACCDB FORMAT The dataset in .mdb format may be accessed using Microsoft Access 2000, 2002, 2003, or in .accdb format using Microsoft Access 2007 or 2010. .XLS FORMAT The database in .xls format may be accessed using Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007 or 2010. Most of the Access datasets in the AGDB database were exported into Excel as 37 spreadsheets for use by the non-database user so that all of the data is presented in Excel spreadsheet format. From these datasets, seven geologic data tables and 26 analytical data tables were created of various sections of data. The seven "GeoData" tables each represent a unique dataset containing spatial, geologic and descriptive data. The 26 "ChemData" tables each represent a unique dataset containing analytical data gathered through the analysis of specific sample media and determined by certain analytic methods (media/method specific datasets). These 33 data tables were reformatted as Excel spreadsheets. Though this is a certain advantage to the spreadsheet user, it must be stressed that the parameters and criteria for these datasets were chosen by the database designer and may not meet the specific requirements of the spreadsheet user for geospatial modeling. The intended relationships between the spreadsheets and their fields (columns) can be best understood by consulting figure 2 in the manuscript that accompanies this report. ASCII FORMAT The database in ASCII flatfile format may be accessed using any text editor, but is best used by loading each flatfile into a relational database and re-establishing the links as shown in figure 2 in the manuscript that accompanies this report. METADATA Metadata provides information about the geospatial data such as its content, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data. Metadata has been provided (DS637_metadata) as .txt, .xml and .html files to facilitate use by various software programs. MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Macintosh OS • PowerPC G3 processor or higher. • Mac OS X v.10.2.8 or higher. • 1 GB of RAM. Additional memory is required for the database. A minimum of 3.5 additional GB is required. • 10 GB of available disc space. • 800 x 600 monitor resolution. Microsoft Windows Access or Excel 2010 • 500-MHz processor or higher. • Windows XP with SP3, Vista with SP1, Server 2003 with SP2, Windows Server 2008 or later, Windows 7 operating system. • 256 MB of RAM. Additional memory is required for the database. A minimum of 3.5 additional GB is required. • 4 GB available disc space. • 1024 x 768 monitor resolution. Microsoft Windows Access or Excel 2003 • 233-MHz processor or higher. • Windows Server 2003 or later, XP or later, Windows 2000 with SP3, Vista, Window Server 2008. • 128 MB of RAM. Additional memory is required for the database. A minimum of 3.5 additional GB is required. • 4 GB available disc space. • 800 x 600 monitor resolution. DISCLAIMERS This database, identified as DS 637, has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty, expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. Any use of trade, product or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also contains copyrighted material as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other than personal use must be secured from the copyright owner. These data are released on the condition that neither the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from authorized or unauthorized use. The USGS provides these data "as is" and makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in the data. The USGS further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter, whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user.