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Manual - MineralDB

1. 36 5 Finding a Particular Locality 37 6 Exporting a Locality to a Specimen Record 37 Part VI Mineral Image Database 39 U C nur 40 2 Deleting a Specimen Image 42 3 Update Personal Image Records esce nnm 42 Part VII Personal Collection Database 45 EOM MEER 45 Specimen Details Subfonm 47 2 About the Catalogue 48 3 Inserting a New Record nennen nennen nn nn 49 4 Editing an Existing Record nennen nennen nn nn 49 5 Adding Information a dam an dX anni 50 Entering Locality Information sonen ausin anoue eei manos sores sense eese anna seus sens tutes anne sense a saves seen nenn se 50 Importing from the Locality Database 00 0020 00000 seres senos tata asar conse nase taut nones anno anne san 50 Why use the Locality Database eee sueno conos asno tunt tanto cases tutae cease case
2. Mineral Identification Tools 63 Mineral Identification Form esses nn nun nnnun nun rn nr rn nn man nun 63 Specifying Queries ae anne asia 63 Running and Reseting 64 Database Maintenance 66 Collection Manager Creating a New Collection Database isinsi tannu tanei ci ana ei rc dcir 67 Updating Peronal Collection Info 5 ae 67 Opening Collection ssis ic uiro iios ie e po A a O HERE sive cede hang Renaming Collection u 0 M Deleting a Collection sy Rn aos Restoring a Collection Exporting Collection Data Compacting and Repairing Database Files 70 Configuring Database Paths 71 Language Suppolt ici a tee 72 Glossary 74 Physical Properties Cleavage Colour Density Feel Fracture Hardness Luminescence Luster Magnetism Odour Reflectance Streak Tarnish Taste Tenacity Transparency Optical Properties u nn aa
3. AN MineralDB Mineral Properties Mineral Localities Database Database ELECTRONIC REFERENCE SPECIMEN LOCAILITIES LOCALITY REPORTS MINERAL IDENTIFICATION The information in the database is retrieved to display details of mineral specimens mineral species and localities This can take the form of the main program display screens or specific reports generated from searches and filters specified by the user Program Versions MineralDB comes in four versions e Demo e Lite e Standard e Professional The demo version is free It contains almost full set of standard features but is limited to an pre configured example set of 50 minerals This enables most of the features of the program to be tested but makes the program small enough to be downloaded 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved MineralDB Printing and multiple database files are disabled in this version The lite version has a restricted set of features and is limited to a concise mineral list of the most common 500 mineral species This version would be adequate to those new to mineral collecting The standard version contains the complete database full set of reports filters and mineral identification tools The professional version contains all the features of the standard version but also enables the user to edit information and add new minerals to the database The program will al
4. Index Status lt Storage Loc lt Country Location Text Keywords WIS 5 Catalogue Date lt lt lt lt lt Date Client Transaction Date Custom Reports The professional version of MineralDB allows the user to edit certain aspects of the reports 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 63 MineralDB 9 Mineral Identification Tools 9 1 Mineral Identification Form Mineral Identification Please Select Query Transparency hd Quer Trarapaeency between Transparent and Trarctcert Display Revelts X Accwacy 40 The mineral identification facility allows the user to search the combined mineral and locality databases for specific records based on queries defined by the user It is accessed from the Records Menu on the menu bar The user can select mineral properties specify search criteria and weighting for these properties and combine individual criteria to build a search filter This filter can be applied and used to filter the mineral database recordset with minerals fully or partially matching the criteria presented in order of search result score and name where multiple minerals with the same score are found The mineral identification facility is only available when using the main database 9 2 Specifying Queries
5. Mineral Select Mineral Br Sphalerte Site Denton Mine Rosicare Level E 4 Locality Import Export Site T T e Town own County Buttons Save Localty Cave in Rock v Mardin County State Country Gnd Reference USA Descnphon Acquistion Financial Meaturemerts Label Keywords Loan 1 Sales Storage Location Date Catalogued Catalogue ID C 27 12 1995 147 Fhucete Galena Description Conglomerste cluster of lustrous black Sphalerte tetrahedrons scattered over Galena cubes with clear ciyttals and pale purple Fluorite cubes on one tide The page is divided into a number of areas e New Mineral Selection Combo box Locality Details Specimen Details Sub form Associated Minerals Database Edit Buttons e Filter Selection Filter Control Assign Image Button e Locality Import Export Buttons 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Database 46 The function of the controls insome areas also depends on whether the collection is in Browser or Edit Insert mode To change from Browse to Edit Insert mode press the relevant button near the bottom of the page New Mineral Selection Combo box In Browse Mode the selection box is not displayed In Edit Insert mode it is displayed to select or change the principle mineral associated with the current specimen It box can be pre filtered by the cl
6. Umonde Mibiadiers Morocco Copyright Can verroh J J Doete The screen is divided up into a number of areas e Menu Bar Navigation Toolbar Mineral Title Area Database Selector Page Tabs These areas are common to both the Personal Collection and Main Database views Database Detail Pages Crystal Graphic Display Mineral Image Display Status Bar The side bars between the crystal graphic mineral image and database display panes can be grabbed and moved with the mouse cursor This allows users with wide screen displays to increase display area available for mineral specimen images Additional controls for navigation and editing data appear on specific database pages Additional forms can also be accessed from these pages and from the Menu Bar The mineral title area gives the name formula and classification details of mineral in the current database view In addition when in Personal collection mode the Specimen ID number is also displayed Double clicking on this number brings up a dialogue to enable navigation to a record with a specified number 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved User Interface 18 3 2 Menu Bar The menu bar can be found at the top left ofthe program window Clicking on any menu item generates a drop down menu with options that can be selected by the user Mineral DB File Options View Records Help Shorcut for the most
7. D an Weinrich of 13 Cc esie Jose gt The main area of the display is taken up by the current image Below the picture locality and copyright information is given Below this navigation and edit buttons These allow browsing through the available images for the current mineral and adding or deleting images to the database C Personal Images When browsing a personal collection a check box is shown that allow the user to display example images from the mineral database or specific photos taken of the current specimen Double clicking on the image will open an enlarged image display form The edges of this form can be dragged to increase its size further A check box in the bottom left can be checked to display the image at full resolution If the image is larger than the display area scroll bars appear so that the image can be moved to view an area of interest 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Image Database 40 See also Assigning Specimen Images M laden near Morocco Copyright Dan Weinnch Ful Sed 12014 Time taken to Load 7 241 secs Record 1 of 912 Personal Collection 2 Schneider Minera Collection Pers 6 1 Adding Images Specimen images are assigned to a record using the Assign button on the image display panel Any number of images can be added to a mi
8. Save inc My Documents Cyberink downloaded Program Updates My Recent Downloads My eBooks Amy Musk Pictures My PSP Files COMy videos 2 CollectionExport clentdata 2 CollectionExport collection CollectionExport footer 1199 CollectionExport keywords 1 95 CollectionExport specimen My Documents My Computer File name Save as type Export Files Five files are stored e Client Data Client details stored within collection database file Collection Mineral specimen details Footer Collection database information e Keywords Additional keywords data associated with specimen records if used Specimen Details of additional associated mineral species present on a catalogued specimen Of these files the collection file holds the key specimen data Each xml file can be imported into excel as an xml list For the collection file the top left portion of the spreadsheet to row 38 contains details of the original database configuration Actual specimen data appears at about cell position U 29 The export facility may be enhanced in future software builds 10 2 Compacting and Repairing Database Files Heavy editing of databases files can increase their size more than is necessary This option allows the data stored within the database file to be re organised and stored more efficiently This process reduces the file size and improves performance This operation should be done period
9. e Indistinct cleavage cleavage planes are less distinct and not always quite even eg feldspars amphiboles or pyroxenes Difficult cleavage cleavage planes have an uneven surface eg sulphur apatite or cassiterite Imperfect cleavage a complete absence of cleavage Minerals of imperfect cleavage exhibit uneven fracture surfaces 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 75 MineralDB 11 1 2 Colour Colour is one of the most characteristic but not always the most reliable clue for identifying minerals Many minerals occur in nature in various shades of colour or in quite different colours at the same time For instance fluorite may be colourless white blue green yellow or violet However there are many other minerals which are colourless in their pure state yet if they do contain impurities may be of quite different colours eg quartz rock crystal amethyst and smoky quartz Nevertheless a number of minerals have a typical colour and are named after that colour eg chlorite green azurite azure blue albite white Colours of other minerals have become characteristic of a well defined shade of colour some familiar examples are malachite green emerald green turquoise blue On the basis of their colour minerals may be divided into the following four groups Achromatic colourless with perfect transmission of light rays without being absorbed into the visible part of th
10. MineralDB MDAC Adobe Acrobat Manual c 5 In addition to the main software installation a button to install Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 has been included Adobe Acrobat is required to view the included software documentation this manual This manual can be read directly from the CD by clicking the Manual button from the Run menu items In addition there is a button to link to the MineralDB website and another to install and launch a 26 minute animated introductory presentation to MineralDB If the installation CD is inserted and the program detects that MineralDB is already installed two additional menu options are displayed 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 9 MineralDB l Install INS MineralDB Install Run MineralDB Run MineralDB Update Adobe Acrobat Manual pd 0 Selecting Run MineralDB starts the application Selecting Update runs the update utility that is used to install updates to the program that have been downloaded from the website For more information see Applying MineralDB Updates 2 1 1 MMineralDB Presentation This introduction to MineralDB is a series of videos that can be selected from the presentation menu Screen The presentation highlights some of the key features of the software and introduces the user to the basics of using the program to view navigate and enter data 2 2 Installing MineralDB 2 2 1 Windows NT4 200
11. MineralDB User s Manual 2003 Scobie Software Solutions AllRights Reserved Technical Support Support MineralDB com Web Site http www MineralDB com Introduction to MineralDB Software for the dedicated mineral collector by A W Scobie MineralDB is an electronic reference and cataloguing system for mineral collectors There are several versions to cater for the differing requirements of novices serious collectors museums and mineral dealers Its functionality results from the combination of three electronic databases and integration with a personal specimen photograph database and example mineral image libraries MineralDB can be used in several ways as a cataloguing system for mineral collections as a means of producing professional reports and labels as a locality reference a mineral identification tool or simply as a comprehensive electronic reference book The facilities available depend on the version of MineralDB installed It is possible to upgrade the version of MineralDB at any point without the loss of personal data MineralDB 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved All rights reserved No parts of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means graphic electronic or mechanical including photocopying recording taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the written permission of the publisher Products that are referred to in this document m
12. Please Enter New Locality Filter by Country Please Enter new Locality or select from the list Locality Fu 3 If possible select the country of the new location from the country filter list box Otherwise type a new country into this field 4 Begin to type in the locality detail this will activate a drop down list of possible localities 5 the locality is in the list press lt enter gt 6 Otherwise complete the entry including the country using a comma to separate the components of the address 7 Press to save the new entry or Cancel to abort Note if no country is entered in the filter box the program will attempt to recognise a valid country from thew end on the new locality address If this is not possible the new locality will not be accepted 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 35 MineralDB 5 3 Viewing Minerals from a Locality The locality filter form can be opened via two alternative routes Double clicking on a locality listed on either the localities or variant pages Double clicking on a locality listed in the Locality Search Form Locality Filter Jaguaracu Pegmatite Jaguaracu Minas Gerais Brazil mle Mineral Anatase Beryl Biotite Cassiterite Cerussite Chernovite Y Churchite Y Elbaite Euxenite Y Ferrocolumbite Fluorapatite Fluorite Hematite IImenite Kaolinite Lepid
13. cosas nase na 51 Exporting to the Locality Database tnter tert ott En ad abuser ab 51 Entering Financial Details oce inb otra ericcson dolia danas aoa hauen 51 Keywords NN r C 51 Label Details A 51 Loans 52 Glients F n ER 52 Associated Minerals m anna 53 6 Deleting a Record a a a a nennen 53 Database Navigation nennen nennen nennen en nennen nenn nnn 54 9 Using Filters een ea veda ands 55 9 Multiple Collection Files 2 te ee ne na Rice e 55 Part VIII Personal Collection Reports 58 1 58 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved MineralDB 2 3 4 5 Part IX Part XI 1 2 Generating a Report Report Types Report Filters Filter e 5 2
14. An example of the additional blowpipe tests documented Selection of an element from the composition table updates the test applicable for that element Where several elements are present that could give different test results additional tests would be necessary to confirm their presence 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Database 28 Analytical Tests Blowpipe Action on Heating Flame Colour ight blue green Closed Tube black subimate with soda forms mirror Open Tube white fume white odourless sublimate Blowpipe Tests on Charcoal Oxidising Flame white odourless fume k se sublimate Reducing Flame fragile metal soluble in HOI bise wihlte sublimate With Colbalt Soln dirty green colour Borax Oxidising Flame Yellow hot Reducing Flame Grey See the glossary section for a more detailed description of the tests 46 Crystalography The crystallography pages gives information on the mineral crystal system its sub classification and the crystal cell geometry Also shown on the page are typical results generate by examining samples of the mineral using a technique called X Ray Powder Diffraction The calculated distances between planes of atoms and the intensity of the signals act as a finger print for the mineral that can be used for identification Detailed analysis of the results of such experiments can be used to calculate the size and structure of the unit c
15. Introducing MineralDB 3 Why choose MineralDB 3 Database Str cl re 2 u an an 4 Program Versions 0 A 4 5 unid A ir 5 Requirements 6 Contact Details aus a 6 Software Installation 8 Installation CD Men da GER 8 MineralDB Presentation se oi ts 9 Installing MineralDB 9 Windows NTA 2000 arten nece a cmd a Ro 9 Windows 95 98 ME ases sotto one cause A RO suse sects ensue sonen 11 Running MineralDB for the First Time munuennmeneen nennen nn nnnm nnnm 14 Applying MineralDB Updates 14 User Interface 17 c E 17 Menu aiii ii 18 B 18 Options Menu c 18 View Menu 19 hen tii 19 E E E
16. Pise Sl Gus lace For ease of use the filter types are divide into six categories listed in the J top left combo box Summary Physic Physical Optical Crystallography Localities Odour Reflectance Tarmish Taste Tenacit No Cleavage Planes First Cleavage Second Cleavage Third Cleavage Crystallography Chemical Localities Selecting a category displays below the available filters in this category By clicking on a filter type it is selected and displayed on the query builder on the right hand side of the form 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Identification Tools 64 The query builder consists of criteria box es in which the user enters the search criteria and radio T N buttons to define whether the search is to work on a gt Transparent x range of specified values for numeric criteria or whether EQUAL TO OR or AND logic will be 2 Weighing applied OLLI A M If any radio button other than EQUAL is selected data must be entered in to both criteria fields For specified numeric ranges eg hardness the first field is used to specify the lower range limit Transparency between Transparent and Translucent 11 and the second the upper range limit For non numerical fields list boxes are provided with all possible valid values for the field As more than one filte
17. Slawsorite senes References American Minesalogat wol 58 p 500 1973 Other minerals belonging to the same classification group are listed 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Database 32 Double clicking on one of these minerals will make it the new focus of the database At the bottom of the page are references to the mineral in well known scientific journals and publications 4 10 Adding Editing Records Adding or editing data in the mineral database is an advanced feature only present in the professional version of the software 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved Locality Database 34 5 Locality Database 5 1 Viewing Mineral Occurrences One of the primary functions of the locality database is to display mineral and variant occurrences These occurrences are listed on two pages e For the primary mineral on the localities page e For mineral variants on the variants page The pages update whenever the current mineral of focus of the database is changed This can happen when in either the main database or when in the personal collection database Mineral Localities Variant Localities 5 2 Adding Localities to the Database To add a new mineral locality 1 Press the insert record button of the locality edit control on the localities or variants page 2 This will open the dialogue form shown below
18. radioactive isotopes not its chemistry 11 1 8 Luster Luster refers to the general appearance of a mineral surface to reflected light It depends upon various factors particularly on the number of rays absorbed or reflected and on the character of the mineral surface ie even or rough Lustre is observed in daylight on even unweathered and clean surfaces In granular aggregates the lustre is less evident than in individual crystals The lustre of a mineral increases for these minerals with a high refractive index and becomes less intense with a higher light absorption and a rough surface but it is not dependent on the colour of the mineral The kinds of lustre to be distinguished are as follows Metallic lustre splendent full characteristic of the majority of opaque minerals It is best seen on freshly fractured surfaces and cleavage planes eg galena chalcopyrite or magnetite Submetallic lustre occurs on transparent or semi transparent subtransparent minerals with a refractive index of 2 6 3 0 such as cinnabar and cuprite e Adamantine lustre shining occurs only on transparent and translucent minerals with a refractive index of 1 92 and over because of the total reflection of light such as cerussite zircon and diamond Vitreous or glassy lustre resembles the lustre of glass It is typical of transparent as well as translucent minerals with a refractive index of 1 3 1 9 such as fluorite quartz and corundum Subv
19. 90 Swallow Tail Twins 90 Tetragonal System 90 Composition 27 Configure 71 72 Database paths 71 Language 72 Creating a New Collection 67 Crystal 21 3D Model 21 Class 21 Graphic 21 System 21 Crystal angles 84 Crystal axes 84 Crystal habit 87 Crystal System 21 Monoclinic 21 Cubic 21 Hexagonal 21 Monoclinic 21 Orthorhombic 21 Tetragonal 21 Triclinic 21 Crystal systems 84 85 86 87 Amorphous 87 Cubic 85 Hexagonal 86 Monoclinic 87 Orthorhombic 86 Tetragonal 85 Triclinic 87 86 Cyclical 88 Cyclical Contact Twins 90 Cyclical Twins 90 D Dana 9 Database 3 4 19 20 22 Current 22 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 95 MineralDB Database 3 4 19 20 22 Selection 19 20 Statistics 3 Structure 4 Back up 69 Collection Manager 66 Compact amp Repair 70 Restore 69 Database Maintenance 66 69 70 71 Dauphin Law 90 Delete 68 Deleting a collection 68 Density 75 Diaphanety 79 Dispersion 80 E Elemaenatl composition 92 Empirical formula 92 Environment 92 Exporting 69 Collection data 69 File Format 69 Extrinction Angle 80 F Features 5 Demo Version 5 Lite Version 5 Proffessional Version 5 Standard Version 5 Feel 76 File Menu 18 Exit Application 18 New Collection 18 Open Collection 18 Print Reports 18 Filter 19 22 63 Active 22 Classification Filter 19 Concise 19 Mineral Identification 19 Unfilter 19 Filters 25
20. E E n he bids 19 Navigation Toolbar A nennen nennen nnn nre nnns 19 Database Selection na a 20 Page Tabs 2 ii a A A a 20 Crystal Graphic 2 cido oca 21 Status cuencia ee ea 22 Mineral Database 24 OVvervieW ii learn 24 Navigation 25 Database lcge ida 25 Summary Page eutanasia 26 Chemical Tests u aan a anna ana dd 26 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Contents Analytical Blowpipe anusi avers sates aan sense eases soe teres 27 6 Grystalography 2 2 R 28 su 29 8 ii 30 CIASSHICATIOND violin naeh ndash 31 10 Adding Editing Records eese eene nn nennen nn nenn anne een nennen nnn rnnt 32 Part V Locality Database 34 1 Viewing Mineral Occurrences 34 2 Adding Localities to the Database eese nennen nn 34 3 Viewing Minerals from a Locality Lesern 35 4 Adding a Mineral Occurence to a Locality
21. V Cubic V a Tetragonal a csin 60 Trigonal V a csin 60 Orthorhombic V abc Monoclinic V abcsin b Triclinic V abc 1 cos a cos 2b cos 2C 2cos a cos b 11 5 Classification Minerals can be divided into several classes and groups starting with elements and continuing from the simple to the more complicated inorganic compounds The last group is formed by organic compounds There are nine classes Native elements Sulphides selenides tellurides arsenides antimonides and bismuthides Halides Oxides and hydroxides Nitrates carbonates and borates Sulphates chromates molybdates and wolframates Phosphates arsenates and vanadates Silicates Organic substances These classes are further divided into subclasses orders groups species and varieties This database can report the classification by either the Strunz or Dana classification systems Class filters are based on the Dana system For most minerals either system places the mineral in the same class However there are exceptions such as Quartz which is a Silicate according to Dana but an Oxide according to Strunz The mineral chemistry is recorded by the chemical formula Some minerals do not have a definite composition and are better described by an Empirical Formula Others have chemistry that is not unique enough to be a separate species but have impurities that alter its propertie
22. Windows 2000 e Windows NT4 e Windows ME e Windows 98 For adequate performance AMD Athlon or Intel Pentium Celeron systems with processor speeds of 400 MHz or above are recommended The program will run on slower machines but with noticeable response times The minimum memory requirement is 64 MB on Win9x systems and 128 MB on Windows 2000 and XP Performance will improve with more memory installed A minimum of 100 MB free hard disk is required for a compact CD installation or 350 MB for typical full installation A screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels or higher is recommended for best visual appearance 1 7 Contact Details Up to date information and contact details for MineralDB can be found at the website http www mineraldb com 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Software Installation 8 2 Software Installation 2 1 Installation CD Menu When the installation CD is inserted then CD menu program will start automatically if auto insert is not happen select from windows start menu and type DACDSelect exe replacing D with the drive letter of your CD DVD ROM drive The options presented by the install program depend on what operating system exists on your PC and whether MineralDB is already installed on the computer Below is the options available when installing onto a Win98 system for the first time Install INS MineralDB Install
23. installed it will be necessary to install MDAC by click the appropriate button on the CD menu screen After this installation process has completed it will be necessary to re start the computer before using MineralDB for the first time Note If re installing MineralDB if MDAC was previously installed re installation of MDAC is necessary 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Software Installation 14 2 3 Running MineralDB for the First Time When MineralDB is started for the first time the collection manager is displayed This form is displayed if there is not current collection file in use The user can either i Create a new blank collection file at this point by pressing the New button ii Restore a collection file from a previous backup iii Select Close button and continue to load MineralDB without a personal collection database Mineral DB Collection Manager Select your Personal Collection Current Collection Collections Available No Collection Header Sub Header Currency gt i 1 If a personal collection is available to be loaded it can be selected from the list of available collections and then opened 2 4 Applying MineralDB Updates MineralDB updates can only be applied using the utility provided on the installation CD 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 15 MineralDB MineralDB
24. of the page lists variant occurrences with the same filter and edit facilities as the localities page 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 31 MineralDB Summary Physical Optical Chemical Crystallogapty Locales Vanenis Clstsihcalion Variant Achroite Chemical Dominance Please Select Variant Description Cuprian Ebate Indicclle 1 Rubellte Tsdante Country Filter Additional Filter TL 1 Durton Query etc Nemy Township Oxford USA Mt Rubelite mines Hebron Oxford Co Maine USA mine amp Dionne extension Auburn Androscoggin Co Maine USA C StLomence New York USA 4 9 Classification Two alternative classification systems are presented on this page the Strunz system and the Dana system To switch between the alternative systems use the classification system selection radio buttons Summary Physical Optical Chemical Crystalogapty Localties Variants Clatsficaton Dana Mineral index 75111 AAA Strunz Grp Index Hyalophane Microchne 3 Orthoclase Saredire Strunz O Dana 2 Strunz Classification Details Mineral Class Siicates Type Description Tectosibostes network without arsons unfamiisr to the tetisheders Group Descephon Feldspar group Buddingtonite Dihociase
25. only active while the record is edit mode 76 Deleting a Record To delete the current record press the delete button the bottom of the page A confirmation dialogue prevents accidental record removal Confirm 2 Delete Record Deleted records cannot restored 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Database 54 7 7 Database Navigation An specimen record or group of specimen records can be rapidly located using a combination of the database navigation and filtering facilities Navigation is only possible while in browse mode To Find a Particular Mineral Variant Use the Mineral Index on the Navigation Toolbar The mineral list contains only minerals or their variants present in the current collection The list can be filtered using the classification filter also on the navigation toolbar On selecting a mineral the first specimen recorded of this mineral will become the focus of the database Use the variant filter and record navigation buttons to find further specimens of this mineral species To Find a Particular Specimen ID Double click on the Specimen ID field to bring up a Goto Record Dialogue box Only valid Specimen ID s can be selected Goto Record Enter Value for Specimen ID vj To Find a Particular Catalogue ID Double click on the Catalogue ID field on the Description tab to bring up a Goto Record Dialogue box On
26. or tearing is called tenacity Sectile can be cut with a knife and the resulting slice breaks up under a hammer e g graphite gypsum e Malleable A slice cut from it flattens under a hammer Flexibility A flexible mineral remains bent after pressure is applied Elasticity The mineral springs back after applied pressure is removed Brittleness Crumbles to a powder upon action of a hammer 11 1 16 Transparency Transparency is the ability of minerals to transmit light which is most important particularly in precious stones The following degrees of transparency are recognised Transparent minerals when writing can be read through a thick section of them eg calcite rock crystal topaz or diamond Subtransparent minerals subtransparent when writing seen through them appears indistinct eg rose quartz and most emeralds Translucent minerals in even thicker sections minerals transmit light but cannot be seen through eg sulphur orpiment or milk quartz Subtranslucent minerals do not transmit light when cut into thicker slabs in powder form under magnification or when cut into very thin sections they become translucent to transparent eg amphibole or augite Opaque minerals do not transmit light even in its powder form or in thin sections eg magnetite or pyrite 11 2 Optical Properties The following optical properties are reported by the MineralDB database 9 Birefringence Dispersion E
27. specimen data entries and associated images This index number is known as the Specimen ID The Specimen ID number is displayed when in personal collection mode near the top left of program window When a new specimen is inserted into the collection this number is incremented This number cannot be altered by the user and numbers assigned to records in the middle of the dataset that get deleted cannot be reallocated By default the specimen ID number is also assigned as the Catalogue ID number for the mineral specimen The Catalogue ID number is the number that will be printed against individual records in reports labels and index cards The Catalogue ID can be modified by the user if an alternative catalogue system is preferred Unlike the Specimen ID the Catalogue ID is not restricted to integer numbers and duplicates are allowed although not recommended Record navigation is possible by specifying either a Specimen ID number or a valid Catalogue ID Only Specimen ID numbers can be used for report filtering Specimen images are named using the Specimen ID number so that they can be located by the 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 49 MineralDB 7 3 7 4 database The syntax is SPxxx yy jpg where XXX is the Specimen ID number yy is the image index number to allow multiple photo of the same specimen Inserting a New Record 1 The Ensure database is in Perso
28. support the County State field If the country is selected before the County State field then this combo box drop down list is pre filtered to valid values for that country There is however alternative ways to enter locality detail that requires less typing and often can give a more accurate locality entry These involve importing the locality from the locality database This can be achieved by Using Get Locality button on the personal collection page e Using the Export to Personal Collection button on the localities variants pages Alternatively if the location is notin the locality database the Save Locality button should be used so that it is available for future use 7 5 1 1 Importing from the Locality Database Pressing the Get Locality button while in edit insert mode in the personal collection form produces the following dialogue Beginning the country of origin of the mineral sample is known then enter this in the Filter by Country box 2 Beginning to type into the locality field or pressing the drop down arrow its the end will give a list of potential locations filtered by country and current mineral If no country was initially entered the locality list will not be filtered by country 3 Continue to type until the required locality is highlighted in the drop down box then press lt enter gt 4 Ifthe locality is not completed automatically continue to type until the full information has been en
29. 0 1 To install the software click on the MineralDB button from the list of install options 2 The installation process will start and after clicking next the following dialogue will be displayed Support for MDAC is built into Windows 200 and XP Installation of MDAC is not required and the installation button will not be offered by the CD menu program 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Software Installation 10 js Setup MineralDB Information Please read the following important information before continuing When you are ready to continue with Setup click Next MineralDB You may require MDAC to use MineralDB if you are using Windows 95 98 or NT 4 If this is the case please run MDAC_Install exe before this installation Please Note you may be required to reboot during the installation of MDAC 3 The next screen will require the entry of your registration details that were supplied with your purchase of the software fe Setup MineralDB Enter Registration Details You need to be a registered user to be able to proceed Enter your registration details then click Next User Name Registration Code 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 11 MineralDB 4 The next screen will ask you to choose approve the program installation directory 5 Finally before installation begins its possible to select eit
30. 29 30 55 60 61 Locality database 29 Mineral database 25 Personal collection database 55 Report filter matrix 61 Reports 60 Variants locality database 30 Flame colour 82 Fluorescence 76 Fracture 76 Fusibility 82 Glossary 74 79 81 83 92 Chemical Properties 81 Classification 92 Crystalography 83 Optical Properties 79 Physical Properties 74 H Habit 87 Hardness 76 Help 19 About Box 19 Help File 19 Revision History 19 Help Menu 19 Images 21 39 40 42 Assigning a specimen image 40 42 Crystal graphic 21 Mineral Image Display 39 Installation 8 9 11 14 Installation CD Menu 8 Running MineralDB for the firsttime 14 Windows 2000 9 Windows 9x 11 Windows NT4 9 Windows 9 Installation CD 8 14 Applying Updates 14 Presentation 8 Interference Figure 80 Introduction 3 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Index 96 Introduction to MineralDB 9 Iron Cross 89 Js Japanese Law 90 L Locality Database 34 35 36 37 Adding a Mineral Occurence to a locality 36 Adding Localities to the Database 34 Country Filter 34 Exporting a Locality to a Specimen Record 37 Finding a Particular Locality 37 Viewing Mineral Occurences 34 Viewing Minerals from a Locality 35 Luminescence 76 Luster 77 Magnetism 78 Manebach Law 90 Manual 8 Menu Bar 18 19 File 18 Help 19 Options 18 Records 19 View 19 Mineral Database 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Addin
31. M This gives the opportunity to preview the report on the screen or send to the printer Also if the report type was an index card or label the program will ask the user if the database print status should be updated to record that the index card label has been printed The reason for storing the print status is to prevent unnecessary reprinting on index cards or labels 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Reports 60 8 3 Report Types The reports are divided into different categories These are Specimen Labels Index Cards Photo Index Cards Collection Inventory Financial Loans amp Sales Locality Unfiltered These reports can be filtered Specific filters are available for the different report types See Filter Matrix for details Specimen Labels Designed for A4 Legal or Letter paper these reports will print specimen labels of various sizes The main size categories in increasing size are Thumbnail Miniature and Cabinet Index Cards These are designed to print either onto 6 x 4 index cards or standard paper 2 cards per page Comprehensive information including financial detail and a description is included Photo Index Cards These are designed to print either onto 6 x 4 index cards or standard paper 2 cards per page A photograph replaces the specimen description Collection Inventory Various reports listing the specimens in the collect
32. Update Program MineralDB Location C sMineralDB Processing file All files Press the update button to select the appropriate update file downloaded from the website to upgrade the current version of MineralDB to a later version It is important to download the appropriate update file for the current version of MineralDB installed This is displayed on the splash screen when the program starts or from the About option on the program Help menu If an incompatible update file is selected no update will be applied and the program will not be altered 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 17 MineralDB 3 User Interface 3 1 Overview Below is a view of the main program screen The view is a screen shot while in Mineral Database mode of the Summary screen This is a typical view when the program is first started Navigation Toolbar PIS Y Veradrte Select Mira Mineral Vanadinite Formula Strunz 41843 Crystal Class Hexag Database Dee Conca Chemos Cro Locales Verents how couriers brown yellow Grown med or brown Mineral Image Peret pedro T Tmage MM i 7 Photograph Cormperson Miner sis crystal habt high hunter and deraty Go Image E dit Navigation amp Information ys found fhe
33. abase is to provide a comprehensive reference system for minerals species including their properties crystal structure classification and example images Although the simplest way navigate through the database is via the mineral index provided there are also logical links to other minerals and filters that can be applied to the dataset MineralDB also includes an mineral identification facility This allows the user to match observed properties such as colour density and hardness to those recorded for minerals in the database The mineral database itself consists of over 4 000 individual species records There are an additional 900 of these species and more than 2000 synonyms to give an index of more than 7 000 mineral names A potential of more than 45 different properties are recorded for each of the species See the lossary section These have been subdivided into a number of categories and each placed on a separate tabbed page in the database e Summary Page Crystallography e Physical Properties e Variants Optical Properties e Classification e Chemical There is also a Localities tab This tab and the locality data on the Variants tab is part of the localities database 1 Number of species depends on program version 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 25 MineralDB 4 2 4 3 Navigation Using the Mineral Index The best way to find a particular mineral is
34. acity 79 Thermoluminescence 76 Thin sectin colour 81 Transparency 79 Triboluminescence 76 Twinning 88 Cyclical 88 Penetration Twin 88 Polysynthetic 88 Repeated Twins 88 Simple Twin 88 Two Vangle 81 U Unit cell volume 91 Updates 14 User Interface 17 18 19 20 21 22 39 Crystal Graphic 21 Database Selection 20 Menu Bar 18 Mineral Image Display 39 Navigation Toolbar 19 Overview 17 Page Tabs 20 Status Bar 22 fs Variants 30 Chemical Dominance 30 Description 30 Localities 30 View Menu 19 X X Ray Powder Diffraction 28 91 XRD 91 98 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved Back Cover
35. al 5 Pi oi a aa 84 Crystal Systems Cubic Tetragonal Hexagonal dara la tontas Trigonal arras A n e RID DLP EEE AMOTPNOUS EE Grystal AAA sat toate nod iaaa Twinning Common Twin Laws Cubic System Tetragonal SYStem 90 Hexagonal SM ciao 90 Orthorhombic System 90 MonocliNie SYStEM caste en 90 Mie 90 X Ray Powder Diffraction m 91 Unit Celli Volume 91 5 Classification viii 92 Index 94 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 1 Foreword Foreword MineralDB was born from a project to catalogue my mineral collection when couldn t find any suitable cataloguing software and the same time was looking for an excuse to learn some programming skills It was also a way to stay active in mineral collecting during a period where personal circumstances and location restricted my opportunities to collect mineral specimens in the field The initial intention was to build an application that produced professi
36. arently coloured minerals See Reflectance 11 1 3 Density Density or specific gravity depends upon the chemical composition of the mineral and in crystalline substances it depends upon their crystal structure Minerals in single crystal form have higher specific gravities than their polycrystalline equivalents The specific gravity of minerals may fluctuate considerably in weathered and damaged specimens Isomorphous admixtures of foreign minerals and occluded gases and liquids may influence the result of the measurement 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 76 11 1 4 Feel Some minerals especially those of low hardness such as kaolinite feel rough others eg talc feel greasy and smooth 11 1 5 Fracture If the mineral contains no planes of weakness it will break along random directions called fracture According to the character of the surface the following types of fracture may be distinguished Conchoidal curved concave or convex fracture eg quartz or Subconchoidal Even flat eg chert Uneven rough eg arsenopyrite or pyrite e Hackly studded surface eg silver gold or acanthite Splintery eg nephrite or garnet Earthy eg aluminite or kaolinite 11 1 6 Hardness Hardness is the resistance offered by a mineral to mechanical abrasion For its determination a hardness scale was established by Friedrich Moh s It has ten grades repr
37. assification filter See Database Filters See Inserting a New Record or Editing an Existing Record The Locality Details area contains six controls to record the place where the mineral was collected In Browse Mode double clicking on a control will bring up a Go to Dialogue box that enables navigation to the first record containing the locality detail requested See Database Navigation In Edit mode every control other than the Grid Reference becomes a drop down combo box The user can select from the drop down list or type in new locality information In addition the country control acts as a filter for the county state control for many countries giving a list of counties states or provinces on Cochise valid for the selected country See Entering Locality Information for more details OK Cancel Y Goto Record Enter Value for Site T own The Specimen Details Sub form contains a number on tabs and mini pages In addition to containing a description of the specimen this area is used to record Financial Details Label Details Keywords and Specimen Status jr Associated minerals are other significant minerals other than Mineral a the primary mineral on the specimen Calcite Linarite In Browse mode double clicking on associate mineral will Malachite attempt to navigate to specimen where current associated Tennantite f mineral in the primary mineral Associ
38. ated minerals can be added or deleted using the record x edit buttons PEE The database edit buttons are at the bottom of the page 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 47 MineralDB 7 1 1 Specimen Details Subform Description Tab Date Catalogued Description Conglomerate cluster of lustrous black Sphalerite tetrahedrons scattered over Galena cubes with clear calcite crystals and pale purple Fluorite cubes on one side Purchase Price Acquisition Date Acquisition Detail 01 08 1991 Gary Richards Precious Earth Germantown WI Last aisal Date of Last Appraisal 01 08 1991 Comments Exceptional specimen Orig from Ross Lilly NS Minerals SPHALERITE Date Index Card Printed Date Label Printed Keywords 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Database 48 Description Acquisition Financial Measurements Label Keywords Loan amp Sales 2 Keyword ECI M1 E UD2 v Loans amp Sales Description Acquisition Financial Measurements Label Keywords Loan amp Sales Client rSpecimen Status v Client Details In Collection Sale Price Transaction Date OnLoan O For Trade M Q Sold Transaction Detail 7 2 About the Catalogue System MineralDB uses an internal index number to keep track of
39. ay be either trademarks and or registered trademarks of the respective owners The publisher and the author make no claim to these trademarks While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions or for damages resulting from the use of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that may accompany it In no event shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this document Printed May 2006 in whereever you are located Publisher Scobie Software Solutions Technical Editor Alistair Scobie Software Engineering Alistair Scobie John Hodgson Special thanks to All the people who contributed to the development of this system To John Schneider and Robert Lawson for their critical appraisal and ideas to Gary Cook Hob Lavinsky Dan Weinrich Jordi Fabre Adam Larson Shinichi Kato BRGM for their kind permission to use their photographs as example mineral images Last but not least I would like to thank my wife for her patience over the many months of my spare time that have been spent developing this product MineralDB Table of Contents Part fF Part Il Part Ill Part IV a A Foreword 1 Introduction 3
40. before printing reports that contain specimen image data if there is any possibility that the images in the file may have been changed outside the program Client Information 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 19 MineralDB This option opens the Clients Information form Locality Information This option opens a search utility to find a locality from the locality database 3 2 3 View Menu Mineral DB Options 270 Records Help lt All gt Main Database Personal Collection 4 This provides an alternative way Database Selection Buttons to switch between Personal Collection and Main database views 3 2 4 Records Menu Mineral DB File Options View METLS Help ES Concise Database Mineral Identification Mineral Di UnFilter Sem VINE TI This menu has the option to switch between concise and full mineral index mode In concise mode the mineral index is limited to the most common 500 mineral species This option is not active in the version of MineralDB The lower two options are concerned with the mineral identification facility The first option opens the search build filter form the second removes all filters and restores the database to its normal recordset 3 2 5 Help The help menu option provides access to this help file It also gives a history of the changes made to this and previous revisions of the program The abou
41. classes e Domatic e Prismatic e Spenoidal the faces of the monoclinic prism main prism if present are parallel the c axis Crystal axes a b c Axes angles a b g 90 The triclinic system can be divided into the following classes Pinacoidal Pedial since there are no symmetry axes or symmetry planes the a b and axes are not associated with any symmetry functions Mineral exhibits no crystalline structure 11 4 4 Crystal Habit The term used to describe general shape of a crystal is habit Some common habits of aggregates and individual crystals are 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 88 Aggregates Individual crystals Granular coarse and fine grained Cubic cube shapes e Columnar fibrous parallels radiating or Octahedral shaped like octahedrons irregular e Tabular rectangular shapes Lamellar plate like typical of micas and Equant all of their boundaries of approximately chlorites equal length Oolitic aggregates typical of chamosite e Acicular long slender crystals e Concretions egg shaped or kidney shaped Prismatic abundance of prism faces surface Bladed like a wedge or knife blade Dendritic branching or fern like growths e Porous foamy or spongy e Crusty drop shaped and colloidal Reticulated lattice like groups of slender crystals Radiated radiating groups of
42. crystals Fibrous elongated clusters of fibers Botryoidal smooth bulbous or globular shapes Globular radiating individual crystals that form spherical groups Drusy small crystals that cover a surface Stellated radiating individuals that form a star like shape Some minerals characteristically show one or more of these habits so habit can sometimes be a powerful diagnostic tool 11 4 5 Twinning A characteristic morphological feature of the growth of crystals in some minerals is the growth of twin crystals or aggregates which is regulated by certain definite laws eg gypsum fluorite rutile orthoclase cassiterite and staurolite There are various types of twin the following being most important 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 89 MineralDB Simple Twin the simple twin of calcite consists of two halves symmetrical about the twin plane An example shown here is a crystal of orthoclase twinned on the Braveno Law with 021 as the twin plane Twin Plane 021 11001 Penetration Twin The two halves have mixed together so that the twin cannot be separates such as the iron cross of pyrite interpenetrated twins of fluorite the cross shape twins of staurolite orin this example the Carlsbad twin of othoclase Repeated Twins If the repeated twin plane remains parallel the twinning is known as polysynthetic e g plagioclase feldspa
43. d red brown hot Manganese Violet Deep blue Cobalt Deep blue Deep blue Nickel Red brown hot yellow cold Opaque grey Uranium Yellow Pale green 11 3 2 Closed Tube Test Result of heating in a sealed tube This is not an oxidising environment 11 3 3 Flame Colour Colour of the flame when mineral either alone or with acid is heated on a clean platinum wire in a blowpipe flame 11 3 4 Fusibility The relative fusability of certain minerals under a blowpipe according to the following scale of six minerals melting point included 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 83 11 3 5 11 3 6 11 3 7 11 3 8 11 3 9 11 4 MineralDB 1 Stibnite 525 2 Chalcopyrite 965 3 Almandine 1265 4 Actinolite 1296 5 Orthoclase 1175 6 Bronzite 1380 7 Quartz 1430 Open Tube Test Result of heating in an open tube test This is an oxidising environment Solubility Reaction of mineral and observation of the resulting solutio when a sample is dissolve in the appropriate reagent such as water acids or other solvents Sublimation Character Result of prolonged heating in a open tube test Oxidising Flame A powder sample of the mineral is presented on a platinum wire previously dipped in nitric acid to the yellow oxidising area of a Bunsen flame The resulting flame colour is observed Reducing Flame A powder sample of the mineral is presented on a p
44. dness e Synonyms This page also gives an indication of the best distinguishing features for identification and a comments area for general background information on the mineral including its name origin and commercial uses Finally there is a companions table This lists other mineral often found in association Double clicking on a highlighted companion mineral will make this mineral become the new focus of the database 4 5 Chemical Tests A typical view of the chemical tests page is show below See the glossary section for information on specific tests or properties 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 27 MineralDB Summary Physical Optical Chemical Crystallogachy Localities Vanenis Clatsiication Molecular Weight 789 36 Emp rical Formula Composition Pobymorphs Element Symbol Composition wt Polmorph Silver 68 33 Sutu 5 16 25 Texts Fusability 3 Almandie Open Tube Test Closed Tube Test Sublimation Charact Reaction to Acids Gives off sulphurous and antimorial fumes Decieptales and coats tube with white sublenate Costs vath red sublenste Fuses to metalic globule Decomposes in acid veth the separation of sulphur and antimony mide Additional tests for mineral identification conducted using a blowpipe are accessed via the Analytical tests button Analytical Blowpipe Tests 4 5 1
45. e MineralDB will continue to load A warning message will be displayed as the new collection is opened warning that it currently does not contain any data It is now possible to select the personal collection database created and edit or insert data Itis important to update the personal database information This contains a description of the database and the text used by the Report Header and sub header reporting titles This text appears on nearly all personal collection reports including labels and index cards Note Be careful not to give a newly created collection file the same name as an existing database Doing so will cause the existing database to be overwritten by the newly created blank database 10 1 2 Updating Peronal Collection Info The first three entries of the personal collection details appear on reports generated by MineralDB To update these fields delete and overtype the default text 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Database Maintenance 68 Current Collection SecondCollection collection Header Type your collection name here Sub Header BEEN Type your address here Currency DB Info Please enter database description here Set Password Clear Password The DB Info field can be used to describe the content of a collection file more clearly useful if multiple collections are being stored After updating these fields clic
46. e date when the specimen index card or label was printed If neither has been printed or these fields are reset a null value no date is displayed The date recorded can be altered by the user or reset using the clear buttons if required This data is used by filters when printing reports It can be used so that previously printed labels index cards can be excluded from a new print job or index cards are only printed if the appraisal detail on them has been revised 7 5 5 Loans amp Sales Tab Specimens recorded by MineralDB can have four states e In Collection On Loan in collection For Sale not in collection Sold Specimen Status The specimen status is indicated by a set of radio buttons on the Loan amp In Collection Sales tab By default when a new record is added its status in In collection On Loan For Trade O Sold The other fields on this tab are only relevant if the status of a specimen changes The Client field is used to record to whom a specimen has been loaned or sold to Only register clients can be selected from the combo box If a new client is to be recorded the client details must first be recorded on the Clients Form which is access via the Client Details button If the specimen has been sold fields are available to record the sales price transaction date and other transaction detail This information is used to produce sales reports 7 5 5 1 Clients Form The clients i
47. e label printed 51 Deleting arecord 53 Editing an exising record 49 Entering financial details 51 Entering Locality Information 50 Exporting data 51 Filters 55 Importing data 51 Importing Locality Data 50 Inserting a new record 49 Keywords 51 Label details 51 Loans salestab 52 Multiple Collection Files 55 Navigation 54 New Collection 55 Overview 45 Sales price 52 Specimen Details Subform 47 Specimen status 52 Switch Collection 55 Transaction date 52 Transaction details 52 Update personal image records 42 Personal Collection Information 67 Phosphor bead test 81 Phosphorescence 76 Photoluminescence 76 Pleochroic Colour 80 Pleochroism 80 Polymorphs 92 Polysyntheic 88 Presentation 9 Oe Queries 63 Query 64 Reset 64 Running 64 Query Builder 63 R Radio Button 63 Radioactive 76 Record 19 Navigation 19 Records Menu 19 Recordset 22 Position 22 Size 22 Reducing flame 83 Reflectance 78 Refractive Index 80 Rename 68 Renaming a collection 68 Reports 58 60 61 Custom 61 Filter matrix 61 Filters 60 Generation 58 Report types 60 Reset 64 Restore 69 Restoring a Collection 69 Search 63 Sign of elongation 80 Software 9 11 Installation 9 11 Solubility 83 Specific Gravity 75 SpinelLaw 89 Staurolite Law 90 Streak 78 Strunz 92 Sublimation character 83 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Index Swallow Tail Twins 90 Synonyms 92 Ta Tarnish 78 Taste 79 Ten
48. e spectrum eg rock crystal achroite diamond and goshenite Idiochromatic with their own unchangeable colour owing to the presence of a definite element in the mineral eg Cu blue azurite M pink rhodonite U yellow autunite Cr orange crocoite Fe yellow goethite Co pink erythrite Allochromatic of variable colours Their colouring is due to the presence of elements which form different impurities pigments mineral inclusions and occasionally small traces of other elements such as some varieties of quartz rock salt beryl or tourmaline The colouring may also be caused by so called colour zones formed in the absence of atoms on certain sites leading to defects in the crystal lattice eg smoky quartz amethyst fluorite or diamond A special kind of colouring is due to colour interpositions the distribution of very small foreign mineral particles eg inclusions of chlorite and hematite in jasper Allochromatic minerals display other characteristics in their colouring associated with the character of individual crystals or their crystal structure eg colour distributed in regular bands or zones Some minerals change their colour with a change of illumination eg alexandrite is green in sunlight whereas it is rose violet in artificial light There are also minerals which change their colour when held up to the light and rotated eg cordierite and zoisite tanzanite Such minerals are called pleochroic Pseudochromatic app
49. e when it occurs Carlsbad Law 001 forms a penetration twin in the mineral orthoclase Crystals twinned under the Carlsbad Law show two intergrown crystals one rotated 1800 from the other about the 001 axis Carlsbad twinning is the most common type of twinning in orthoclase and is thus very diagnostic of orthoclase when it occurs Braveno Law 021 forms a contact twin in the mineral orthoclase Swallow Tail Twins 100 are commonly observed in the mineral gypsum CaSO4 2H20 11 4 5 1 6 Triclinic System The feldspar minerals plagioclase and microcline are the most common triclinic minerals that show twinning Two common twin laws are observed in these feldspars 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 91 MineralDB Albite Law As described above plagioclase NaAISi308 CaAl2Si208 very commonly shows albite polysynthetic twinning The twin law 010 indicates that the twining occurs perpendicular to the b crystallographic axis Albite twinning is so common in plagioclase that it s presence is a diagnostic property for identification of plagioclase Pericline Law The pericline law has 010 as the twin axis As stated above pericline twinning occurs as the result of monoclinic orthoclase or sanidine transforming to microcline all have the same chemical formula KAISI3O8 Pericline twinning usually occurs in combination with albite twinning in microcline but is only observable w
50. ebunkpod York Co USA Swan Prospect Pisgah National Forest Buncombe Co North Carolina USA Thomas Mine Pisgah National Forest Buncombe Co North Carolina USA Unnamed Beryl Prospect Black Mountain Buncombe North Carolina USA Use the country and additional filter to reduce the list size to find a particular location Double click on any location to open the Localities Filter form and list the minerals reported from that locality Alternatively if a mineral species from the locality of interest is known make that mineral the focus of the database and view potential localities fromthe localities or variants pages Exporting a Locality to a Specimen Record When in personal collection database mode AND the current specimen record is in EDIT MODE additional buttons become active above the localities listings on the localities and variants pages Pressing this button will transfer the locality information from the currently highlighted location on the localities or variants page into the locality fields of the Collection page This will overwrite the information currently in that field id the specimen record is subsequently saved 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 39 MineralDB 6 Mineral Image Database Example specimen and mineral images are displayed on the lower left hand portion of the screen Mineral Image Mibladen near Midelt Morocco Copyright
51. ecimen Keywords Keywords are a flexible way for users to enter additional data that cannot be accommodated within the other fields in the database and to give specialist filtering capabilities for reports There is no limit on the number of keywords that can be associated with each specimen record How keywords are used 15 up to the user Suggestions for their use are Specimen Size Description Toenail Thumbnail Micro mount Miniature Cabinet etc Interesting notable properties Fluorescent Radioactive Psuedomorph etc e Twinning type How obtained Self Collected Exchange Gift Purchased Quality ranking These would mainly be used as filters with inventory type reports Label Details This tab has three fields which are all automatically updated by the program The Label field contains the text that will be printed as the specimen title on index cards specimen labels and other reports The default text is identical to that given on the mineral selection combo box The user can edit this field after the primary mineral has been selected as required either to change the spelling capitalisation or add more detail It must be remembered however that label texts must be kept short to allow them to fit on the 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Database 52 specimen labels The other two fields Date Index Card Printed and Date Label Printed record th
52. ed image When the required image is displayed pressing the Delete button removes that image record from the database Note Only images added to the database by the user can be deleted Images provided with the original instalation of the software cannot be deleted 6 3 Update Personal Image Records If images are added or deleted manually these records may required to be updated to ensure accuracy This should be done before reports that contain images or image information are generated The facility is available from the Options menu on the Menu Bar and produces the following dialogue 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 43 MineralDB Update Personal Image List 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 45 MineralDB 7 7 1 Personal Collection Database Overview To view the database in Personal Collection mode press the Personal Collection button on the database selector This brings up a view of the database that includes an new first page and page tab called Collection Details The other pages appear the same as in the main database but only provide information associated with the primary mineral of the current mineral specimen and hyperlinks to other minerals only function if there is a specimen of that mineral in the collection A typical view of the collection details page in edit mode is shown below Sphalerite
53. ed to generate reports and perform database searches for purposes such as mineral identification Example photographs of minerals are stored in the database and can be updated by the user The locality database covers world localities where mineral species and their variants have been found and collected The information in this database can be used assist in the correct labeling of specimens The personal collection database is used to catalogue the specimens in a collection Specimen photographs can also be included This information can be used to produce inventory and valuation reports as well as index cards and specimen labels Database Structure Program Versions Why choose MineralDB MineralDB unique feature is its integration of an electronic database of minerals localities and multiple personal collection catalogue s These features are visually enhanced by the ability to display example mineral images from an image library and store photographs of specimens from the personal collections By combining these databases with a well designed interface personal collections can be accurately and consistently catalogued with minimum effort The software provides advanced search and filter capabilities that be used to assist mineral identification or locate personal records for viewing or updating This information can be used to print professional collection inventory reports and specimen labels These features deliver t
54. elite willemite uranium minerals or zircon As the content of these admixtured elements may vary in minerals from different localities the luminescence is not constant eg sphalerite calcite opal or topaz and the phenomenon cannot therefore be considered a reliable clue for mineral identification in these cases Basically there are the following types of luminescence e Triboluminescence induced by crushing or rubbing some minerals such as fluorite willemite quartz Thermoluminescence the ability of some minerals to emit light after heating eg fluorite and Photoluminescence may be seen some minerals when they are exposed to light or to invisible short or long wave ultraviolet radiation If luminescence shows only while irradiation takes place eg some fluorites scheelite sodalite it is called fluorescent if it persists for a time after irradiation has ceased it is called phosphorescence eg strontianite and diamond Exposure to ultraviolet light induces luminescence from organic minerals and bitumens and from all minerals containing them as inclusions eg opals Luminescence can best be observed when a mineral is irradiated by an ultraviolet lamp with a dark filter Take care when using an ultraviolet lamp as radiation can harm the eyes Radioactive minerals also emit radiation in the form of either alpha beta and gamma radiation These emissions are due to the elemental composition of the mineral
55. ell of the mineral 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 29 MineralDB Summary Phyncal Opica Chemical Crystalograpty Locales Vanenis Clstshcabon Crystal System Monociric Axes Lengths x 8625 P 2 b 129 Sub umae 7193 Space Group C 2 m Axes Anges 1 Alpha Crystal Class 2 m Beta 11602 Gamma X Ray NN DMA 318 100 2 402 90 3 38 90 Relative intensity 95528238 Formula unit 2 4 Cell Volume wk 72457 Calculated Density 25 A 4 7 Localities The localities page displays a list of locations where the current mineral has been collected and additional column that indicates if a locality is the type locality for this mineral For many minerals this list will be long and in order to more quickly find localities of interest two filters are provided to reduce the displayed information These are a country filter and an additional free form filter The difference between the filters is that the user must select a country from a drop down list for the country filter but can type anything in the second filter The filters are additive and can be used together Locality records can be edited by the user via the edit controls above the table For additional information see Adding Localities to the Database 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Database 30 Summary Physical Optical Che
56. es or even those associated with a particular location making MineralDB a useful mineral identification tool Digital photography is now widespread and photographing your specimens can be great fun MineralDB allows the collector to add and display his her own digital photographs with the specimen record details and print them out with certain reports have enjoyed creating this software and in the process have learnt a great deal Cataloguing my own collection has also reacquainted me with specimens obtained sometime ago and hadn t really looked at closely for years hope you have as much fun using this software as have creating and using it and hope it rekindles your enthusiasm for mineral collecting A W Scobie 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved MineralDB 1 1 1 1 2 Introduction Introducing MineralDB MineralDB is an integrated database and catalogue system for mineral collectors It has four main components A comprehensive database of over 4 000 mineral species A locality database containing over 55 000 entries from nearly 9 000 individual localities An image database with over 3 000 mineral photographs A personal collection database to catalogue individual mineral collections The mineral database contains information on classification physical optical chemical and crystallographic properties covering over 45 different mineral properties This information can be us
57. es such as refraction reflection diffraction dispersion or interference of light Cleavage planes or rifts of predominantly transparent minerals of a glassy lustre exhibit a special colouring which is called iridescence and is caused by the diffraction of light Iridescent tarnish is also exhibited by opaque minerals of metallic lustre such as chalcopyrite or bornite as a result of oxidation of their surface Asterism exhibited by a suitably cut diopside or corundum is due to the reflection of light from tiny inclusions in the crystal s interior in certain definite directions In sapphire it is often brought about by rod like inclusions of rutile growing from the base plane at 1200 As result in a cabochon cut stone it reflects light in a six pointed star A special glitter caused by the reflection of light may also be observed on the inclusions of thin mica plates in aventurine The bluish glitter of adularia is because of the dispersion of light in the stratified structure of feldspars Precious opal exhibits a brilliant play of colours called opalescence It is caused by the refraction and diffraction of light on fine sections containing minute beads of Si02 with a variable portion of water In crocidolites the light dispersed by reflection from closely packed almost parallel needles and tubes produces patterns resembling animals eyes eg tiger s eye or cat s eye 11 1 12 Streak The true colour of a mineral is found by determining its strea
58. es or a quartz wedge and observing the interference pattern 11 2 5 Pleochroic Colour The colours observed using polarized light of pleochroic minerals along their different crystal axes 11 2 6 Pleochroism Pleochroic minerals show a change in the quantity or quality of their colour this change depending on the direction followed by the polarized light as it passes through the mineral 11 2 7 Refractive Index The refractive index is a measure of the mineral optical density and is the ratio of the sine of the incidence and refracted light rays passing through a straight mineral air surface A mineral may have different refractive indices along its different crystal axes 11 2 8 Sign of Elongation Minerals are often consistently longer in one direction than another The orientation of fast or slow rays with respect to this elongation is known as the sign of elongation The sign of elongation is determined using as quartz wedge or other plate The elongated mineral is out in the 45 degree position and the character of the ray is determined If the slow ray vibrates parallel to the elongation this is said to be positive shortly slow long positive fast long negative The sign of elongation is 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 81 MineralDB not the same as optical sign The values in this database are e None Length slow Length fast Length fast or slow 11 2 9 Thin Section Colour The colou
59. esented by a set of standard minerals producing a white streak They are arranged in order of increasing hardness The difference in hardness between neighbouring minerals in the Moh s scale varies from small differences among the lowest grades to larger differences among the last minerals Owing to the fact that hardness is a directional property and depends upon the mineral s internal crystal structure some show a different hardness in different directions Hardness Standard Mineral 1 Talc Rock salt Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Apatite Orthoclase Feldspar Quartz Topaz O en 11 1 7 Luminescence Some minerals exhibit luminescence It is caused by the conversion of different forms of energy mechanical chemical thermal or electromagnetic into luminous energy It occurs in a number of minerals in which the crystal lattices contain admixtures of foreign atoms eg rare earths Ag Cr Mn 5 U02 3 which are called luminescent substances On the other hand luminescence does not exist if some other atoms are present in the crystal lattice eg Fe Ni these are called luminescent screens In minerals in which the luminescent substance is part of the crystal lattice luminescence 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 77 MineralDB is a regular phenomenon eg fluorite sche
60. g Editing Records 32 Analytical Tests 27 Chemical Tests 26 Classification 31 Crystalography 28 Filters 25 Hyperlinks 25 Localities 29 Navigation 25 Overview 24 Summary Page 26 Variants 30 Mineral Idenfification 63 Specifying Criteria 63 Mineral Identificatin 64 Reset 64 Mineral Identification 19 63 64 Filter Type Selection 63 Results Filter 63 Running Query 64 Weighting Factor 63 Mineral Index 19 MineralDB 3 4 5 6 Benefits 3 Demo Version 4 Features 3 Hardware Requirements 6 Lite Version 4 Proffessional Version 4 Program Versions 4 Software Requirements 6 Standard Version 4 Statistics 3 Version Features 5 Moh s hardness scale 76 Molecular weight 92 N Navigation 19 25 54 Mineral database 25 Mineral Hyperlinks 25 Mineral Index 19 Personal collecion database 54 New Collection 67 78 Open tube test 83 Opening 68 Options Menu 18 Client Information 18 Locality Information 18 Overview 17 24 45 58 Mineral Database 24 Personal Collection Database 45 Reports 58 User Interface 17 Oxidising flame 83 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 97 MineralDB P Page Tabs 20 Password 66 Changing 66 Clearing 66 Setting 66 Personal Collection Database 40 42 45 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Assigning a specimen image 40 Associated minerals 53 Catalogue System 48 Clients form 52 Date index card printed 51 Dat
61. he following benefits Rapid access to mineralogical data Tools to assist in mineral identification Minimal typing to accurately record specimen details Consistency in data entry Detailed reports to record collection inventory Production of valuation reports for insurance purposes Generation of sales reports for business use Creation of specimen labels and index cards to various designs An organised way to store photographs of mineral specimens Support for multiple mineral collection catalogues 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Introduction 4 Finally MineralDB personal collection database is not based on a propriety data format Data is stored in a Microsoft Access database table and can if necessary be accessed by alternative mainstream software products In this way users who may have tried alternative products in the past should feel secure about the longevity of cataloging their collection using MineralDB Database Structure MineralDB consists of three integrated databases and two image libraries mineral and specimen The key link between these databases is the mineral name This enables mineral properties for a specimen in a personal collection to be displayed together with its specific details It also enables specimen location details to be checked or obtained from the locality database LABELS amp INDEX CARDS T REPORTS Personal Collection Database Image
62. her a full or compact program installation a Setup MineralDB Select Components Which components should be installed Select the components you want to install clear the components you do not want to install Click Next when you are ready to continue Full installation v Installs Images to HardDisk 183 0 MB Current selection requires at least 211 7 MB of disk space The compact installation 28 MB does not transfer the example images and crystal graphics to the computer and the installation CD must be place in athe CD drive when using the software in order to view them Note in this mode its also not possible to add additional example minerals to the database 2 2 2 Windows 95 98 ME 1 To install the software click on the MineralDB button from the list of install options 2 The installation process will start and after clicking next the following dialogue will be displayed This a reminder that MDAC Microsoft Data Access Components will also need to be installed with operating systems other than Windows 2000 or XP see later 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Software Installation 12 js Setup MineralDB Information Please read the following important information before continuing When you are ready to continue with Setup click Next MineralDB You may require MDAC to use MineralDB if you are using Windows 95 98 or NT 4 If this i
63. ically to maintain good performance 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 71 MineralDB Compact Only one database file can be compacted at a time The user can select the database file to compact Select Database to Compact from the list provided E The collection files will require the most attention n Heavy use of the mineral identification facility may Mineral Database require the mineral database file to be compacted Localities Database togi f Sahnalder Colaci n o give maximum performance Properties Database This utility is run from the MineralDB File menu 10 3 Configuring Database Paths This option allows the location paths of the images used by the database to be altered from the default values configured at program installation The option is accessed from the Configure option on the File menu The program image paths are set up at program installation If however the user chooses to relocate where these images are stored for example change from run from CD to hard disk or if a CD drive letter changes these can be altered here Configure Three types of images files are stored 1 MineralDB Example Images 2 Crystal Graphic Images Defaut 3 Specimen Photographs Language Support The new path is specified by clicking on the box to the right of the box showing the current path MineralDB Image Path setting C MineraDB Images Mi
64. ion with differing degrees of detail Reports can be sorted by either Specimen ID Classification or Location Financial Reports that summarise the current value of the collection Reports can be sorted by either Specimen ID Classification or Location A summary is provided at the end of the report Locality Print details of mineral locations Report page output is limited Unfiltered Various reports for which filters are inappropriate 8 4 Report Filters Report filters allow the output of the report to be restricted Some filters are only applicable for certain reports and are not made available to others Please see the filter matrix table for a list of available filters for each report type Filters include 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 61 MineralDB 8 4 1 8 5 Specimen ID Range Classification Mineral Variant Specimen Status Photograph Status Label Print Status Index Card Print Status Storage Location Multiple filters can be combined if required Filter Matrix Country Location Text Keywords Catalogue Date Appraisal Date Client Transaction Date Range Filter Type Labels Index Cards Photo Inventory Financial Loans amp Locality Index Sales Specimen ID Classification Mineral Spec Status SS OS Photo Status 5 TU lt KN lt lt lt lt lt lt lt Label Status lt
65. ith the polarizing microscope The combination of pericline and albite twinning produce a cross hatched pattern called tartan twinning as discussed above that easily distinguishes microcline from the other feldspars under the microscope 11 4 6 X Ray Powder Diffraction Each crystalline solid has its unique characteristic X ray powder pattern which may be used as a fingerprint for its identification A beam of X rays are aimed at a powder sample of mineral and the deflection of the beam 15 recorded by a detector The crystal lattice nature of the mineral results in the beam to be scattered in particular directions The intensity and angle of deviation is recorded Providing the wavelength of the x ray beam is known it is possible to calculate the distance D hkl between the crystal lattices These distances and the relative intensity of the diffracted beam associated with them are the finger prints recorded in this database Powdered Sample 11 4 7 Unit Cell Volume Calculated from the geometry of the basic repeating crystal cell unit Usually reported in cubic Angstroms 1010 m The unit cell is the smallest unit of a mineral that retains all of the physical chemical and crystallographic properties of a mineral The volume of the unit cell is important in Specific Gravity calculations 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 92 CRYSTAL SYSTEM UNIT CELL VOLUME
66. itional background information about the current collection file To save changes to this information press the Save button below the dB Info panel See Updating Personal Collection Info Database Password A personal database password can be set for the current collection This is set via the Set Password button and can be cleared via the Clear Password button located below the DB Info panel Individual collections can have different passwords If a password has been set for a collection file the password must be entered before the collection can be opened by MineralDB 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 67 MineralDB Collection Management The collection manager can be used to open a previously created collection database rename existing database or create a new blank database Databases can also be deleted or archived restored from an archive using the backup restore buttons Note These features are not available in the demo and version of MineralDB 10 1 1 Creating a New Collection Database A new collection can be created by pressing the New button on the Collection Manager A dialogue screen will request the file name for the new database After creation this new file becomes the active database collection file and MineralDB will open it Under certain circumstances it may be necessary to now close the collection manager using the close button befor
67. itreous Resinous Greasy lustre is a self explanatory term This is shown particularly by minerals displaying numerous microscopic inclusions such as opal and cordierite Pearly lustre is typical of transparent or semitransparent minerals with a perfect cleavage such as gypsum muscovite or stilbite Silky lustre is peculiar to minerals having a parallel fine fibrous structure such as asbestos and crocidolite Dull glimmering lustre is typical of minerals of an earthy character such as kaolinite and pyrolusite 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 78 11 1 9 Magnetism Strong magnetism is actually shown only by the mineral magnetite to a lesser extent by pyrrhotite hematite and wolframite A large number of minerals are attracted to a strong magnet particularly when they contain iron manganese and nickel Magnetism is shown also by some other minerals Such as cassiterite when they contain submicroscopic particles of ferro magnetic minerals In mineralogy this property of minerals may be used in gravel and sand separation 11 1 10 Odour Some minerals can be identified by the characteristic odour particularly when heated or rubbed eg sulphur and some sulphides such as pyrite or marcasite produce an odour of sulphur while arsenopyrite gives off a garlicky smell 11 1 11 Reflectance Pseudochromatic apparently coloured minerals Their colouring is due to various optical properti
68. k which is the colour of the fine powder produced by scratching the mineral It may be obtained quite easily and is very useful in identifying opaque or semi transparent minerals which have rich colours The powder may be obtained by scratching the mineral with a sharp point or rubbing it on a streak plate ie a piece of unglazed porcelain or the back of a tile However it must not be forgotten that the hardness of porcelain is 6 6 5 Coloured minerals always produce a coloured streak which is a little lighter than the true colour of the mineral Generally colourless and discoloured minerals produce a white or light grey streak The colour of the streak will vary if the mineral is tested in its crystal form or in compact earthy pieces When determining streak only those parts of the mineral which do not contain admixtures of foreign minerals should be used 11 1 13 Tarnish Iridescent tarnish is exhibited by certain opaque minerals of metallic lustre such as chalcopyrite or bornite as a result of oxidation of their surface 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 79 MineralDB 11 1 14 Taste Minerals soluble in water such as rock salt epsomite and others have a characteristic taste being respectively saline and bitter However some soluble minerals such as witherite are poisonous 11 1 15 Tenacity The cohesiveness of a mineral or the resistance a mineral offers to breaking crushing bending
69. k the Save button at the bottom right to save the changes 10 1 3 Opening a Collection Select and highlight the collection from the list displayed by the collection manager Press the Open button This closes the current collection file and opens the selected file If MineralDB is closed this collection will now be the collection file opened when MineralDB is next started Note Under certain circumstances MineralDB will only continue to load after the collection manager is closed by using the close button 10 1 4 Renaming a Collection Select and highlight the collection from the list displayed by the collection manager Press the Rename button A dialogue will ask for the new name for the collection file 10 1 5 Deleting a Collection Select and highlight the collection from the list displayed by the collection manager Press the Delete button Ifthe deleted collection is the current collection MineralDB will now not display a personal collection file until a new file is selected or created 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 69 MineralDB 10 1 6 Backing up a Collection A personal collection and its associated image files can be backed up to a compressed backup file using the facility on the Collection Manager The collection manager is accessed from the File menu To back up a collection selected the required database to back up from the list of available collecion
70. latinum wire previously dipped in nitric acid to the blue reducing cone of a Bunsen flame The resulting flame colour is observed Crystallography Mineral crystals can be divided into the following crystallography systems according to the level of symmetry they exhibited by their crystal axes lengths and crystal axes angles Cubic Tetragonal Hexagonal Orthorhombic Trigonal e Monoclinic e Triclinic e Amorphous Each crystal system can be further divided into classes according to the layout of their crystal faces which can also affect the number of planes of symmetry observed in the crystal These can also be described using Herman Maugin Notation See the sections on the individual crystal systems for more details The following properties are determined from X Ray Powder Diffraction e Formula Unit Cell Volume 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 84 Calculated Density These properties can be found on the summary page Crystal Habit e Twinning Return to Glossary 11 4 1 Crystal Axes Lengths The crystal axes lengths are denoted by the letters a b and c In the case of the hexagonal system where three horizontal axes exist a1 a2 a3 and c The values for these lengths are normalised to the longest axis length When the a and b axes are equal only the a axis length is specified If all axes are of the same length no value is specified Axial ratios are the
71. le Orthorhombic e Tetragonal Turquoise e Trigonal Double clicking on the crystal graphic will generate a 3 D model of the crystal that can be manipulated using the mouse cursor Right clicking with the mouse will cycle through various display options such as multi coloured faces or a wire frame model Press keypad h to get the full menu of options as displayed below 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved User Interface 22 Key Shortcuts m menu on indices on off fit to screen stereo pair on off draw edges animation around x axis animation around y axis animation around 2 axis animation speed faster animation speed slower SPACE start stop animation n x Mouse functions Double Click start stop animation Right Mouse Click toggle display Ctrl Mouse drag zoom 3 7 Status Bar The status bar shows the status of the current database view Record 3949 of 4153 Main Database J Schneider Miner al Collection The following information is displayed The size of the current recordset and the current record position Current database view main or personal Title of the personal collection loaded Active filters on the current dataset Fers 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Database 24 4 Mineral Database 4 1 Overview The main purpose of the mineral dat
72. lecting an image the Add Copyright watermark dialogue opens This gives the user the opportunity to preview the information that will be applied as a watermark to the stored image and alter it if required Add Copyright Would you like to add the following Copyright to the Image Description DIOPTASE Location Tsumeb Mine Tsumeb Namibia Copyright Copyright Alistair Scobie Example DIOPTASE Tsumeb Mine Tsumeb Namibia Copyright Alistair Scobie The example text is important to check as any text that exceeds the size of the window will be 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Image Database 42 cropped when displayed by the program Ifthis occurs try to shorten the description or location text as necessary Pressing adds the displayed watermark to the image pressing Cancel adds the images with no watermark Update Personal Image Record The program automatically updates its record of what specimens have images associated with it for the purposes of reports and report filters when an image is added However there is a facility to check and update the entire collection database 6 2 Deleting a Specimen Image Mineral and specimen images are deleted using the installationn the image display pane Delete Image Select Image to Delete If more than one image exists use the record navigation buttons below the image to select the desir
73. ly valid Catalogue ID s can be selected To find a particular Locality Entry Double click on a Locality Field A Goto Record Dialogue for the particular field of interest is displayed Only valid locality entries can be selected Goto Record Enter Value for Site T own Tsumeb v The first occurrence of that locality text will become the focus of the database Use an appropriate filter to list all similar records and the record navigation buttons to move through the filtered recordset To find a particular Storage LocationStorage Location Double click on a Storage Location Field 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 55 MineralDB A Goto Record Dialogue is displayed Only valid storage locations can be selected Use an appropriate filter to list all similar records and the record navigation buttons to move through the filtered recordset To find a particular Keyword Double click on the Keywords Field A Goto Record Dialogue is displayed Only valid keywords can be selected Use an appropriate filter to list all similar records and the record navigation buttons to move through the filtered recordset 7 8 Using Filters In addition to the classification filter and concise filter which apply also to the main mineral database an additional filter can also be applied to the records in the personal collection database This filter can be selected from a co
74. m the main database to the personal collection database will also clear this filter Warning The previous filter text remains present on the query builder even after an applied filter is removed It must be actively deleted line by line if a completely new query is required 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved Database Maintenance 66 10 Database Maintenance 10 1 Collection Manager The collection manager is used to manage personal collection databases It is divided into two panes current database details on displayed the left and collection database file management is performed on the right Mineral DB Collection Manager Select your Personal Collection Current Collection Collections Available Demo Collection AWScobie collection Demo Collection John Schneider collection Schneider collection Tsumeb Rare Species collection Header Demo Mineral Collection Sub Header Address of User Currency DB Info Example personal collection database Current Collection Details The name of the current personal collection file is displayed Below are Header and Sub Header and currency text fields that are used for title and other fields by the program label and report facilities Itis important to enter data and then save these changes before producing reports from a collection database file The DB Info field can be used to store add
75. mbo box of available filters located immediately to the left of the filter unfilter button Many of these filters are designed to work with the personal collection navigation functions Filter Type um Filter Site T own Town County Get Locality County State Country Appraised on or before Image Photo Exists Save Locality To apply a filter select the desired filter from the list and press the filter button To remove the filter press this button now labeled unfilter again Where applicable the filter is applied to the using the data in the specified field of the current record For example If the current specimen is a specimen of Amethyst applying a Variant filter will filter to specimens of Amethyst only In addition to filters based on data in a current record there are additional filters to filter records for which images have or have not been assigned and where appraisal information is absent or out of date 79 Multiple Collection Files MineralDB Standard and Proffessional supports multiple collection files A new collection can be generated via the File Menu New Collection command It is important that collection files all have individual names Images can be stored independantly for each collection database 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Database 56 To switch between available collection files use the Open C
76. mical Crystallogapty Locales Vanenis Country Fiter v characterized by hydrotheemal replacement Occurrence Additional Filter LI 000000000000 Cree Santa do Poss Minst Brazil Golconda Mire Mns Gers Biazi Govemor Valadares Minas Gerais Brazil pegmalite Lavsa de Sr Jose Pinto Municipo de Timoteo Jacussacu Minas Gerais Brazil Jaguaracu Pegmatte Jaguaacu Minas Gerais Brazil Parsiba Mine Sao Jos da Batalha Para ba Beart Pedernera mne Sao Jose Safra Minas Gerais Brazi Rio Doce Valley Governor Valadares Minas Gerais Brazil Sarta Rota Mine Minas Gerais Brazil Urubu pegmatie Asopus Minas Gerais Xanda mne Vegem Lapa Minas Gerais Brazi Double clicking on a locality entry opens the Locality Filter Form This gives a list of all reported minerals found at that locality 4 8 Variants This page list variants of the current mineral The variants are displayed in a list Highlighting a particular variant updates the information on the page relevant to the highlighted variant If variant images are available in the image database these are automatically updated in the image display window also A description of the variant is given and if the distinguishing characteristic is due to a chemical dominance or a trace element in the mineral this is given also The lower section
77. n base Personal Collection ___ menm acc ess Te TT LR nn en atm P The database selection menu is shown above In this example the Main Database mineral database is the current active view This is indicated by the text on the left hand side Only the button to the alternative database view is active If no personal collection is loaded the Personal Collection button remains inactive 3 5 Page Tabs The page tabs for the mineral database are shown below Sumay Physical Optical Chemical Cryitaliogrsohy Locales Vanenis Classification lt DAA When using the personal collection database the above tabs are available plus the Collection page tab 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 21 MineralDB 3 6 The collection page tab displays the data for the personal collection the other tabs deal with specific mineralogical data Crystal Graphic A crystal graphic is displayed on the top left portion of the screen For most common minerals this is an example of the actual crystal geometry of the current mineral Crystal Class Trigonal For rarer minerals a generic illustration for the appropriate crystal system and class is shown Each major crystal system has a different colour graphic and different crystal classes within a crystal system are also shades of this primary colour e Triclinic Yellow e Cubic Red e Hexagonal Blue e Monoclinic Pink Purp
78. n this crystal system form on or parallel the c axis 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 86 11 4 3 3 Hexagonal faces of most all forms in this crystal system form on or parallel the c axis 11 4 3 4 Orthorhombic C 11 4 3 5 Trigonal Crystal axes al a2 a3 Axes angles a b 90 g 120 The hexagonal system can be divided into the following classes e Dihexagonal Dipyramidal e Dihexagonal Pyramidal e Ditrigonal Dipyramidal e Pyramidal e Trapezoidal e Trigonal faces of most all forms in this crystal system form on or parallel the c axis Crystal axes a b Axes angles b g 90 The orthorhombic system can be divided into the following classes e Dipyramidal e Disphenoidal e Pyramidal the faces of the orthorhombic prism if present are parallel the c axis Crystal axes a1 a2 a3 Axes angles a b g 90 The trigonal system can be divided into the following classes e Ditrigonal Pyramidal e Hexagonal Scalenohedral e Pyramidal Rhombohedral Trapezoidal faces of most all forms in this crystal system form on or parallel the c axis 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 87 MineralDB 11 4 3 6 Monoclinic C 11 4 3 7 Triclinic 11 4 3 8 Amorphous Crystal axes a b c Axes angles a g 90 b 90 The monoclinic system can be divided into the following
79. nal Collection Mode Apply or remove Classification Concise mode filters as required These filters will affect what minerals can be chosen from the mineral selection box see below Press the insert record button A blank record will be generated and the form will switch to edit mode A mineral selection box will appear on the screen Select a desired mineral by starting to type in the selection box and pressing lt enter gt when the desired mineral becomes highlighted in the drop down list box Add Locality Information This can be done manually or locations can be retrieved from the locality database Add additional information as required into the record fields following fields are completed automatically when a new record is created Date Catalogued current date Catalogue ID specimen ID Purchased price zero Last appraisal zero Label Text combination of mineral and variant name Specimen Status in collection If an appraisal value is altered the appraisal date is automatically updated to the current date Editing an Existing Record 1 oon Ensure database is in Personal Collection Mode Apply or remove Classification Concise mode filters as required These filters will affect what personal collection records are visible and can be edited They also will affect what minerals can be chosen from the mineral selection box see below if the intension is to change the mineral associated with
80. ne een Birefringence e EE 80 Dispersion _ SO M 80 Extiction gae 80 Interference Figure c 80 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Contents IV Pleochroic Colour A stead E Refractive Index Sign of Elongation Thin SOCOM Colour 81 TWOV Angle ee 81 3 Chemical Properties uc ici 81 Borax Phosphor Bead Tests eases anne e saves suave cues gees 81 Closed Tube Test sanas nino i anna seats casts anode acedn SENSE 82 Flame Colour Fusibility Open TUD 02 RN 83 omen 83 Sublimation Character EE M 83 Oxidising ae ii e aio 83 Reducing AAPP o An 83 4 Crystallography 222 er icc non SK ida da nda ee ed es 83 Crystal Axes LANAS o ein 84 Cryst
81. neral record or assigned to an individual specimen but only the first specimen image can be used with reports and index cards The images must be in jpg JPEG format To add images to the database first photograph the mineral specimens saving the images in jpg format to a known location On pressing the Assign Image Button a windows explorer image browser window is opened Using the Look in directory selector and the folder file list box below the user can select the required image of the current specimen A preview window on the right can be used to check the correct image is selected The images size is also shown above When the correct file is located press the open button Pressing Cancel aborts the assign image operation 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 41 MineralDB Assign Jpeg Image Look rc E New Folder Pyromorphite2 Rhodochrosiel ipg Stbbnitel ipg Wulfenkel My Network Files of type JPEG Image Fie Image Size For image display purposes the image size should be at least 250 x 250 pixels For use with printed output image sizes should be at least 600 x 600 pixels There is no practical limit in the program for the size of images that can be stored The limiting factor will the computer system memory However very large images may take a noticeable time to load when collection database is being browsed Applying the Watermark After se
82. nformation form can be access via two routes either from the Menu Bar Options menu or via the Loans amp Sales tab Client Details button If the menu bar route is used the form opens in browse mode as shown below If the Client Details button is used then the state of the Client Information form depends on whether the current specimen record contains a client entry If it does then the form opens in browse mode otherwise it opens in insert mode to add a new client 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 53 MineralDB Client Information Client Select Client ID 1 Name C MINERALS Address Box 1376 Goldenrod Florida USA First Name Address1 PO Box 1376 Initial Address2 Goldenrod Surname IC MINERALS State County Flonda Country USA 407 679 0905 Telephone Post Zip Code 32733 1376 icmin aol com Notes Intemet Mineral Dealer When new client record is created the user must enter the name and contact information to the fields in the center section of the form Client details can be altered at any time by switching to edit mode using the Edit and Save buttons A particular client record can be selected using the client select combo box at the top of the form 7 5 6 Associated Minerals Associated minerals can be added or deleted using the record edit buttons These buttons are
83. nimage Crystal Image Path C MineraDB mages crystal Personal Image Path E MineraDB images SPimage To save hard disk space it is possible for images types 1 2 to be access directly from the installation CD However if the path to the CD drive changes then the new path can be set from this menu option Note its not possible to add specimen mineral example images if the directory path specified is the installation CD 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Database Maintenance 72 10 4 Language Support This menu setting is available from the File menu setting Users with Windows configured for a language other than english may need to use this option to enable specific Language Support language charcater support Defaut Default should pick up current operating system settings Image Paths 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 74 11 Glossary Contents Physical Properties Optical Properties Chemical Properties Crystallograph Classification 11 1 Physical Properties NAO The following physical properties are reported by the MineralDB database Cleavage Magnetism e Colour e Odour Density e Reflectance e Feel e Streak e Fracture e Tarnish e Hardness e Taste e Luminescence e Luster e Transparency Return to Glossary 11 1 1 Cleavage Cleavage is the abilit
84. olite O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O v Double clicking on an mineral entry will make it the new focus of the database 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Locality Database 36 5 4 Adding a Mineral Occurence to a Locality To add a new mineral to a particular locality first navigate to the locality filter form Locality Filter Jaguaracu Pegmatite Jaguaracu Minas Gerais Brazil X eral C Albite Anatase Berl C Biotie Cassiterite du VENE p Use the Locality Edit control to insert an new record Begin to type the mineral name an auto complete Ist box will pop up Continue to type until the required mineral is highlighted Then press lt enter gt c 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 37 MineralDB 5 5 5 6 Finding a Particular Locality The locality search form is opened via the Locality option on the options field of the menu bar Locality Form EX Country Filter USA Additional Fitter bun Locality Ashville Buncombe Co North Carolina USA Bunker Hil mine Kellogg Shoshone Co Idaho USA Goldsmith Mine Buncombe Co North Carolina USA Lookout Mt Montreat Buncombe North Carolina USA Meeper Mine Pisgah National Forest Buncombe Co North Carolina USA Seavey prospects Kenn
85. ollection command also on the File Menu MineralDB will always re open and display the collection database that was in use when it was last closed 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Reports 58 8 Personal Collection Reports 8 1 Overview The reporting facility is access from the file menu Reports Select Report Type Filter Options Specimen Labels w Selected Minatue Medium Label Displays Catalogue ID Mineral Location Dans Clatstication Logo and Collection Tite Specimen Range Sue 70 x 38 mm appr Layout Landscape 4 columna Paper letter Legal Max characters for label text 25 The page is divided into two sections e Report Selection See Report Types e Report Filters Note Be sure after creating a new personal collection database to update the Personal Database Info via the main Options Menu as this data appears on many of the reports 8 2 Generating a Report To generate a report Select the report type Select the paper size Apply the required filters Press the Print button On pressing the print button a dialogue form is displayed 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved 59 MineralDB Output Options Selected Printer Epson Stylus COLOR 740 2 Report Destination O Printer Preview O File Format Options Copies E
86. onal quality labels for my specimens and a valuation report to assist with the documentation and insurance of my collection As you will see reports and labels still remain a key feature but are now just a part of the total functionality of the software One of the most daunting aspects that one faces when cataloguing an existing collection is the sheer amount of typing involved with the associated possibility of typing errors incorrect labelling etc To minimise typing improve accuracy and give consistency of data entry the MineralDB database platform was developed This integrates a personal collection database with a mineral properties database and a localities database making it possible to write an application where auto complete functions are used to fill out mineral names provide label texts and catalogue numbers In addition specimen localities can be selected from and updated to a comprehensive localities database and intelligent filters can be applied to identify certain records that require printing or updating As a result much less time is spent entering and organising data enabling the user to spend more time on improving the quality of the descriptive and financial data This design has also meant that MineralDB can also act as a comprehensive electronic reference as it includes most of the currently recognised mineral species It has also enabled the implementation of facilities to search for mineral species with specific properti
87. popular menu items is available from the toolbar Aw Sr A TP 3 2 1 File Menu Collection Manager The collection manager is used to manage multiple collection database files create new collections and backup restore data If MineralDB cannot locate a collection file when it started eg before a collection has been created it is displayed automatically on program start up Otherwise is can be accessed at any time from the file menu Print Reports Opens the reports selection form Reset Print Status When specimen labels or index cards are printed MineralDB gives the user the option to record this Print Status This flag can be used as a filter in subsequent printing jobs to prevent unnecessary printing of duplicate labels This menu option resets this flag to unprinted for all specimen records Individual record status flags can be reset via Clear buttons on the Personal Collection Label Details tab Compact Database See chapter in Database Maintenace Configure Image Paths See chapter in Database Maintenace Exit Application Closes open database files and then exits the application 3 2 2 Options Menu Update Personal Images Selecting this option initiates the program to search through the current collection specimen image folder and match image names to database records updating an internal record of whether an image for each specimen exists or otherwise Itis useful to do this
88. r left otherwise the repeated twin approaches a curved for known as cyclic such as aragonite or chrysoberyl below L7 7 RN _ 11 4 5 1 Common Twin Laws 11 4 5 1 1 Cubic System Three types of twins are common in the cubic system Spinel Law 1 is a twin plane parallel to an octahedron It occurs commonly in mineral spinel MgAl204 111 The twin axis perpendicular to an octahedral face adds three fold rotational symmetry Iron Cross 001 The mineral pyrite FeS2 often shows the iron cross made of the interpenetration of two pyritohedrons Since this occurs in the class 2 m with no 4 fold rotation axes the 001 twin axis gives the mineral apparent 4 fold symmetry about 3 perpendicular axes 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 90 11 4 5 1 2 Tetragonal System Twinning in the tetragonal system usually occurs on 011 forming cyclical contact twins The minerals rutile and cassiterite SnO2 commonly show this type of twinning 11 4 5 1 3 Hexagonal System The minerals calcite CaCO3 and quartz SiO2 are the most common hexagonal minerals and both show the types of twinning common in hexagonal minerals Calcite Twins The two most common twin laws that are observed in calcite crystals are 0001 and the rhombohedron 012 Both are contact twins but the 012 twins can also occur as polysynthetic twins that result from deformation Quart
89. r can be added to the query a weighting factor normally 10096 can be applied so that more emphasis confidence can be but on some filters than others After the filter has been specified and a weighting factor set the filter can be added to the query using the Add Query button Display Results Z Accuracy 40 This process can be repeated to add additional filters In addition filter can be removed by selecting the displayed filter line to be removed and pressing the delete query button Finally the user can choose the cut off fit accuracy for displayed results If this is set at 100 all criteria specified must be met if a lower value is specified records which partially fit the search criteria will also be displayed 9 3 Running and Reseting Queries To apply the query constructed on the mineral identification form press the button To cancel the query and exit the form press the Cancel button When a query is applied the records in the database are filtered by the criteria specified and ordered by their degree of fit score and then by alphabetical order The user may now navigate through the filter recordset using the database navigation buttons or use the mineral index control which in mineral identification mode also displays the search score to the right of the mineral name To clear the applied filter and view all records in the database select Records Unfilter F9 from the file menu Moving fro
90. r of a mineral observed as a thin section under the microscope 11 2 10 Two V Angle This measurement is related to the three refractive indices of the mineral 11 3 Chemical Properties The following chemical properties and analytical tests are described e Borax Phosphor Bead Test e Closed Tube Test Flame Colour Fusibility Open Tube Test Solubility Sublimation Character Oxidising Flame Reducing Flame Return to Glossary 11 3 1 Borax Phosphor Bead Tests The mineral sample is fused with borax powder and presented on a clean platinum wire to a blowpipe flow The colours produced in the reducing and oxidising parts of the flame are observed The pair of colours can indicate the presence of certain metals Some examples are 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 82 ELEMENT OXIDISING FLAME REDUCING FLAME Iron Yellow hot colourless cold Bottle green Copper Blue Opaque red Chromium Yellowish green Emerald green Manganese Reddish violet Colourless Cobalt Deep blue Deep blue Nickel Reddish brown Uranium Yellow Pale green Phosphor Bead Test Similar results to the borax test ELEMENT OXIDISING FLAME REDUCING FLAME Iron Yellow hot colourless cold Red Brown hot Copper Green hot blue cold Red brown cold Chromium Green cold red brown hot Green col
91. ratio of the unit cell lengths using the length of the b axis as the common denominator or the a axis as the same if the b axis is not present 11 4 2 Crystal Axes Angles The angle between axes c and bis called a The angle between axes c and ais called b The angle between axes a and b is called g Where axes are orthogonal no angle is specified 11 4 3 Crystal Systems Mineral crystals can be divided into the following crystallography systems e Cubic e Tetragonal Hexagonal Orthorhombic Trigonal Monoclinic Triclinic Amorphous Each crystal system can be further divided into classes according to the layout of their crystal faces which can also affect the number of planes of symmetry observed in the crystal See the sections on the individual crystal systems for more details 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 85 MineralDB 11 4 3 1 Cubic Consists of 3 mutually perpendicular axes of equal length Crystalaxes a b c Axes angles a b g 90 The cubic system can be divided into the following classes e Diploidal Gyroidal Hexoctahedral Hextetrahedral Tetartoidal 11 4 3 2 Tetragonal Crystal axes a b Axes angles a b g 90 The tetragonal system can be divided into the following classes Dipyramidal Dispenoidal Ditetragonal Dipyramidal Ditetragonal Disphenoidal Ditetragonal Pyramidal e Pyramidal Scalenohedral faces of most all forms i
92. s and press the back up button Selecting Backup opens a dialogue asking the user to specify a name and location for the backup file Once this is entered all personal collection catalogues and image directories are stored in a file in the back up directory Backup files have a file extension of CCAB Also If the backup of an active collection file is over a month old a user will be advised to perform a back up when the application is started Note This operation will overwrite existing back up files with the same name and directory 10 1 7 Restoring a Collection Selecting the restore options opens a dialogue that enables the user to select a previously made back up file If multiple personal collection catalogues are being used it is import that the back up file name makes it clear which database is being restored from backup as the current database of the same name will be overwritten 10 1 8 Exporting Collection Data MineralDB provides a facility to export the currently loaded collection database to xml file format The xml file is a standard format that can be imported into Microsoft Excel and other database applications To export collection data press the export button located at the bottom left of the collection manager window A dialogue box will open requesting you to specify a location in which to save the files 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Database Maintenance 70
93. s for example colour These are known as variants An example would be ruby and sapphire with are variants of corundum Synonyms are alternative names for the same mineral species Finally there are some minerals with identical chemistry but different physical form These are know as polymorphs A good example would be Graphite and Diamond 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 93 MineralDB The molecular weight and elemental composition can be calculated from the chemical formula Mineral chemistry associated minerals and form is often related to the Environment where it was formed Return to Glossary 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Index 94 Index sd 3D Model 21 Display Options 21 Key shortcuts 21 A Adobe Acrobat 8 Analytical Tests 27 Blowpipe 27 Borax Bead 27 Phosphor Bead 27 B Backing up collection 69 Backup 69 Birefringence 80 Borax bead test 81 Braveno Law 90 Brazil Law 90 C Carlsbad Law 90 Chemical formula 92 Classification Filter 19 Cleavage 74 Closed tube test 82 Collection Manager 66 Colour 75 Common Twin Laws 89 90 Braveno Law 90 Brazil Law 90 Calcite Twins 90 Carlsbad Law 90 Cubic System 89 Cyclical Contact Twins 90 Cyclical Twins 90 Dauphine Law 90 Hexagonal System 90 Iron Cross 89 Japanese Law 90 Manebach Law 90 Monoclinic System 90 Orthorhombic System 90 Spinel Law 89 Staurolite Law
94. s the case please run MDAC_Install exe before this installation Please Note you may be required to reboot during the installation of MDAC 3 The next screen will require the entry of your registration details that were supplied with your purchase of the software fe Setup MineralDB Enter Registration Details You need to be a registered user to be able to proceed Enter your registration details then click Next User Name Registration Code 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved MineralDB 4 The next screen will ask you to choose approve the program installation directory 5 Finally before installation begins its possible to select either a full or compact program installation a Setup MineralDB Select Components Which components should be installed Select the components you want to install clear the components you do not want to install Click Next when you are ready to continue Full installation v Installs Images to HardDisk 183 0 MB Current selection requires at least 211 7 MB of disk space The compact installation 28 MB does not transfer the example images and crystal graphics to the computer and the installation CD must be place in athe CD drive when using the software in order to view them Note in this mode its also not possible to add additional example minerals to the database 6 After MineralDB is
95. so allow the user to create their own customisable reports and support website publishing Features Features Personal Collection Feature Professional Standard Lite Demo Mineral species unlimited gt 4000 500 50 Import locations from Locality Database Y Y Y Y Specimen description geometry v Y Y Y Financial details v Y Y Y Catalogue status Y Y Y Y Label print status Y Y Y N A Store specimen images v Y Y Y Store Client Contact Details unlimited unlimited unlimited 5 Multiple Collection Files Y Y Mineral Database Feature Professional Standard Lite Demo Mineral Species unlimited gt 4000 500 50 Full mineral property data Y Y Y Y Mineral Identification Y Y limited Edit Database Add new mineral species Y Add Mineral Images to database Y Y Mineral Identification from XRD data v Reports and Labels 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Introduction 6 Feature Professional Standard Lite Demo Labels Y Y Y Index Cards Y Y Inventory Reports v v v Financial Reports Y v v Customisable Labels amp Reports Y or Publishing eg Items for sale v etc Reports can only be previewed not printed in the demo version 1 6 Requirements MineralDB has been designed for Windows XP but will run on the following 32 bit Windows operating systems e Windows XP e
96. t menu option gives copyright version and contact information 3 3 Navigation Toolbar The navigation toolbar contains the Classification Filter Mineral Index and Record Navigation buttons It also displays the current position and size of the current recordset Please refer to the overview page illustration for its location 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved User Interface 20 v Elements The classification filter contains a drop down list of the main Sulfides and sulphosalts classification divisions Halogenides Selecting a class other than lt All gt reduces the size of the Oxides current dataset to minerals that only belong to that class It also filters the minerals available from the mineral selector control Nitrates Carbonates and Borates Sulfates Chromates_Molybdates and Tungst Phosphates Arsenates and Vanadates Silicates Organic compunds Unclassified v The mineral index control is an auto complete combo box The user can scroll down the drop down list and select a mineral or type into the edit box In the latter case the focus of the list box moves as the user types When the correct mineral becomes highlighted pressing return selects that mineral The record navigation buttons perform the following operations gt JL Goto First Record Goto Previous Record Goto next Record Goto Last Record 3 4 Database Selection Main Database Mai
97. tered and press lt enter gt 5 Finally press OK to add the locality data to the current specimen record or Cancel to abandon the operation 2003 Scobie Software Solutions Rights Reserved 51 MineralDB 7 5 1 2 Why use the Locality Database 1 The locality database enables fast an consistent entry of locality data In many cases the information in the locality database may be more complete that the label that comes with a purchased specimen 3 Consistent spelling of locality data is important to the performance of inventory and financial reports that sort the collection records by locality 7 5 1 3 Exporting to the Locality Database 7 5 2 7 5 3 7 5 4 This is very simple to perform Simply press the Save Locality button on the personal collection page This can be done when the record is in browse or edit mode Entering Financial Details The financial information is stored on the Acquisition Financial tab of the personal collection page On this page the collector can record e The original purchase price of the specimen if bought How or from whom the specimen was obtained Date of Acquisition Last appraisal value When the appraisal value is updated the appraisal date is automatically updated to the current date This can be altered to a different date manually if required Finally their is a comments field for anything notable about the transaction or collection of the sp
98. the specimen Move to the record to be edited using the various navigation and filter tools Press edit record button The form will switch to edit mode A mineral selection box will appear on the screen Update fields as required After completing modifications press Save to save record or Cancel to abandon the changes If an appraisal value is altered the appraisal date is automatically updated to the current date 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Personal Collection Database 50 7 5 Adding Information 7 5 1 Entering Locality Information The locality fields can be updated while in edit or insert mode Site z Get Locality Apache Mine w Site Town Town County Save Locally v County State Country Grid Reference v USA v All fields have auto complete combo boxes to assist data entry The reason for this is to minimise typing and enable consistent spelling of locality details For the first four fields these controls attempt to complete the information based on what has been entered into the collection database inthe past Ifthe correct data is presented by the program the user can accept it otherwise he can continue typing The country fields has a lookup table of all current world countries The user can however still enter an alternative county or spelling as required MineralDB also has acomprehensive database of country state and province names to
99. to use the mineral index This is a drop down list box of mineral variant and synonym names v To use the mineral index begin to type in the name of the mineral of en interest when the mineral appears on the drop down list either select it Galenite Clsustha te with the mouse or wait unit it becomes highlighted and then press Galente C erante enter Galente Galena Galerne Niningente The selected mineral or its parent species will now become the focus of the database Galenobismutte Gakhaste Galkhate Gakhate Sol Select Mineral Sohngerar Galobeudarble Hermamorphste Sm hsonde Gamagante Gamenarimo Using database hyperlinks Various pages contain lists of related minerals These may be companion minerals polymorphs other minerals with similar classification or other species reported from a particular locality Double click on a mineral name to make this the new focus of the database Browsing the mineral database Record navigation buttons are provide on the navigation bar These enable the user to move backwards and forwards through the dataset as well as to the first or last record Database Filters Full Concise Filter The full Concise filter is used to reduce the size of mineral index and dataset to the most common 500 or so mineral species This improves browsing and red
100. uces the entries presented by the mineral index The filter is located under the Records menu option on the Menu Bar The filter is not active in the Lite version of the software Help AUR Concise Database Mineral Identification A UnFilter Classification Filter 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Mineral Database 26 v The classification filter is located to the left of the mineral index on the navigation toolbar Elements The filter consists of a drop down list of Strunz Mineral Classes Sulfides and sulphosalts that can be used to filter the mineral index and the underlying Halogenides dataset Oxides When active only minerals in the selected class are listed in the mineral index or available to browse using the record navigation toolbar Nitrates Carbonates and Borates Sulfates Chromates Molybdates and Tungst Phosphates Arsenates and Vanadates Silicates Using a hyperlink to another mineral however will cause this filter rganic compunds to be returned to All minerals Unclassified 4 4 Summary The summary page is the first page in the database It displays the most important mineral properties of interest to a mineral collector Many of these are repeated on the other detail pages Properties reported here include e Classification e Hardness Rarity Density e Colour e Environment e Streak e Habit e Har
101. xtinction Angle Interference Figure Pleochroic Colour Pleochroism Refractive Index Sign of Elongation Thin Section Colour Two V Angle Return to Glossary 2003 Scobie Software Solutions All Rights Reserved Glossary 80 11 2 1 Birefringence The difference between refractive index na and ng n N This is sometimes reported as e None e Low 0 005 0 015 Moderate 0 015 0 030 e High 0 030 0 065 e Very high 50 065 11 2 2 Dispersion The ability of the mineral to separate out the component colours in a white light ray This is related to the refractive index of the mineral 11 2 3 Extiction Angle The extinction angle is the angle measured using a microscope between the crystallographic plane and the position the mineral must be rotated to when placed between crossed nicols to extinguish all light 11 2 4 Interference Figure An interference figure may be produced when a divergent light beam passes through a section of mineral plate Uniaxial interference figures consist of a set of concentric Newton s Rings with a centered Maltease Cross Biaxial interference figures are more complicated and depend on how the sample is presented Isotropic Cubic System Uniaxial Tetragonal and Hexagonal System Biaxial Orthorhombic Monoclinic and Triclinic Systems The sign of the interference figure can be determined by observing the patterns produced by placing mica or gypsum plat
102. y of minerals to separate readily into definite directions Minerals may cleave in one two three or more directions Like hardness cleavage is one of the properties of mineral cohesion Cleavage is a good identification feature particularly in well crystallized but imperfectly developed minerals Cleavage depends on the internal crystal structure and remains constant for a given mineral Crystals always cleave in the direction of least cohesion ie in the direction of the smallest force which binds the molecules together It can be seen to best advantage when the mineral is struck with a hammer Bodies obtained by cleaving some minerals bounded on all sides by cleavage planes are called cleavage forms eg in rock salt calcite or fluorite Some minerals possess a good cleavage along the crystallographic planes eg rock salt or calcite some others cleave only along certain cleavage planes eg aragonite Many minerals are named by their typical cleavage Orthoclase exhibits a cleavage along straight planes and plagioclase cleaves obliquely while euclase has a perfect cleavage The following types of cleavage are recognised Perfect cleavage when a mineral separates easily into thin laminae usually in one direction eg graphite gypsum chlorite and muscovite Good or distinct cleavage when crystals reduced to smaller fragments always retain the shape of eg a cube such as galena or rock salt or a hombohedron such as calcite
103. z shows three other hexagonal twins Brazil Law 110 is a penetration twin that results from transformation Dauphin Law 0001 is also a penetration twin that results from transformation Japanese Law 112 is a contact twin that results from accidents during growth 11 4 5 1 4 Orthorhombic System Orthorhombic crystals commonly twin on planes parallel to a prism face The most common is a 110 twin that results in many orthorhombic minerals having cyclical twins 110 Cyclical Twins The mineral aragonite CaCO3 chrysoberyl BeAI2O4 and cerrusite PbCO3 commonly develop twinning on 110 This results in a cyclical twin which gives these minerals a pseudo hexagonal appearance Staurolite Law The mineral staurolite is really monoclinic but it has a B angle very close to 900 so it has the appearance of an orthorhombic mineral Two types of interpenetration twins occur in staurolite the 031 twins from a right angled cross and the 231 twins form a cross at about 60 11 4 5 1 5 MonoclinicSystem The most common twins in the monoclinic system occur on the planes 100 and 001 The feldspars orthoclase and sanidine are the most commonly twinned minerals in the monoclinic system Both contact twins and penetration twins occur and both types result from accidents during growth Manebach Law 001 forms a contact twin commonly observed in the mineral orthoclase This twinning is very diagnostic of orthoclas

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