Schema quick guide
List of all SESAR metadata fields and their definitions
The following table lists all the metadata fields for user input in SESAR, as well as their definitions, examples of their use, and additional instructions. This information was previously available in the "Batch Registration Quick Guide."
General identifiers
SESAR Code
IEMEG; IENHR
Unique code given to a SESAR account and used as prefix for IGSNs.
You will be asked to select a SESAR code when preparing a batch template or registering an individual sample. If you assign IGSNs in the IGSN column, the SESAR code must match the SESAR code in the IGSNs. For example, if the user specifies IEMEG is the SESAR code, any user-specified IGSNs must begin with IEMEG. If a user does not specify the SESAR code to be used, a default SESAR code belonging to the registrant will be used.
IGSN
IEMEG0001
An IGSN (International Generic Sample Number), "is a globally unique and persistent identifier for physical samples. The core purpose of the IGSN ID is to enable transparent and traceable connections between research activities and objects, including samples, collections, instruments, grants, data, publications, people, and organizations" (DataCite). In SESAR, your IGSN includes your SESAR code + a string of numbers.
Leave blank or do not select IGSN for your batch template if you want SESAR to assign the IGSN.
Sample Name
TR-POW
The name given to a sample by a collector, collection manager, or other sample manager. This should be the primary name used for a sample.
Other names
TRPOW; T-PROW
Other name(s) used for the sample. May include catalog numbers, field numbers, etc.
Separate multiple names using a semi-colon.
Parent IGSN
IEMEG0002
The IGSN of sample from which your sample was subsampled.
Use only if your parent sample a) has an IGSN and b) was registered in SESAR. Use External Parent Name and External Parent Object Type if you have a parent sample that is not in SESAR. Leave blank or do not include in your batch template if a parent IGSN does not exist.
External Parent Name
RLP-1342
The name of the sample that is not registered in SESAR from which your sample was subsampled.
Leave blank if parent does not exist
Parent Object Type
Oriented core
The object type of the sample from which your sample was subsampled
Use Object Type vocabulary. Leave blank if parent does not exist
Release Date
2018-03-15
Date when sample metadata is publicly accessible and searchable.
If left blank, release date defaults to date of registration (recommended). SESAR only allows an embargo up to 2 years of sample registration.
Sample Description
Object type
Core; Individual sample
The type of sample being registered.
Please use Object type vocabulary
General material type
Rock; Fluid > Water
Broad category of substance that makes up the sample.
Material type
Malachite; Biological material > Organic biological material > Plant material
Formerly classification, this field is meant to capture one or more sub-material or more specific types of materials that make up a sample.
Field Name
basalt; amphibole; sea water
Colloquial or informal classification or identification of sample. Can include material or object type.
Please use "Other names" for field identifiers.
Sample Description
dredge with 50 pieces of basalt and mud; inner core scrapings; split core
Description of the sample. May include additional details about the sample's material type, textures, dimensions, reasons for collection, methods of collection, information about the sample context, etc.
Age (min)
4.2
Numerical value for the minimum age of a sample
Must be a number
Age (max)
4.6
Numerical value for the maximum age of a sample
Must be a number
Age Unit
Ma
Unit for the age provided
Age Description
age estimated based on radiocarbon dates
Qualifier to indicate if age assignment is exact, if there are know uncertainty bounds on numeric age, if age is questionable, etc.
Geological Age
Cretaceous
Age of a sample as described by the stratigraphic era, period, state, etc.
Geological Unit
Coconino Sandstone; Fig Tree Formation
A body of rock established as a distinct entity in the classification of the Earth’s rocks, e.g. Supergroup, Group, Formation, or Flow
Sample Size
2x4; 45
Size of the registered sample, such as the dimension of a specimen, the length of a core, or the weight of a dredge.
Size unit
cm; kg
Unit for the numerical value provided for ‘size’.
Purpose
Stratigraphic investigation; Geochronology
Brief explanation of why sample was collected. May include descriptions of field season, grant, research goals, etc
Sampling location
Latitude (WGS84)
5.89634
Latitude of the location where the sample was collected. Coordinate system: WGS 84. Needs to be entered in decimal degrees. Negative values for South latitudes. Field used for "Start latitude’ for linear object types or sampling features, such as dredges.
Please supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution) in the actual number (not just display format.) No letters are allowed.
Latitude end
5.89222
End latitude of the location where the sample was collected. Coordinate system: WGS 84 Used only linear object types or sampling features, such as Dredges.
Please supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution) in the actual number (not just display format.) No letters are allowed.
Longitude (WGS84)
-103.785
Longitude of the location where the sample was collected. Coordinate system: WGS 84. Needs to be entered in decimal degrees. Negative values for ‘West’ longitudes. Field used for ‘Start longitude’ for linear sampling features such as dredges.
Please supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution) in the actual number (not just display format.) No letters are allowed.
Longitude (end)
-103.285
End longitude of the location where the sample was collected. Coordinate system: WGS 84 Used only linear object types or sampling features, such as Dredges.
Please supply no more than 6 decimal places (meter scale resolution) in the actual number (not just display format.) No letters are allowed.
Northing (m)
4111279
Geographic Cartesian coordinate of where the sample was collected, in meters, as in UTM.
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.
Easting (m)
305294
Geographic Cartesian coordinate of where the sample was collected, in meters, as in UTM.
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.
Zone
11R
Zone for the geographic Cartesian coordinate "11R".
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.
Vertical datum
NAVD88; MSL
Vertical datum used to calculate the elevation.
Depth in Core (min)
0.001
Numerical value to record the minimum depth at which a sub-core sample was taken.
This field is used if the parent is a core.
Depth in Core (max)
0.003
Numerical value to record the maximum depth at which a sub-core sample was taken.
This field is used if the parent is a core.
Depth scale
MBSF, MCD
Depth scale or unit used for depth values.
Elevation
678.5; -4536
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.
Elevation end
673.5; -4520
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.
Elevation unit
meters; feet, miles, kilometers
Unit in which elevation start and/or end are provided in.
Must be one of the following: meters, feet, miles, kilometers. Must be provided if elevation is included.
Locality
Franklin Mine; west side of 1980–1986 lava dome
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
Locality description
on private land; 10 ft west of bend in river
Additional information about the specific place where your sample was collected
Primary location name
Mt. Saint Helens; Craters of the moon National park
Name of the broader location from which your sample was collected. This could be a mountain, a river, a national park, etc.
Location description
flank of volcanic cone
Free text description of the location
Country
United States
Country where the sample was collectedName of primary phyiographic feature
Province / state
Alaska
State or Province where the sample was collected
County
Bristol County
County where the sample was collected
City
Palisades
City or Township where the sample was collected
Continent
Antarctica
Continent where sample was collected
Sampling method
Cruise/Field program
TN182
An activity related to sample collection or stewardship. Includes cruises, field programs, expeditions, funded projects, etc.
For ship cruises, we recommended using the R2R Cruise ID at http://www.rvdata.us/catalog You can maintain your or your team's list of initiatives in MySESAR
Platform Type
Ship
Type of platform for the cruise.
Please use suggested list
Platform
R/V Roger Revelle
Name of the platform used to collect the sample (for example, vessel or drill rig).
Platform Description
Oceanographic research vessel
Description of the platform for the cruise.
Launch platform
Alvin; Jason II
The name of the launch used to collect the sample.
Launch ID
3969; J2-434
Further identifying information about the launch
Collector(s)
Natalie Raia; Annie Alexander
Name of the person who collected the sample. In case of larger field programs, name of chief scientist responsible for sample collection.
Sampling method description
Hand sample collected from the top part of a large boulder
Description of the sample collection method.
Sampling start date
2015-03-31
Date/time when sampling started.
Use UTC if available. HH:MM:SSZ, format this column in the spreadsheet as 'Text'. If 'Z' is not specified, United States Eastern Time is assumed.
Sampling end date
2015-04-13
Date/time when sampling finished.
Use UTC if available.
Sampling date precision
minutes, hours, month
Precision for sampling date/time (for example year, month, day, minute).
Collection time
12:05:03Z
Time when the sample was collected.
HH:MM:SSZ, format this column in the spreadsheet as 'Text'. If 'Z' is not specified, United States Eastern Time is assumed.
Collection date (end)
2015-03-31
Date when the sample collection was finished (if a date range is provided).
YYYY-MM-DD: for best results, format this column in the spreadsheet as 'Text'
Collection time (end)
13:05:01Z
Time when the sample was collected.
HH:MM:SSZ, format this column in the spreadsheet as 'Text'. If 'Z' is not specified, United States Eastern Time is assumed.
Curation
Availability
yes; no
Whether the sample is available for use
Collection type
Personal; curated
Whether the sample is stored in a personal or curated collection
Archive's parent institution
Smithosonian; University of Arizona
The name of the parent institution that houses a sample archive or collection
Current Archive
Lamont Deep Sea Core Repository
Name of institution, museum, or repository where the sample is currently stored.
Use GRSciColl if possible to select archive name — or add your archive to GRSciColl!
Current Archive Contact
curator@ldeo.columbia.edu
Address and/or email of the person who should be contacted for information about or access to the sample.
Sharing an email is not mandatory, but helps for communication about samples.
Original Archive
La Brea Tar Pits Museum; Laboratory of Tree Ring Research
Name of institution, museum, or repository where the sample was originally stored.
Original Archive Contact
curator@ldeo.columbia.edu
Address and/or email of the person who should be contacted for information about the sample’s original archive.
Personal collection storage location
KINS Lab, Harvill building
Description of the storage location for personal collections
This is a public field; do not share private addresses or information unless you wish to share it
Data & outputs
Related URL
https://doi.org/10.1594/IEDA/999999
Related URL associated with the samples
Must be a valid URL (e.g., http://www.geosamples.org)
Related URL Type
DOI
Related URL type. Either DOI or Regular URL
Must be either 'DOI' or 'Regular URL'
Related URL Description
DOI for related published data
Free text description of the related URL
Last updated
Was this helpful?