SESAR Metadata Quick Guide
This guide outlines the SESAR metadata fields. It contains definitions, examples, and related information..
- Use the buttons below to navigate to SESAR’s 7 metadata categories.
- SESAR uses controlled or suggested vocabulary lists, the complete list is available here.
- The Completeness Indicators are for fields which will increase the discovery and accessibility of your samples. See the section below for more information.
- ‘Related fields’ that are bold and underlined are required to accompany the current field. Non- bolded and underlined ‘Related fields’ are suggested to compliment the current field.
For more assistance contact info@geosamples.org.
Click here to download the excel version of the metadata guide. Last Modified May 18 2021
Metadata categories
Completeness Icons
SESAR uses icons to mark the presence of specific metadata in our catalog search results and on a sample’s metadata profile. Below is a list of the icons. Throughout this guide, the icons can be found next to the metadata fields they represent. See our FAQ page for more information.
| Metadata Completeness Indicators | |||||
| Field Searchable in Catalog | Geospatial location (Lat/Long) | Geological Age | Classification | Collection Method | Image Attached |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mandatory Fields
Fields that must be included in order to register a sample in SESAR.
| Sample type (Object Type) |
|
| Example |
Core; Individual Sample |
| Definition |
Object type of sample. If object type is Individual Sample or Experimental Specimen, user may elect to enter a sub-object type (see below). |
| Additional Information |
Controlled list (https://www.geosamples.org/help/vocabularies#object) |
| Related fields | Sub-Object Type |
| User Code |
|
| Example | IE9TS |
| Definition |
User code to be used as prefix for IGSNs to be assigned or assigned by user in the submitted batch template. |
| Additional Information |
Please supply the user code to be used to assign IGSNs. If user assigns IGSNs in the IGSN column, the user code must match the user code in the IGSNs. For example, if the user specifies IEMEG is the user code, any user-specified IGSNs must begin with IEMEG. If a user does not specify the user code to be used, a default user code belonging to the registrant will be used. |
| Related fields | |
| Sample Name |
|
| Example | TR-POW |
| Definition |
Collector’s sample name. |
| Additional Information | |
| Related fields | |
Description
Fields that describe the sample in terms of chemical and physical properties as well as age.
| IGSN |
|
| Example | IEMEG0001 |
| Definition | The International GeoSample Number of the sample that is being registered. |
| Additional instructions | Leave blank if you want SESAR to assign the IGSN. |
| Related fields | Parent IGSN |
| Release Date | |
| Example | 2018-03-15 |
| Definition | Date when sample metadata is publicly accessible and searchable. If null, defaults to date of registration (It is recommended to be null). |
| Additional instructions | SESAR strongly recommends that sample metadata become public within 2 years of sample registration. |
| Related fields | |
| Material |
|
| Example | Igneous>Plutonic>Felsic; Plagioclase |
| Definition | Taxonomy (formal classification) Formal categorization of sample. |
| Additional instructions |
Please use our controlled list |
| Related fields | Classification, Field name (informal classificaiton) |
| Field name (informal classification) |
|
| Example | Field name (informal classification) |
| Definition | basalt; amphibole; sea water |
| Additional instructions | Taxonomy (field name) Informal classification of sample. |
| Related fields | Material, Field name (informal classification) |
| Classification |
|
| Example | Classification |
| Definition | Igneous>Plutonic>Felsic; Plagioclase |
| Additional instructions |
Taxonomy (formal classification) Formal categorization of sample. Please use controlled list Rocks | Minerals | Biology |
| Related fields | Material, Classification |
| Sample Description | |
| Example | dredge with 50 pieces of basalt and mud |
| Definition | Free text to describe features of a sample such as its components, texture, color, shape, etc. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | |
| Other name(s) | |
| Example | TRPOW; T-PROW |
| Definition | Other name(s) used for the sample. |
| Additional instructions | Provide multiple other names in a semi-colon delimited fashion. |
| Related fields | |
| Sub-object type |
|
| Example | Thin section; Powder |
| Definition | More descriptive Object Type. This applies only to samples with Object Type set to Individual Sample or Experimental Specimen. |
| Additional instructions |
Please use our controlled list |
| Related fields | Object Type |
| Age (min) | |
| Example | 4.2 |
| Definition | Numerical value for the minimum age of a sample |
| Additional instructions | Must be a number |
| Related fields | Age (max), Age unit |
| Age (max) | |
| Example | 4.6 |
| Definition | Numerical value for the maximum age of a sample |
| Additional instructions | Must be a number |
| Related fields | Age (min), Age unit |
| Age unit | |
| Example | Ma |
| Definition | Unit for the age provided |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Age (min), Age (max) |
| Geological age |
|
| Example | Cretaceous |
| Definition | Age of a sample as described by the stratigraphic era, period, state, etc. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | |
| Geological unit | |
| Example | Coconino Sandstone; Fig Tree Formation |
| Definition | A body of rock established as a distinct entity in the classification of the Earth’s rocks, e.g. Supergroup, Group, Formation, or Flow |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | |
| Collection method |
|
| Example | Dredging; Manual |
| Definition | Method by which a sample was collected |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Collection method description |
| Collection method description | |
| Example | Hand sample collected from the top part of a large boulder |
| Definition | Additional information about the collection method |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Collection method |
| Size | |
| Example | 2×4; 45 |
| Definition | Size of the registered object, such as the dimension of a specimen, the length of a core, or the weight of a dredge |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Size unit |
| Size unit | |
| Example | cm; kg |
| Definition | Unit for the numerical value provided for ‘size’. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Size |
| Comment | |
| Example | inner core scrapings; split core |
| Definition | Free text to add any comments pertaining to the sample |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | |
| Purpose | |
| Example | Stratigraphic investigation; Geochronology |
| Definition | Free text to describe the collection purpose of the sample, e.g. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | |
Geolocation
Fields that assign the sample a geolocation and describe the location the sample is from.
| Latitude |
|
| Example |
5.89634 |
| Definition |
Latitude of the location where the sample was collected. (Coordinate system: WGS 84). (‘Start latitude’ for linear sampling features such as dredges.) Needs to be entered in decimal degrees. Negative values for South latitudes. |
| Additional Information |
Supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution). Please ensure that the cell value is no more than 6 decimal places and now just the display format. No letters are allowed. |
| Related fields | Latitude (end), Longitude, Longitude (end) |
| Latitude (end) |
|
| Example |
5.89222 |
| Definition |
End latitude of the location where the sample was collected. (Coordinate system: WGS 84) |
| Additional instructions |
Supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution). Please ensure that the cell value is no more than 6 decimal places and now just the display format. No letters are allowed. |
| Related fields | Latitude, Longitude, Longitude (end) |
| Longitude |
|
| Example |
-103.785 |
| Definition |
Longitude of the location where the sample was collected. (Coordinate system: WGS 84). (‘Start longitude’ for linear sampling features such as dredges.) Needs to be entered in decimal degrees. Negative values for ‘West’ longitudes. |
| Additional instructions |
Supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution). Please ensure that the cell value is no more than 6 decimal places and now just the display format. No letters are allowed. |
| Related fields | Latitude, Latitude (end), Longitude (end) |
| Longitude (end) |
|
| Example |
-103.285 |
| Definition |
End longitude of the location where the sample was collected. (Coordinate system: WGS 84). |
| Additional instructions |
Supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution). Please ensure that the cell value is no more than 6 decimal places and now just the display format. No letters are allowed. |
| Related fields | Latitude, Latitude (end), Longitude |
| Northing (m) | |
| Example |
4111279 |
| Definition |
Geographic Cartesian coordinate of where the sample was collected, in meters, as in UTM. “4111279” |
| Additional instructions |
To be geolocated in the SESAR system, latitude and longitude must be filled out. UTM coordinates can be specified for reference but will not place the sample on the map. There are several web tools for converting from UTM to latitude/longitude, such as http://www.earthpoint.us/Convert.aspx. |
| Related fields | Easting (m), Zone |
| Easting (m) | |
| Example |
305294 |
| Definition |
Geographic Cartesian coordinate of where the sample was collected, in meters, as in UTM. “305294” |
| Additional instructions |
To be geolocated in the SESAR system, latitude and longitude must be filled out. UTM coordinates can be specified for reference but will not place the sample on the map. There are several web tools for converting from UTM to latitude/longitude, such as http://www.earthpoint.us/Convert.aspx. |
| Related fields | Northing (m), Zone |
| Zone | |
| Example | 11R |
| Definition |
Zone for the geographic Cartesian coordinate “11R” |
| Additional instructions |
UTM zone, use a number from 1 to 60, followed by a letter between A and Z to specify UTM zone with no spaces in between. Letter must be capitalized. |
| Related fields | Northing (m), Easting (m) |
| Vertical Datum | |
| Example |
NAVD88; MSL |
| Definition |
Vertical datum used to calculate the elevation |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Elevation start, Elevation end, Navigation Type |
| Elevation start | |
| Example |
678.5; -4536 |
| Definition |
Elevation at which a sample was collected. Use negative values for depth below sea level. Minimum elevation if a range is provided for the elevation/depth below sea level. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Vertical Datum, Elevation end, Elevation unit, Navigation |
| Elevation end | |
| Example |
673.5; -4520 |
| Definition |
Elevation at which a sample was collected. Use negative values for depth below sea level. Maximum elevation if a range is provided for the elevation/depth below sea level. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Vertical Datum, Elevation start, Elevation unit, Navigation |
| Elevation unit | |
| Example |
meters; feet, miles, kilometers |
| Definition |
Unit in which elevation start and/or end are provided in. |
| Additional instructions |
Must be one of the following: meters, feet, miles, kilometers. Must be provided if elevation is included. |
| Related fields | Elevation start, Elevation end |
| Navigation Type | |
| Example | GPS |
| Definition |
Navigation type |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Vertical Datum, Elevation start, Elevation end |
| Primary Physiographic feature |
|
| Example |
volcano; mid-ocean ridge |
| Definition |
Type of physical feature that your sample was collected from |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Name of physiographic feature |
| Name of physiographic feature |
|
| Example |
East Pacific Rise; Dead Sea |
| Definition |
Name of the physiographic feature that you entered |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Primary physiographic feature |
| Location description | |
| Example |
flank of volcanic cone |
| Definition |
Free text description of the location |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | |
| Locality |
|
| Example |
Franklin Mine; Craters of the Moon National Park |
| Definition |
Name of the specific place where your sample was collected. This could be the name of a mine, a volcanic field, a vent field, or similar |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Locality description |
| Locality description | |
| Example |
On private land |
| Definition |
Additional information about the specific place where your sample was collected |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Locality |
| Country |
|
| Example |
United States |
| Definition |
Country where the sample was collected |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | State/Province, County, City/Township |
| State/Province |
|
| Example | Alaska |
| Definition |
State or Province where the sample was collected |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Country, County, City/Township |
| County |
|
| Example |
Bristol County |
| Definition |
County where the sample was collected |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Country, State, City/Township |
| City/Township |
|
| Example | Palisades |
| Definition |
City or Township where the sample was collected |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Country, State, County |
Collection
Fields that describe how and when the sample was collected.
| Field program/Cruise |
|
| Example |
TN182 |
| Definition |
Name or identifier of the field program (cruise or expedition), during which the sample was collected |
| Additional instructions |
For ship cruises, we recommend using the R2R Cruise ID at https://www.rvdata.us/search?tab=vessels |
| Related fields | |
| Platform type | |
| Example | Ship |
| Definition |
Type of platform for the cruise. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Platform name, Platform description |
| Platform name |
|
| Example |
R/V Roger Revelle |
| Definition |
Name of platform for the cruise. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Platform type, Platform description |
| Platform description | |
| Example |
Oceanographic research vessel |
| Definition |
Description of the platform for the cruise. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Platform type, Platform name |
| Launch platform name | |
| Example |
Alvin; Jason II |
| Definition |
The name of the launch used to collect the sample. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Launch type, Launch ID |
| Launch type | |
| Example | HOV |
| Definition |
The type of launch used to collect the sample. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Launch platform name, Launch ID |
| Launch ID | |
| Example |
3969; J2-434 |
| Definition |
Further identifying information about the launch |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Launch platform name, Launch type |
| Collector/Chief Scientist |
|
| Example | John Smith |
| Definition |
Name of the person who collected the sample. In case of larger field programs, name of chief scientist responsible for sample collection. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Collector/Chief Scientist Address |
| Collector/Chief Scientist Address | |
| Example |
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA |
| Definition |
Institution, address, & email of the collector or chief scientist. |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Collector/Chief Scientist |
| Collection date | |
| Example |
2015-03-31 |
| Definition |
Date when the sample was collected. |
| Additional instructions |
YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY-MM, or YYYY: for best results, format this column in the spreadsheet as ‘Text’. If only the year of collection is known, please enter, for example, 2015 and specify ‘year’ as the Collection date precision. |
| Related fields | Collection date (end), Collection time, Collection time (end) |
| Collection time | |
| Example |
12:05:03Z |
| Definition |
Time when the sample was collected. |
| Additional instructions |
HH:MM:SSZ, format this column in the spreadsheet as ‘Text’. If ‘Z’ is not specified, United States Eastern Time is assumed. |
| Related fields | Collection time (end), Collection date, Collection date (end), Collection date precision |
| Collection date (end) | |
| Example |
2015-03-31 |
| Definition |
Date when the sample collection was finished (if a date range is provided). |
| Additional instructions |
YYYY-MM-DD: for best results, format this column in the spreadsheet as ‘Text’ |
| Related fields | Collection date, Collection time, Collection time (end), Collection date precision |
| Collection time (end) | |
| Example |
13:05:01Z |
| Definition |
Time when the sample was collected. |
| Additional instructions |
HH:MM:SSZ, format this column in the spreadsheet as ‘Text’. If ‘Z’ is not specified, United States Eastern Time is assumed. |
| Related fields | Collection time, Collection date, Collection date (end), Collection date precision |
| Collection date precision | |
| Example |
year; month; day; time |
| Definition |
Precision to display the collection date and time. |
| Additional instructions |
If only the month of collection is known, please enter, for example, ‘month’ and enter the date in YYYY-MM format in Collection Date. |
| Related fields | Collection date, Collection date (end), Collection time, Collection time (end) |
Curation
Fields that provide information on where the sample is stored and how to contact the owner of the sample. Also contains fields for previous storage locations.
| Current Archive |
||
| Example |
Lamont Deep Sea Core Repository; Palisades, NY |
|
| Definition |
Name of institution, museum, or repository where the sample is currently stored. |
|
| Additional instructions | ||
| Related fields | Current Archive Contact | |
| Current Archive Contact | ||
| Example |
curator@ldeo.columbia.edu |
|
| Definition |
Address and/or email of the person who should be contacted for information about or access to the sample. |
|
| Additional instructions |
Email is not mandatory, but helps for communication about samples. |
|
| Related fields | Current Archive | |
| Original Archive | ||
| Example |
Oregon State University Marine and Geology Repository, Corvallis, Oregon
|
|
| Definition |
Name of institution, museum, or repository where the sample was originally stored. |
|
| Additional instructions | ||
| Related fields | Original Archive Contact | |
| Original Archive Contact | ||
| Example |
osu-mgr@oregonstate.edu
|
|
| Definition |
Address and/or email of the person who should be contacted for information about the sample’s original archive. |
|
| Additional instructions | ||
| Related fields | Original Archive | |
Relation to Parent
Fields used to show how child samples relate to their parent counterpart. For more information on hierarchical sample relationships see our FAQs.
Parent IGSN
| Parent IGSN | |
| Example | IEMEG0002 |
| Definition | The International GeoSample Number of the “parent” of the sample being registered. (The object this sample originates from.) |
| Additional instructions | Leave blank if a parent IGSN does not exist. |
| Related fields | IGSN |
| Depth in Core (min) | |
| Example | 0.001 |
| Definition | Minimum depth at which a sample was collected from its parent core |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Depth in Core (max) |
| Depth in Core (max) | |
| Example |
0.003 |
| Definition |
Maximum depth at which a sample was collected from its parent core |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Depth in Core (min) |
| Depth scale | |
| Example |
MBSF; cm |
| Definition |
Unit in which the depth is provided |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | Depth in Core (min), Depth in Core (max) |
Related URL of the Samples
Fields to capture URLs that can link to webpages that relate to the sample such as datasets produced from the sample, repository websites, and published manuscripts the sample was used in.
| Related URL | |
| Example | https://doi.org/10.1594/IEDA/999999 |
| Definition |
Related URL associated with the samples |
| Additional instructions |
Must be a valid URL (e.g., http://www.geosamples.org) |
| Related fields | Related URL Type, Related URL Description |
| Related URL Type | |
| Example | DOI |
| Definition |
Related URL type. Either DOI or Regular URL |
| Additional instructions |
Must be either ‘DOI’ or ‘Regular URL’ |
| Related fields | Related URL, Related URL Description |
| Related URL Description | |
| Example |
DOI for related published data |
| Definition |
Free text description of the related URL |
| Additional instructions | |
| Related fields | |