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Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP) geochemical samples and analyses

This dataset relates to sample metadata and the results of geochemical analyses conducted on samples as part of the Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP). It contains metadata including sample names, sample project areas, sample types and analytes. The MRP was a programme undertaken by BGS which ran continuously from 1973 to 1997, funded by the UK Government's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The datasets it produced provide baseline information on areas prospective for the occurrence of metallic minerals in particular locations across Great Britain. The programme was designed to stimulate private sector exploration and to encourage the development of Britain's indigenous mineral resources. The emphasis during the MRP varied in response to market conditions and strategic interests. Work on ‘strategic’ metals, such as platinum, palladium, chromium, cobalt and nickel, dominated the 1980s. From the late 1980s, the principal focus of the programme was gold. Numerous studies examined gold mineralisation in porphyry, epithermal, orogenic and unconformity-related settings. Towards the end of the programme, a small number of projects concerned with gemstones and industrial minerals were also completed. Various samples were taken throughout the course of the programme, including rock, soil, stream sediment, stream water and deep overburden samples. These samples underwent analysis for a variety of analytes, the results of which are held by BGS. This dataset includes the geochemical information derived from the samples and sample metadata, including the location of sampling. The sampling and analysis methodology varied by MRP project area. For more information about the samples from a specific project area, refer to the MRP report for that project: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/cgi/search/archive/advanced?screen=Search&dataset=archive&_action_search=Search&series=Mineral+Reconnaissance+Programme For more information about obtaining the results of sample analyses, contact BGS Enquiries (enquiries@bgs.ac.uk ). For more information about the MRP, see the MineralsUK website: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/exploration-and-maps/mrp-reports/.

Simple

Date (Creation)
1973
Identifier
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608329
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South , EDINBURGH , LOTHIAN , EH14 4AP , United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South , EDINBURGH , LOTHIAN , EH14 4AP , United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
Maintenance and update frequency
notPlanned Not planned
GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
  • Geology
BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences
  • EGDI
  • Minerals
  • Sample analysis
  • Economic geology
  • Sampling
  • UK Location (INSPIRE)
  • Geochemistry
  • Geology
dataCentre
  • EGDI
  • UK Location (INSPIRE)
Keywords
  • NERC_DDC
Access constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
no limitations
Other constraints
restricted
Other constraints
The dataset has been formally approved by BGS for access by external clients under a BGS Digital Data Licence, issued via BGS's IPR Section. The dataset must not be provided to, or be accessible by, an external client until the IPR Section confirms that signed licence documentation is in place. Refer to the IPR Section (DigitalLE@bgs.ac.) if further advice is required.
Other constraints
The dataset is made freely available for access, e.g. via the Internet. Either no third party data / information is contained in the dataset or BGS has secured written permission from the owner(s) of any third party data / information contained in the dataset to make the dataset freely accessible.
Use constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused.
Other constraints
The dataset is made available to external clients under BGS Digital Data Licence terms and conditions. Revert to the IPR Section (iprdigital@bgs.ac.uk ) if further advice is required with regard to permitted usage.
Other constraints
Available under the Open Government Licence subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced NERC materials "Contains NERC materials ©NERC [year]"
Spatial representation type
vector Vector
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Topic category
  • Geoscientific information
Geographic identifier
GBN

Date (Revision)
2009

Geographic identifier
GREAT BRITAIN [id=139600]

Date (Creation)
1979

N
S
E
W
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Begin date
1973
End date
1997
Unique resource identifier
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
Unique resource identifier
WGS 84 (EPSG::4326)
Distribution format
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South , EDINBURGH , LOTHIAN , EH14 4AP , United Kingdom
0115 936 3142
0115 936 3276
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
OnLine resource
Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP) reports - MineralsUK
Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Other
dataset

Conformance result

Date (Publication)
2011
Explanation
See the referenced specification
Pass
No

Conformance result

Date (Publication)
2010-12-08
Explanation
See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF
Pass
No
Statement
Various samples were taken throughout the course of the programme, including rock, soil, stream sediment, stream water and deep overburden samples. These samples underwent analysis for a variety of analytes, the results of which are held by BGS. This dataset includes the geochemical information derived from the samples and sample metadata, including the location of sampling. The sampling and analysis methodology varied by MRP project area. For more information about the samples from a specific project area, refer to the MRP report for that project: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/cgi/search/archive/advanced?screen=Search&dataset=archive&_action_search=Search&series=Mineral+Reconnaissance+Programme
File identifier
2b5b018d-02be-317c-e063-0937940ac32c XML
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Date stamp
2025-11-13
Metadata standard name
UK GEMINI
Metadata standard version
2.3
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey
The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South , EDINBURGH , LOTHIAN , EH14 4AP , United Kingdom
+44 131 667 1000
Dataset URI
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608329
 
 

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