Submission Guidelines
Data can be contributed to ECL in any format, but needs to be documented with relevant information regarding the analytical data quality. Please confirm that your dataset follows the below requirements and suggestions. Incomplete datasets will take longer to process and publish.
The EarthChem Library conducts a review for quality of sample and analytical metadata, not a review of geochemical data. The author of the dataset is responsible for ensuring geochemical data submitted to PetDB is quality data.
Data can be submitted for long-term archiving with DOIs in the EarthChem Library (ECL) Repository. Please review the ECL General Guidelines and Policies before submitting a dataset.
To ensure your geochemical tephra data is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) please document the following:
You must provide information regarding how your data were collected. The method template can be registered with a DOI once to document your laboratory procedures. It can be reused in future work by citing the DOI in the data template.
To catalog metadata and receive unique identifiers for samples that you own, please submit sample metadata for registration and sample cataloging in SESAR.
If you are not registering samples in SESAR, you must include the sample template in your ECL data submission to provide sample metadata.
Data templates are meant to facilitate and standardize data reporting.
Before you submit your data to the EarthChem Library, please ensure that you have the relevant method and sample information, as outlined above.
Create Your Dataset File
File Format
- If you are submitting tabular data it should be in an ECL template but must at the very least be in a .csv, .txt, or .xlsx file (not in .pdf, .docx, .jpeg, etc.). For more information on file formats please consult our file policies.
- We strongly recommend the use of data submission templates. Templates are available for various data types such as bulk analysis (majors, traces, isotopes), mineral analysis (in-situ analysis), and melt inclusion analysis. If a template does not yet exist for your data type, you may contact us about creating one at info@earthchem.org.
Data & Metadata
- All analytes, units, and technique, instrument and laboratory must be clearly stated and defined. Relevant standards, reference measurements, and additional information about instrument calibration should also be included when possible.
- Every analyte must be linked to a sample with a sample name and geospatial information (unless not applicable, i.e. experimental samples).
- We strongly recommend use of IGSNs (International Geo Sample Number) as persistent identifiers to identify samples. Obtain IGSNs by registering samples in the System for Earth Sample Registration (SESAR).
References
If submitting a compilation dataset, the ECL requires a reference sheet or tab with full citations of all referred publications.
