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Carbonatites of the world, explored deposits of Nb and REE

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Berger, Vladimir I., Singer, Donald A., and Orris, Greta J., 2009, Carbonatites of the world, explored deposits of Nb and REE: Open-File Report 2009-1139, Geological Survey (U.S.), Menlo Park, California.

   Online Links:

   • <http://mrdata.usgs.gov/carbonatite/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -123.749167

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: 127.1625

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 71.053611

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: -30.884167

3. What does it look like?

   <http://mrdata.usgs.gov/carbonatite/carbonatite-global.png> (PNG)

   Reduced-size image of the global distribution of deposits, (180 x 90 pixels)

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 2011

   Currentness_Reference: revision date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (60)

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude values are specified in decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System 1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS 84.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   main

   General descriptive information about the deposit

   rec_id

   Record ID.

   A distinct numerical identifier for the database record without further scientific significance. Integer values. Int of width 3.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	60
   Resolution:	1

   country

   Country.

   Name of the country where the deposit occurs. Textual values of no more than 28 characters.

   cntrycd

   Country code.

   Coded abbreviation combining the country and state or province. Textual values of no more than 4 characters.

   stprov

   State or Province.

   State or province, if known, where the deposit occurs. Textual values of no more than 24 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 12 records have no value for stprov.

   depname

   Deposit name.

   The most recent deposit name. Textual values of no more than 16 characters.

   altname

   Other names.

   Alternative names that have been used for the deposit. Textual values of no more than 20 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 38 records have no value for altname.

   includes

   Includes.

   The names of deposits that have been combined with the primary deposit as a result of the two-kilometer minimum separation rule. Textual values of no more than 16 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 58 records have no value for includes.

   latitude

   Latitude.

   Geographic latitude in decimal degrees, datum WGS84. South is negative, north positive. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-30.8841666666667
   Maximum:	71.0536111111111

   latdeg

   Latitude (degrees).

   Degrees of latitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-30
   Maximum:	71
   Resolution:	1

   latmin

   Latitude (minutes).

   Minutes of latitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-59
   Maximum:	59
   Resolution:	1

   latsec

   Latitude (seconds).

   Seconds of latitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 1 records have no value for latsec.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-58
   Maximum:	58
   Resolution:	1

   longitude

   Longitude.

   Geographic longitude in decimal degrees, datum WGS84. West is negative, east positive. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-123.749166666667
   Maximum:	127.1625

   londeg

   Longitude (degrees).

   Degrees of lontitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-123
   Maximum:	127
   Resolution:	1

   lonmin

   Longitude (minutes).

   Minutes of longitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-56
   Maximum:	58
   Resolution:	1

   lonsec

   Longitude (seconds).

   Seconds of longitude. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 1 records have no value for lonsec.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-59
   Maximum:	57
   Resolution:	1

   discdate

   Discovery date.

   Date the deposit was discovered. Textual values of no more than 11 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 27 records have no value for discdate.

   startdate

   Startup date.

   Date mining started. Textual values of no more than 18 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 38 records have no value for startdate.

   mintype

   Mineral type.

   Mineralogical subtype of the deposit, based on the dominant carbonate mineral composition and textural features. Textual values of no more than 41 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 1 records have no value for mintype.

   oreton

   Tonnage.

   Tonnage based on the total production, reserves, and resources at the lowest possible cutoff grade, in millions of metric tons. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 5 records have no value for oreton.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.03
   Maximum:	2898

   deptype

   Deposit subtype.

   Deposit type given in Cox and Singer (1986); all records have the value 10 for this field. Integer values. Int of width 2.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	10
   Maximum:	10
   Resolution:	1

   niobium

   Niobium grade.

   Niobium oxide grade in percent of oxide in the ore. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	2.86

   ree

   REE grade.

   Rare earth element oxide grade in percent of oxide in the ore. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	6.3

   p2o5

   P2O5 grade.

   Phosphorus grade as percent of oxide in the ore. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	25

   grade_src

   Grades.

   Reference sources used to determine grade values. Textual values of no more than 181 characters.

   depage

   Age of deposit.

   Quantitative age determinations for the deposit, indicating the method used and material dated, where available. Textual values of no more than 68 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 1 records have no value for depage.

   agemy

   Age (m.y.).

   Radiometric age reported in millions of years before the present based on measurements or midpoints of units from the geologic time scale. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	2047

   tectset

   Tectonic setting.

   Type of tectonic unit hosting the deposit. Textual values of no more than 196 characters.

   rocks

   Rocks in deposit.

   Rock types within the deposit and not reported on regional maps. Textual values of no more than 149 characters.

   rocksmap

   Rocks on map.

   Country rocks recorded both in the deposits and on a regional map, along with the geologic age of the rocks. Textual values of no more than 126 characters.

   ganguemin

   Gangue minerals.

   Gangue minerals present in the deposit. Textual values of no more than 279 characters.

   orebody_fm

   Orebody form.

   General form of the carbonatite intrusion or alkali-carbonatite intrusive complex. Textual values of no more than 140 characters.

   ore_a

   Orebody A-axis.

   Long axis of the two-dimensional projection of the ore body onto the surface, in km. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 14 records have no value for ore_a.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	18

   ore_area

   Orebody area.

   General size of the carbonatite intrusion or intrusive complex. Textual values of no more than 6 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 10 records have no value for ore_area.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.3
   Maximum:	1327

   ore_b

   Orebody B-axis.

   Short axis of the two-dimensional projection of the ore body onto the surface, in km. Textual values of no more than 5 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 14 records have no value for ore_b.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.3
   Maximum:	5.6

   alttype

   Alteration type.

   Type of alteration present. Textual values of no more than 59 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 5 records have no value for alttype.

   altwidth

   Alteration zone width.

   Width of the alteration zone, in km. Real numbers stored in double precision.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	2.5

   dep5km

   Deposits within 5km.

   Types of other mineral deposits found within 5km, values from Cox and Singer (1986). Textual values of no more than 22 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 37 records have no value for dep5km.

   dep10km

   Deposits within 10km.

   Types of other mineral deposits found between 5km and 10km away, values from Cox and Singer (1986). Textual values of no more than 16 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 56 records have no value for dep10km.

   comments

   Comments.

   Additional descriptive comments about the deposit. Textual values of no more than 1024 characters.

   Value	Definition
   (no value)	Information not available for this record. 7 records have no value for comments.

   minerals

   Mineralogy of the deposit as reported in scientific literature

   rec_id

   Record ID.

   A distinct numerical identifier for the database record without further scientific significance. Integer values. Int of width 3.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	60
   Resolution:	1

   value

   Mineralogy.

   Name of minerals reported as present in the deposit, without regard for their abundance. Most rock-forming minerals, such as feldspar, calcite, and quartz, are not included. Some variants of rock forming minerals that may be related to mineralization or alteration, such as Ag calcite, are included. Textual values of no more than 32 characters.

   ref

   Scientific literature consulted by the authors to characterize the deposit

   rec_id

   Record ID.

   A distinct numerical identifier for the database record without further scientific significance. Integer values. Int of width 3.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	60
   Resolution:	1

   value

   Reference.

   Papers and web sites that were used to describe the deposit. In a few cases unpublished sources were used. Textual values of no more than 400 characters.

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Berger, Vladimir I.
   • Singer, Donald A.
   • Orris, Greta J.

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Dan L Mosier
   U.S. Geological Survey
   345 Middlefield Road Mail Stop 901
   Menlo Park, CA 94025
   USA
   

   650-329-5050 (voice)
   mosier@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

Assist in the creation of descriptive and grade-tonnage models for mineral deposits to support a new national mineral resource assessment. The models used for such an assessment must be based on information that is available for undiscovered deposits, including lithology, age, structural features, and geophysical and geochemical anomalies that are visible on regional geologic maps rather than the detailed studies commonly carried out on deposits that are well known.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 07-Dec-2011 (process 1 of 1)

   Modified oreton field for record 34 (Ruri, Kenya) to 0.375 Mt in consultation with database author.

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none

Use_Constraints: none

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   USGS Information Services
   Box 25286, Denver Federal Center
   Denver, Colorado 80255-0046
   USA
   

   1-888-ASK-USGS (voice)
   1-303-202-4695 (FAX)
   infoservices@usgs.gov
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards or with the North American Stratigraphic Code. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Deposit locations with geologic and economic characteristics in format Shapefile (version 1.0) Size: 44 kilobytes
     Network links:	<http://mrdata.usgs.gov/carbonatite/carbonatite.zip>

     Data format:	Deposit locations with geological and economic characteristics in format WMS (version 1.1.1)
     Network links:	<http://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/carbonatite?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS&version=1.1.1>

     Data format:	Deposit locations with geological and economic characteristics in format WFS (version 1.0.0)
     Network links:	<http://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/carbonatite?request=GetCapabilities&service=WFS&version=1.0.0>

   • Cost to order the data: none

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 07-Dec-2011

Metadata author:

Schweitzer, Peter, N
Eastern Mineral Resources Team
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Mail Stop 954
Reston, VA 20192
USA

703-648-6533 (voice)
pschweitzer@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)