Establishing a national ore data file in Finland

Summary

The Finnish Ore Data File has already provided valuable experience on building, maintaining, and using an extensive data file with a great diversity of data. The file attempts to accommodate all relevant data on ore deposits in metamorphosed and strongly deformed Precambrian terrain. Because the deposits dealt with are generally well-studied and documented, they provide a great deal of precise information on ore deposits. The question arises as to how the system could be used internationally, especially bearing in mind developing countries. The two problems which should be solved for this purpose are: first, the forms, codes, and programs should be translated from Finnish into English; second, the structure of the file should be simplified to meet the demands of less studied areas and deposits. However, both problems could be resolved relatively easily without changing the basic principles involved.