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Hi David
I think this is a very good idea. There is some useful optical data for most species in Mindat (http://www.mindat.org), Mineralien Atlas (http://www.mineralienatlas), Mineralatlas (http://www.mineralatlas.com) and Webmineral (http://www.webmineral.com), but none are readily searchable. However it would probably be useful to everyone if you could link your database to these, as they have much other useful data (crystallographic, physical, classification, etc). They may be good starting places to source data for rare species at least. Also, if you could add thin section photographs it would be very useful.

regards
Ralph Bottrill
Mineral Resources Tasmania
03 6233 8359

-----Original Message-----
From: Metamorphic Studies Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Hirsch
Sent: Wednesday, 30 July 2008 03:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Petrography database & search: Call for Comments

(apologies for multiple postings)

Petrographers and Mineralogists,
I plan in the near future to create an online database of mineral optical properties under the auspices of the IMA, searchable through a custom web interface. At the outset, the data will all be from published references, but the database will be editable by the community of petrographers, so that it can improve over time. Because the core system will be designed in the coming academic year (2008-2009), I am calling now for comments on the database design and search interface.  By offering comments now, prior to the initiation of work, you can help this facility be more useful for your professional work, research, and teaching.

A great deal more information, including a timeline, database fields, and a mock-up of the interface, is available here: 
http://almandine.geol.wwu.edu/~dave/petsearch/

I hope you are willing to take a moment to examine this and consider whether the design is optimal for your use.  Furthermore, I hope you will offer comments as to whether and how such a facility would be useful for you (such comments might be used in funding requests).
Thanks,
Dave

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Dave Hirsch
Associate Professor
Department of Geology
Western Washington University
persistent email: [log in to unmask]
voice: (360) 650-2166
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