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Ministry of Energy, Mines and Pertoleum Resources
MINFILE Coding Manual Version 4.5
Information Circular 2004 - 3

Table of Contents
Welcome to the MINFILE Coding Manual. This manual is guide to the collection and entry of data into the MINFILE database. It compliments the MINFILE/pc User's Manual, which provides instructions on installing, operating, and using the MINFILE/pc program. Copies of both manuals are available for download. For comprehensive information concerning the MINFILE/pc program refer to the MINFILE/pc User's Manual.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. GENERAL INFORMATION
3. OCCURRENCE IDENTIFICATION

3.1 Coding Activity
3.2 MINFILE Number
3.3 Name
3.4 Status
3.5 NTS Map
3.6 BC Map
3.7 Mining Division
3.8 Location
    3.8.1 Latitude/Longitude   3.8.2 UTM Zone  3.8.3 UTM Northing  3.8.4 UTM Easting
3.9 Elevation
3.10 Location Certainty
3.11 Canmindex Number
3.12 National Mineral Inventory (NMI) Number
3.13 Date Coded/Coded by
3.14 Date Revised/Revised by
3.15 Field Check
3.16 Comments - Identification

4. MINERAL OCCURRENCE

4.1 Commodities
4.2 Mineralogy
    4.2.1 Comments - Mineralogy
4.3 Alteration Type
4.4 Deposit Character
4.5 Deposit Classification
4.6 Deposit Type
4.7 Age of Mineralization
4.8 Isotopic Age
4.9 Material Dated
4.10 Dating Method
4.11 Deposit Configuration
    4.11.1 Shape  4.11.2 Shape Modifier  4.11.3 Deposit Dimension
4.12 Attitude
4.13 Comments - Structural and Age

5. HOSTROCK

5.1 Dominant Hostrock
5.2 Formal/Informal Host
5.3 Stratigraphic Age
5.4 Isotopic Age
5.5 Material Dated
5.6 Dating Method
5.7 Rock Type/Lithology
5.8 Comments - Host rock

6. GEOLOGICAL SETTING

6.1 Tectonic Belts
6.2 Terrane
6.3 Physiographic Area
6.4 Metamorphism
    6.4.1 Type
    6.4.2 Relationship  6.4.3 Metamorphic Grade
6.5 Comment - Geological Setting

7. CAPSULE GEOLOGY
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
9. INVENTORY

9.1 Inventory Data
9.2 Zone Name
9.3 Inventory Category
    9.3.1 Reserve   9.3.2 Resource   9.3.3 Other
9.4 Year
9.5 Sample Type
9.6 Quantity
9.7 Commodity/Grade
9.8 Comments - Inventory
9.9 Reference

10. PRODUCTION

10.1 Production Data
10.2 Comments - Production

11. WORK HISTORY

11.1 Year
11.2 Work Type
11.3 Amount
11.4 Other Comments

12. EXPLORATION DATABASE
13. APPENDICES
  1.      Procedure for Deriving Mnemonic Mineral Codes
  2.      MINFILE Commodity Codes
  3.      MINFILE Mineral, Rock and Modifier Codes
  4.      MINFILE Stratigraphic Host Codes by Description; by Code
  5.      Stratigraphic Age Codes
  6.      Terrane Codes, Descriptions and Legend
              Terranes and Codes
              Terrane Map Description
              Legend
  7.      Conversion Factors
  8.      Glossary of Historic & Equivalent Mineral Names
  9.      Work Type Codes and Measurements
  10.      Coding and Editing Guidelines
  11.      Summary of Data Field Characteristics
  12.      MINFILE Coding Forms:

  13.      Coder Names, Initials and NTS Areas
  14.      Deposit Types (Mineral Deposit Profiles)
  15.      Generic Zone Names for Assay/Analysis Category
  16.      MINFILE Region Table

FIGURES

  1. British Columbia Mining Divisions
  2. British Columbia Mining Camps
  3. Generalized Terrane Map of the Canadian Cordillera
  4. Physiographic Map of the Canadian Cordillera
  5. Geologic Time Scale, B.C. Geological Survey Branch

TABLES & CODE TABLES

Description (File name) Section or Appendix
Status (E02) 3.4
Mining Divisions (E09) 3.7
UTM Zones (E01) 3.8.2
Location Certainty (E01) 3.10
Commodities(E19) 4.1 and II
Alteration Type (E21) 4.3
Mineral,Rock and Modifier (E20a,b,E25,E26) 5.7 and III
Deposit Character (E05) 4.4
Deposit Classification (E07) 4.5
Deposit Type (E30) 4.6 and XIV
Mineralization and Stratigraphic Age (E24) V
Dating Method (E22) 4.10
Deposit Shape (E06) 4.11.1
Deposit Shape Modifier (E04) 4.11.2
Hostrock Type (E03) 5.1
Stratigraphic (Formal/Informal) Host (E23) 5.2 and IV
Tectonic Belt (E12) 6.1
Terrane (E13) 6.2 and VI
Physiographic Area (E14) 6.3
Metamorphic Type (E15) 6.4.1
Metamorphic Relationship (E17) 6.4.2
Metamorphic Grade/Rank (E16) 6.4.3
Bibliography Abbreviations 8.1
Bibliography Reference Sources 8.1
Inventory Categories (E29) 9.3
Sample Type (E28) 9.5
Ore Zone (E27) (Generic Names only) XV
Coder Names, Initials and NTS Areas XII
Summary of Data Field Characteristics XI