/geological-properties-database

Sites, samples, observations & results database

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 InternationalCC-BY-4.0

Geological Properties Database

One of the primary purposes of the Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ) is to improve the understanding of resource potential in Queensland.

GSQ creates, collects and provides geoscience data, information and advice on economic resources and seeks to develop an understanding of the geological properties of the State of Queensland, both at surface and in the sub-surface.

Important! - Semantic Sensor Network Ontology (SOSA)

The Sensor, Observation, Sample, and Actuator (SOSA) ontology provides a formal but lightweight general-purpose specification for modelling the interaction between the entities involved in the acts of observation, actuation, and sampling, the activity of which is called a "sensor". It assists with describing the relationships between database properties and entities. It is built upon the The Semantic Sensor Network (SSN) ontology, a framework for producing machine-processable representation of sensor capabilities, properties, observations and measurement processes.

The Geoproperties Database is based on the SOSA/SSN ontology. Understanding this ontology is key to understanding the Geological Properties Database. See Figure 1 (High-level Geological Properties data model) below for an example of applying this ontology GSQ's data. Items such as "isSurveyOf" and "hasResult" are SOSA/SSN terms describing the relationship between entities in the Geological Properties Database.

The Geological Properties Database

The Geological Survey of Queensland is creating a new Geological Properties database as the single source of truth for historical and new data. You may see it referred to as "GeoProperties" or simply "GeoProps".

Objectives of the Geological Properties Database

GeoProps streamlined several disparate legacy databases within the Queensland Government by coalscecing them into a single system. It provides a repository for new and legacy data and metadata submitted to the Department. It acts as a point-of-truth for much of the georesource data and metadata generated within Queensland.

Geological properties data model


Figure 1: High-level Geological Properties data model (Full model in Figure 2 below)

A plain English definition

We seek to understand the geological properties of a geological or administrative 'Feature'. We undertake a 'Survey' on the Feature at a 'Site'. The Site may comprise the whole Feature, part of the Feature, or may encompass and extend beyond the Feature. The Survey yields 'Samples' that may be physical, such as a drillcore, or non-physical proxies such as photographs. We conduct 'Observations' on the Samples or directly at the site using various procedures. The Observation yields 'Results' as measured values or qualitative descriptions. We interpret the set of amalgamated Results to understand the geological properties of the Feature.

The table below demonstrates how these database elements may relate to each other for different data types (Borehole, Geophysics, Geochemistry) with example information.

Borehole Geophysics Geochemistry
Feature Bowen Basin Queensland Mary Kathleen U Deposit
Site Well:
Fair Gully 1
Extent:
GSQ NWQ Gravity Survey 2020
Field Site GSQ-S01 (-20.744088, 140.013291)
Survey Wireline:
FG1-Run-200
Survey:
GSQ-Grav-2020-1
Sample collection:
GSQ-S01
Sample LAS File:
Fair Gully 1 MAINLOG.las*
Gravity Intensity Grid:
GSQ2020-A1 GravAn.gri*
Sub-Sample: Pixel (25736,4646)
Handsample:
HS035
-(processing: crush, split, seive)->
Sub-Sample: HS035-A1C-S80
Observation Density Log (490mMD) Gravity Intensity XRF uranium reading
Result 1.62 g/cc 9791197.22 ums-2 142ppm(U)

Note: While each observation and result can be recorded, in many cases the practical application will typically see a truncated record. For example all results in a wireline log can be recorded, but in practice the LAS file is likely to be linked as an associated file to the site and analysed in standard software for the interpretation of las files. The array data contained therein has more utility in specialised software packages than in a database.

Definitions

Geological Property

The observable or measureable properties of a geological or administrative Feature. The properties are derived from the combined insight of multiple Observations on a Feature as conducted by a Survey. Examples include, but not limited to: mineralogy, hydrocarbon potential, hydrological properties, stratigraphy, and geologic age.

Feature (Ultimate Geological or Administrative Feature of Interest)

Geological Features are spatially-bound entities that have properties of interest for commercial, environmental and societal reasons. They are discrete, complete and internally coherent entities upon which there exists a consensus for its prescribed existence. For example, a stratigraphic formation may be a Feature of Interest, which itself may sit withn a larger Ultimate Feature of Interest such as a geological basin.

Administrative Features are spatially-bound entities that are defined and managed by regulatory agencies. For example, the Queensland Government can issue a Resource Authority ("RA" or "Tenure") which prescribes the allowable work area for the resource company who holds that tenure. As multiple Surveys are conducted, Observations made, and Results obtained, the Tenure becomes the Ultimate Feature of Interest.

Essentially, the scale of investigation will determine the Ultimate Feature of Interest, which itself is a collection of sub-scale Features.

Site (Proximate Feature of Interest)

A Site is an entity or location within, wholly encompassing, or intersecting an Ultimate Feature that acts as a proxy to represent that complete (ultimate) feature. A Feature of Interest is proximate when it represents an ultimate feature, as opposed to being a discrete component of a larger feature. For example, an outcrop can be examined as a representitive of a formation, whereas a formation does not represent a whole basin but is a component of it. A Site may be a component of a larger Site, and may encompass or equate to the spatial boundaries of an Ultimate Feature of Interest.

Survey

A Survey is a singular time-bound event examining a Geological or Administrative Feature and describes the type of exploration, assessment, or processing work that produces Samples or Observations. It involves a group of activities, such as Sampling and Observations, that occur together and have a defined relationship, typically being conducted on a Site. For example, a resource company may decide to conduct three different surveys – geophysical, geochemical, and petrophysical – on a tenure they hold.

Sample

A Sample is an artefact produced that has enduring relevance and is a representative part of a Feature of Interest. It may be conducted as part of a Survey as part of sampling activities and is synonymous with "specimen" for physical artefacts.

A sample itself does not have to persist to have enduring relevance. For example, the Observations pertaining to a core plug or cuttings sample are still of interest even if the plug is destroyed, or cuttings are aggregated, or the sample is sub-sampled.

Samples may be original sample, sub-sample (where a sample is split into smaller samples), processed sample (where a sample content is retained but is processed to have altered properties), or duplicate sample (an identical sample).

Observation

An Observation is an act of carrying out a measurment using a procedure to estimate, calculate a value of, or describe a feature, site or sample. Observations differ from sampling in that sampling yields an artefact (for example, a physical specimen), whereas an observation yields a qualitative or quantitative Results (for example, a table of geochemical measurements for multiple elements).

Survey vs Observation - what's the difference?

For clarity, a 'Survey' is a singular activity that may be comprised of one or many actions, i.e. 'Observations' and 'Samplings'. Essentially, a Survey is a collection of observations, or an Observation Collection. For example, a 'Geophysical Observation Collection' may contain both magnetic observations and radiometric observations.

Further examples of Surveys and their potential Observations are shown below.

Survey Type Survey Method Observation Type Observation Method Observation Instrument
Seismic Ground 2D Seismic Vibroseis Geophone make, model
Seismic Marine 3D Seismic Air Gun Air Gun make model
Geophysics Airborne Electromagnetic VTEM VTEM instrument make model
Geophysics Ground Electromagnetic Moving Loop EM Moving Loop EM make model
Geophysics Airborne Gravity Gradiometery Falcon Einstein
Geophysics Ground Electrical DC Resistivity 10 kW Scintrex

Result

A Result is a description or a value, including a unit of measure, of an Observation performed on a Sample. For example, physical properites (concentration, mass, temperature), petrographic descriptions, geophysical measurements (gravity, magnetic field strength), petrophysical log measurements (gamma, density, resistivity).

Geological Properties Database Conceptual Data Model


Figure 2: Geological Properties Conceptual Model


Figure 2a: Geological Properties Ancillary Tables

Geological Property data elements

Data Element Remarks Source
Geological property ID A unique identifer System
Geological property name A textual name User
Geological property type Lookup to controlled list of property types Vocab
Geological property status Lookup to controlled list of status Vocab

Geoadmin Feature data elements

Data Element Remarks Source
Feature ID A unique identifer System
Feature name A textual name User
Feature type Lookup to controlled list of feature types Vocab
Feature status Lookup to controlled list of status Vocab
Feature relationship Records relationship between features User
Feature geometry Spatial representation(s) of feature WKT

Site data elements

Data Element Remarks Source
Site ID A unique identifer System
Site name A textual name User
Site description A textual description User
Site type A controlled list of site types Vocab
Site status Lookup to controlled list of status Vocab
Site status start date Date status active from xsd:date
Site status end date Date status set to inactive xsd:date
Site relationship Records relationship between sites System
Site geometry Spatial representation(s) of the site WKT
Site details Site-specific additional information User
Dataset link Links to related datasets including raw data Hyperlink

NOTE: A borehole is a specialised type of site. See the GSQ Borehole Database conceptual design. The Borehole Database is a component of the Geological Properties database.

Survey data elements

Data Element Remarks Source
Survey ID A unique identifer System
Survey title A textual name User
Survey description A textual description User
Survey type Lookup to controlled list of survey types Vocab
Survey method Lookup to controlled list of survey methods Vocab
Survey permit The permit(s) that survey was performed under Lookup
Survey status Lifecycle status of the survey Vocab
Survey operator Lookup to controlled list of organisations Lookup
Survey start time Commencement date xsd:date
Survey end time Completion date xsd:date
Survey geometry Spatial representation of the survey WKT
Survey access rights Controls user and system access to the resource Vocab
Survey details Survey-specific additional information User
Dataset link Links to related datasets including raw data Hyperlink

Samples data elements

Data Element Remarks Source
IGSN number A globally unique identifer ANDS IGSN minting service
Sample title A textual name User
Sample alias An alternative identifier for the sample User
Sample description A textual description User
IGSN object type IGSN registered object type IGSN Codelist
Sample alias Alternative sample label defined by sample collector User
Sample is result of The survey that yielded the sample User
Acquired by Lookup to controlled list of organisations Lookup
Date acquired Lookup to controlled list of organisations xsd:date
Sample method Controlled list of methods Vocab
Material type Controlled list of materials Vocab
Sample relationship Records sample relationship to original sample Vocab
Sampling allowed Indicates if further sampling is allowed Flag
Sample current location Records physical location of sample (e.g. at EDC) User
Current location Can link to EDC location --
Sampling allowed Flag --
Sample base Origin height QUDT
Sample top The top QUDT
Sample bottom The bottom QUDT
Vertical datum Australian Height Datum AHD
Coverage 3 letter country code (AUS) for IGSN ISO 3166
State State or Territory (Queensland) for IGSN ASGS
Access rights Controls user and system access to the resource Vocab
Sample details Sample-specific additional information User
Dataset link Links to related datasets including raw data Hyperlink
Sample geometry Spatial representation of the sample WKT

Observation data elements

Data Element Remarks Source
Observation ID A unique identifer System
Observer e.g. laboratory name (from org list) Lookup
Observation type Procedure or method Vocab
Observation date - xsd:date
Observation top - QUDT
Observation bottom - QUDT
Sample preparation Ideally a controlled list Vocab?
Job no Laboratory job/batch nummber User
Assay code Laboratory assay code Vocab
Observation instrument Ideally a controlled list Vocab?
Observation details Observation-specific additional information User

Result data elements

Data Element Remarks Source
Result ID A unique identifer System
Result type Geochem, hydrocarbons, biostratighy, geochronology? Vocab
Analyte Element, oxide, compound, or property that was determined or measured by the laboratory. -
Value Numeric or textual value QUDT
Unit of measure Controlled list of measures QUDT

See also

Licence

This code repository's content are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), the deed of which is stored in this repository here: LICENSE.

Contacts

Geoscience Information Team, Geological Survey of Queensland, Department of Resources, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, geological_info@resources.qld.gov.au