Click on the tab title for more information on each tab.
Basic Identification/Location or
Advanced Identification/Location - Allows you to search by MINFILE names, numbers, status (showings to major producing mines) and location (NTS
map, longitude/latitude).
Basic
Mineral Occurrence or
Advanced Mineral Occurrence - Allows you to search by commodity, mineralogy and alteration, deposit character, classification and type
(based on BC Mineral Deposit Profiles)
Basic Host Rock
or Advanced
Host Rock - Allows you to search by lithology, stratigraphic names and ages.
Basic
Geological Settings or
Advanced Geological Settings - Allows you to search by tectonic belt, terrane, physiographic area and metamorphism.
Basic Inventory
or Advanced
Inventory - Allows you to search by inventory information.
Basic
Production or
Advanced
Production - Allows you to search by production information.
Basic Bibliography and Capsule Geology or
Advanced Bibliography and Capsule Geology - Allows you to search the Bibliographic and / or capsule geology comments by entering search keywords.
Basic
Import Numbers or
Advanced Import Numbers - Allows you to import a series of MINFILE record numbers to use as a search filter.
Many of the basic and advanced searches in MINFILE make use of Boolean logic. This logic depends
upon "And"..."Or"..."Not"... statements. In those search
menus which use this logic, the search statements have been converted into sentence form
in order to make them easy to understand. Just fill in the blank(s) with the code(s) of
the parameter(s) that you would like to search the database on and the system will do the
rest.
1. Hints for Searches in MINFILE
Of the various searches available to users of MINFILE, several provide for the ability to select
from a range of valid choices. Complete lists of these descriptions and their codes can be found in Appendices
A, B, C, D, E, and F of this manual. See specific searches for details.
2. Between Searches
Notice that after you do a search, the "Search Filter Criteria" and "Number of Records Returned"
is displayed at the top of the search result screen. If it does not change, then your search criteria have not narrowed the database
or you have made an error.
For both basic and advanced searches, after each search, this number will either remain the same (if all occurrences
met the search criteria) or become smaller (if the search narrowed the field of acceptable
data). If the number goes to "0" then no data meets the criteria you specified
or you have made an error.
To begin a new advanced search with the complete dataset, you need to hit the Return to Search button
and you should be back to the Total Records equal to that of the complete dataset. If you are not then hit the Clear
button.
To begin a new basic search with the complete dataset, you need to hit either the New button and you
should be back to the Total Records equal to that of the complete dataset. If you are not then hit the Clear
button.
HINT: If you would like to keep a record of these search results, you can either generate a report (MINFILE Reports, Chapter IV) or
create a search file from MINFILE/www that can be imported back into MINFILE/pc at a later time (see
Import Search File, Chapter III, Section
K).
3. Limitations to MINFILE Searches
There are some limitations to the searches performed by MINFILE/pc and MINFILE/www. While these
are not of great concern, it pays to keep them in mind when you are interpreting the
results of your searches.
The first of these is MINFILE/pc's inability to distinguish between the various
levels of ranked data. For example, each MINFILE occurrence may contain numerous
significant minerals, which are stored in the database in descending order of importance.
The first commodity for each occurrence is called the primary commodity, and is recognized
as such by the system. However, any other commodity for that occurrence is treated as
equal, whether it is second on the list, or eleventh.
It is also important to note that all commodities reported for an occurrence
need NOT be economically viable. In effect, the MINFILE data includes occurrences with
very small amounts of a commodity, just as it includes occurrences with commercially
valuable amounts of a commodity. There is no distinction made (except in the status
designation) between the two, this judgment is up to you!
Another limitation to the searches occurs in the "Deposits with
production" search. It is important to remember that this search does NOT require
that each of the occurrences "found" have production figures for every year in
the range you specify. Similarly, deposits selected by this search are not restricted to
those with production only in the years you specify. For example, if you enter the range
1980 to 1990, MINFILE will select all occurrences that have recorded production in any of
those years but not necessarily all of them.
None of these limitations are "crippling", as long as you remember
that they exist, and take them into account when you are interpreting search results. It
is highly recommended that you refer to the MINFILE Coding Manual for the rules and
regulations applied to the data collection.
4. Executing MINFILE Searches
Once you have entered all the search parameters you would like select Search to begin the search.
To continue searching on Previous
Results - This option allows you to search the MINFILE database, using a number of
criteria to isolate specific mineral occurrences.
5. Wild Cards in
Searches
The wildcards % and _(underscore) will work with MINFILE Name, Number and NTS Map searches.
If you precede a word with %, the search will return occurrences which have that word anywhere within the
field. For example, %Poll will find names like POLLY, APOLLO, and MOUNT POLLEY. And %2F will find NTS maps
like 082F02W.
If you precede a word with _ (underscore), the search will return occurrences which begin with any character
followed by the word. For example, _OAT will find names like GOAT or BOAT. And _OLD will find names like
GOLD, HOLD, GOLDEN, GOLD DUST, but will not find OLD GOLD.
There are 4
characters that can be used as wildcards, the % symbol mentioned above is used for finding multiple letter
alternatives, while the underscore (_) character is used for finding one letter alternatives. The
other two characters are "?" and "*". "?" is the equivalent of (_) and "*" is the equivalent of "%".
6. Returning to the Main System Menu
From MINFILE/pc: When you are finished searching the database, select Return to Search and Close to
take you back to the Main System Menu or select Choose Report to Print to see a preview with an option to print the summary
information.
From MINFILE/www: When you are finished searching the database, select New Search
or select a Report and then Print Preview to see a preview with an option to print
the summary information.
E. MINFILE Reports
There are several
different types of reports from both MINFILE/pc and MINFILE/www. Reports can be printed in PDF or MS Word format.
Select the report you want to generate from the pull-down menu in the top right-hand corner of the screen and select Print
Preview. A preview of the report will be sent to the screen. The report can be viewed or printed from the
preview.
NOTE: The MINFILE Detailed report will take longer
to generate than any of the other reports. This is because it contains
substantially more
information.
HINT: You can advance or move backwards through the Preview of a report
using the arrow keys in the preview screen. The total number of
pages will be indicated. Eg. 1/3 means you are on
page 1 of 3 pages.
1. Reports Sent to the Printer
If you would like to have a paper copy of a report, select the printer icon (top left icon on grey bar) from the
preview menu. This option will send the report to whatever type of printer is connected to
your computer.
2. Report Type
Select the choice which corresponds with the type of report you would like to
generate. For a description of each available report type, see the section entitled MINFILE Reports (Chapter IV). Also, a sample of each
available report is included as Appendix K to this manual.
F. Code Table Maintenance
The code tables are maintained by the BC Geological Survey in Victoria. Users may request the addition
of new codes. These requests will be reviewed by a staff geologist and if approved, added to the MINFILE corporate
database. For further information on Code Tables refer to Chapter VI. Code Table and
User Maintenance/Administration.
IMPORTANT: Users should NOT attempt to edit the MINFILE codes, as this may lead to corruption of the
database and cause inconsistencies with the corporate version.
G. General Comments on
Data Entry
Data Entry is done exclusively online via MINFILE/www and it's MINFILE Coding Card. BC Geological Survey staff (see contacts in
Chapter VII) and pre-authorized users are permitted to make revisions to the corporate MINFILE
database. To obtain authorization to capture mineral occurrence data online please contact
Laura deGroot with the BC Geological Survey.
The Data Entry component is equipped with numerous edit checks that will help you
use it. These checks will prevent you from leaving the system before you have submitted any changes you have made. They will also prevent you from making any changes which
do not meet the requirements (locations outside of B.C., for example). All you need to do
is keep an eye on the message bar at the top of the screen once you hit save. It will advise you of
problems you might encounter in Data Entry. All changes will be reviewed by a designated Ministry Approver and either accepted
or rejected for further information (via email).
The MINFILE/www online Coding Card has its own Help screens which provide basic information on the data entry
functions.
