Search tips

This web environment allows you to search the database of geological collections held at the Institute of Geology at Tallinn University of Technology. You could find here data on:

• The specimens, such as fossils, mineral or rock specimens, meteorites, registered on individual basis;
• Collections - sets of individual items;
• Geological localities - boreholes and outcrops where most of the rock material and information comes from;
• References where specimens or localities are described;
• Drillcores;
• Rock samples taken for further analysis as well as results of such analysis (e.g., microfossil distribution).

Easiest, yet not the most efficient possibility is the SIMPLE SEARCH, that tries to find relevant information from several fields of numerous tables in the collections database. For instance, query string 'Rapla', would find records on specimens coming from the Rapla borehole, but also data on the Rapla drillcore and on the publications describing the section and fossils thereof.

Since the entire database structure is relatively complicated and it is not possible to design an universal query tool using just one search field, everyone is encouraged to use the more sophisticated (but still easy to use) ADVANCED SEARCH INTERFACE, where you can indicate the main table to query and select one or many of several possible search criteria provided.
Although the search form is supposed to be self-explanatory, it is perhaps necessary to stress the following:

• The search is not case sensitive, thus asaphus=Asaphus.
• In textual fields, the default search operator is "CONTAINS", that is the records to be found must contain the search string. For instance looking for specimens with name "asa" would retrieve all Asaphus-es as well. Thus there is no need to fully write out long names. Using "EQUALS" requires exact match indeed, other options include "STARTS WITH" and "ENDS WITH".
• In numeric fields, "EQUALS" is the default operator, but actually "GREATER THAN", "SMALLER THAN" and "BETWEEN" may prove more useful. In latter case, you have to specify two numeric values separated by a space.
• Stratigraphy and Taxonomy represent hierarchical structures and for them there is a special option "HIERARCHY". In this case, searching for Viru Series, all records where some of the subdivisions of the series (e.g. Aseri Stage or Idavere Substage) is stored in the stratigraphy field will also be found. The predefined hierarchies, taxonomy in particular, are however being currently rebuilt and may therefore be not working always as expected.
• Operators containing NOT may sometimes be tricky to use.
• Using several criteria together, the default option is "AND", that is all criteria must be true for the query result. Else you can use "OR" that requires one (or more) of the criteria to be true.

To simplify finding images stored in the database, one can use BROWSING IMAGES feature to browse, find and filter images on fossils and localities. Use the search form like described above. Clicking on the image would take you to a larger file (most usable for 10x15cm print).
NB! Using images for commercial purposes is not allowed! Non-commercial usage is up to you as long as appropriate credit to the Institute of Geology at TUT and the author of particular image is given. For details see: Creative Commons License.

In the near future a MAP INTERFACE will also be provided to search and display data.

EXPERIMENT!
and let us know about problems and questions.