A Database System for Geochemical, Isotope Hydrological, and Geochronological Laboratories

Abstract

We present a data model designed for laboratories in which many different methods are used. The main feature of the model is the recursive relationships of data records in the subsample table. This makes it possible to model all steps from the preparation of the sample to the final value and enables the raw data to be stored together with the final values, even if many preparation steps or many subsamples are involved. We show ways to adopt this basic model to laboratories with many years of data. The data model is extended to include laboratory records and attribute data, e.g. The geographical coordinates of the sampling site or links to the various projects for which the samples are used.