Repository Report for the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Science Center

1. Repository Report for the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Science Center Brian Buczkowski, Curator 2009 Meeting of the Curators of Marine and Lacustrine Geological Samples Wakulla Springs, Florida May 3rd – 6th, 2009

2. Facilities • New Digs • The K.O. Emery Geotechnical Wing • Construction completed Fall of 2007 • 777.5 ft2 Refrigerated space (+4oC) • 420 ft2 Frozen space (-20oC) • Core lab & Prep area • Dry/Ambient temperature storage space • Sample analysis and processing

3. Facilities • Moving out of the Old • Series of temperature-controlled vans locally known as the “Freezer Farm” • The “Big Sample Roundup” • Article in Soundwaves (http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2008/01/staff.html)

4. Facilities • Walk-in Refrigerator and Freezer • High-density rolling storage • Designed by Systematics Inc.(a SpaceSaver company) • Stainless steel • Cold and humidity-tolerant • Racks for D tubes and whole cores

5. Facilities • Core Lab/ Dry Storage (K.O. Wing) • Dried samples stored in white archival boxes • Computer station for temperature and facility monitoring • Core processing area • Core splitter • Sample photography * • Dry Storage (MOF & WHOI) • Long-term storage at our warehouse and in the WHOI storage facility

6. Facilities • Laboratory Capabilities • Brand new core splitter • Core photography station • Digital binocular microscopy • Grain size analysis lab • Layout area for physical descriptions

7. WHSC Collections • 5100 cores • Mass Bay, Mid-Atlantic Bight, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay • Split into D tubes • Whole rounds and subsections • Piston extrusion and bagged • 9000 grabs • Mass Bay, Great Lakes • Used for grain size analysis • Coarse fraction remains • 1000 dredges (including FeMn nodules) • North Atlantic & Mid-Atlantic Bight • Habitat mapping, Geochemistry, CONMAR samples • Gas hydrate samples • Gulf of Mexico, North Slope of Alaska

8. Accessing the Collections • Ocean Floor Samples Portal • http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/samples.php • Allows internal and external users to access the database • Text-based searches • Google Earth KML file • IMS Portal • Links to archive manual and other resources(link to NGDC Index) • Excel template available for download

10. Accessing the Collections • Searching our holdings • Each entry in the inventory is assigned a location identifier • Three parts • Storage area • Shelving unit • Shelf RE01.10.03

11. Accessing the Collections • CMGP Internet Map Server • http://coastalmap.marine.usgs.gov/whsc_sed_archive/index.html • Visually search by collection location or by sample type • Data points are hyperlinked to display additional information • Data available are published in Archive Manual: OFR 2006-1187

12. Curation Policy • Collections Management Policy and Sample Database • Published and online • USGS Open-File Report 2006-1187 • http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1187 • Detailed methodology implemented at the WHSC • Acquisition • Archival procedures • Deaccession • Loose schedule of updates as collections change and policy revised

13. Activities • Member of USGS Geologic Materials Repository (GMR) working group • Initiated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, via the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program • Draft policy and procedural guidelines for geologic sample curation throughout the USGS Geologic Division • Samples will be included in National Catalog of USGS materials • * Organizing Technical Session at 2009 GSA national meeting in Portland, Oregon * • “Best Practices and Solutions for Geologic and Geophysical Data Preservation”