The application and long-term utility of sample­ based data is critically dependent on, availability of information (metadata) about the samples, links to other data sets derived from individual samples, and access to the samples themselves. Major problems for achieving this include incomplete documentation of samples in publications, use of ambiguous sample names, and the lack of web accessible catalogues that allows finding out about existing samples and their archiving location.

Using persistent identifiers for physical samples, such as the International Geo Sample Number (IGSN), provides solutions. The IGSN Implementation Organisation (IGSN e.V.) offers a system of unique persistent identifiers for samples. The objective of the IGSN e.V. is to implement and promote standard methods for locating, identifying, and citing physical samples with confidence by operating an international IGSN registration service with a distributed infrastructure for use by and benefit to its members. Each scientific community has different needs how to reference physical sample materials, yet all communities benefit from the ability to identify samples in a globally unique and persistent way.

The IGSN Implementation Organization (IGSN e.V.) provides the organisational and technical backbone for scientific communities to apply globally unique and resolvable, actionable, and persistent identifiers for physical sample materials. Read more on the organisation and governance of IGSN and its technical implementation …

Use of persistent identifiers in digital data systems allows building linkages between the digital representation of samples (sample profiles) in community governed portals and their related data in the literature and in web­ accessible digital data repositories. This system is open to scientific communities outside of geology. Physical sample materials encompass any materials referenced for scientific purposes, e.g. minerals, rocks, water samples, holotypes, collection specimens, reference materials, and other types of physical sample materials. Read more on IGSN communities of practice …

A core element of the implementation of globally unique and persistent identifiers for physical sample materials is a handle server (Handle_System) to resolve IGSN handles to the URL of the respective sample description at the collection/repository. This server is operated by the IGSN Implementation Organisation (IGSN e.V.). Read more on the technical implementation of IGSN …

IGSN is not a database for samples. Discipline specific databases are operated by the respective scientific communities and IGSN, as persistent identifiers, help to reference samples in discipline specific sample catalogues. Read more on IGSN system architecture and IGSN communities of practice …

IGSN e.V. does not prescribe a naming scheme for samples. Communities are free to govern their IGSN namespaces according to their needs. Using IGSN ensures that samples can be uniquely identified. Read more on IGSN naming conventions …

IGSN does not prescribe a standard metadata scheme. Metadata schemes in community databases are defined by the respective scientific communities to best serve their needs for sample discovery and reference. Read more on IGSN metadata …

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