Exploration, Scientific, and Engineering Boring Hole Locations Stored in the Drill Core Library

This page last updated: 06/27/2019 Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

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Overview
Data Quality
Data Organization
Coordinate System
Attributes
Distribution - Get Data
Metadata Reference

Section 1: Overview

Originator:Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Title: Exploration, Scientific, and Engineering Boring Hole Locations Stored in the Drill Core Library

Abstract: Location data for exploratory, sciencific, or engineering borings conducted statwide since the early 1900s. Drill Core and/or other samples from a large number of these borings are stored in the DNR's Drill Core Library in Hibbing, Minnesota. For more information on the drill core library please vist the DNR's webpage:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands_minerals/dc_library.html

Purpose: The primary purpose of the Drill Core Library is to receive, preserve, and make available boring samples to serve the state policy for mineral development (M.S. 93.001). This means that environmental impacts are reduced when existing drill samples can be re-used multiple times such that the total number of drill holes is reduced. The drill samples have also proven to be extremely valuable for academic researchers, such as university professors and graduate students. Many graduate student theses have been possible largely based upon the free access to drill core samples in this library. Further, the drill samples are available for environmental research, such as to understand the natural background trace element composition of the bedrock materials.

Policies:
The majority of drill samples in the library are public data and available for viewing. Most exploratory boring samples are delivered to the library in fulfillment of statutory requirements which have been in effect since 1980.

If a state mineral lease terminates, then the drill cores associated with that lease become state property and public data. The drill samples remain public data even if a new lease becomes active on the same mining unit.

Exploratory Boring Procedures- Minnesota Statutes 103I.601: http://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=103I.601
Submission of Data from Exploratory Borings- Minnesota Statutes 103I.605: http://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=103I.605

Those same statutes also identify that some core samples and related data are not public data meaning they are not viewable by the public. This is due to the core sample and data being on an active state minerals lease. The DNR must follow this law. If you wish to view confidential core, then you need to be an employee of the state mineral lessee or have written permission from the state mineral lessee.

Time Period of Content Date: 06/03/2026

Currentness Reference: Time Period of Content Date indicates when dataset was last updated. Source data dates from oldest borings through present and has been cataloged digitally since the 1980s.

Progress: In work

Maintenance and Update Frequency: Monthly

Spatial Extent of Data: Statewide

Bounding Coordinates: -97.23
-89.53
49.37
43.5

Place Keywords: Minnesota

Theme Keywords: borings, drill core library, mineral exploration, scientific, engineering

Theme Keyword Thesaurus:

Access Constraints:

Use Constraints: Disclaimer and Copyright Protection: Maps, Reports, Data, and Other Information
The State of Minnesota makes no representations or warranties express or implied, with respect to the use of the information contained herein regardless of its format or the means of its transmission. There is no guarantee or representation to the user as to the accuracy, currency, suitability, completeness, usefulness, or reliability of this information for any purpose. The user accepts the information "as is". The State of Minnesota assumes no responsibility for loss or damage incurred as a result of any user's reliance on this information. All maps, reports, data, and other information contained herein are protected by copyright. Permission is granted to copy and use the materials herein for any lawful noncommercial purpose. Any user of this information agrees not to transmit or provide access to all or any part of this information to another party unless the user shall include with the information a copy of this disclaimer.

Contact Person Information: James Olson, GIS Analyst
Minnesota DNR - Lands and Minerals
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-259-5429
Email: james.olson@state.mn.us

Browse Graphic: Click to view a data sample.

Associated Data Sets: See the Minnesota Well Index (AKA CWI) for more information on all borings not just those stored in the Drill Core Library.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/cwi/

See GIS data from the DNR's Mineral Exploration Document Collections (Minarchive and Lehmann Family Fund). These collections provide GIS data that links to related mineral exploration documents stored online. They can include information on borings like maps, logs, and geochemistry.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands_minerals/gis_data_maps/index.html#mexp

The DNR's Mineral Potential Evaulation Section has completed drill core evaulation projects on select borings stored in the Drill Core Library. For more information see the DNR's Mineral Potential Section Project Boundaries and Project Data.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands_minerals/gis_data_maps/index.html#mpes

Interact with the data along with several geology and minerals layers in the Drill Core Library web map:
http://mndnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0ef01d29d52b4efbb9694f042e83f413

Section 2: Data Quality

Attribute Accuracy:

Logical Consistency:

Completeness: Incomplete

Horizontal Positional Accuracy: The location information (XY_Source) for a boring was derived from different sources from GPS to various scale maps. As a result the locations have varying degrees of accuracy.

Vertical Positional Accuracy:

Lineage: The data provided has been gathered and entered from various sources. These sources include DNR's collection of mineral exploration documents (AKA Assessment Files), exploration company supplied information, Minnesota Department of Health Forms, DNR Drill Site Inspections, DNR Drill Core Library Staff, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Natural Resources Research Institute, and the Minnesota Geological Survey. Quality assessment and verification is ongoing. The user of this data should view it as a reference, not a definitive record of all borings. Furthermore the user is encouraged to do additional research if interested in certain boring locations (See Associated Data Sets).

Source Scale: Source layer ddh2004: -1

Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (not used in this metadata)

Section 4: Coordinate System

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme: Universal Transverse Mercator

UTM Zone Number: 15

Horizontal Datum: NAD83

Horizontal Units: meters

Vertical Datum: not applicable

Vertical Units: Not Applicable

Depth Datum: not applicable

Depth Units: Not Applicable

Section 5: Attributes

Overview: The boring_locations_in_drill_core_library feature provides the most commonly requested information for each drill hole. The related dcl_lineage table aggregates additional information and metadata.

Detailed Citation:

Table Detail:

**boring_locations_in_drill_core_library**
Field Name	Valid Values	Definition
OBJECTID	-
SHAPE	-
DhName	-	Drill Hole name, DNR's best interpretation from driller's or other source documents
DhAlias	-	List of known drill hole alii, including those reported in MDH forms and written on core boxes
DrillDate	-	Date drilling was completed
DrillFor	-	Name of company, agency, or entity sponsor of drill hole. Not necessarily same as Driller.
TotDep	-	Total depth reached, feet.
County	-	County where collar is located
Azimuth	-	Azimuth, best available as determined by DNR
Dip	-	Dip, best available as determined by DNR
X_UTM8315	-	X coordinate in UTM NAD83 Zone 15 meters, best available as determined by DNR
Y_UTM8315	-	Y coordinate in UTM NAD83 Zone 15 meters, best available as determined by DNR
Z_ElevFt	-	Z coordinate in NAVD88 feet, best available as determined by DNR
DNRNum	-	DNR inventory number, unique ID per core or sample
MDHNum	-	MDH exploratory boring sealing report number, also represents CWI number without leading zeros
DrillMthd	enumerated	List of known drill methods used for drill hole
	Air
	Auger
	Diamond Core
	Diamond Core, Auger
	Diamond Core, Churn
	Diamond Core, Reverse
	Diamond Core, Rotary
	Diamond Core, Sonic
	Reverse
	Rotary
	Rotary, Auger, Split tube
	Sonic
	Undeterminable
DrlPurpose	enumerated	List of known reasons for drilling. Exploration refers to pre-1980, Exploratory Boring is later and defined by statute.
	Engineering
	Exploration
	Exploration, Scientific
	Exploration, Water well
	Exploratory Boring
	Exploratory Boring, Water well
	Monitoring Well
	Scientific
	Scientific, Engineering
	Scientific, Engineering, Monitoring
	Scientific, Environmental
	Scientific, Monitoring
	Undeterminable
Project	-	Name of project or effort associated with drilling
CoreLoc	-	Physical location of drill core or samples. May be located in the DNR DCL, held be a sponsor or other agency, unrecovered or destroyed, or unknown
GlobalID	-
created_user	-
created_date	-
last_edited_user	-
last_edited_date	-

**dcl_lineage**
Field Name	Valid Values	Definition
OBJECTID	-
DhName	-	Drill Hole name, DNR's best interpretation from driller's or other source documents
DNRNum	-	DNR inventory number, unique ID per core or sample
MDHNum	-	MDH exploratory boring sealing report number, also represents CWI number without leading zeros
DrForAlias	-	Common name of drilling sponsor provided for companies etc. with mergers/name changes/etc.
DrillBy	-	Entity including contractors completing physical drilling
AltEndDate	-	End date where full date is unknown - month/year only
DataPublic	-	Public status of core, yes or no
BdrkLitho	-	Bedrock description of ledge; could include rock type or stratigraphic unit
DepToBdrk	-	Depth to bedrock as drilled, in units of feet. Angled drill holes will not give a true depth.
ScndLitho	-	Additional significant reference horizon (such as PreCambrian, to Giant's Range, to Pokegama Quartzite, etc.) in units of feet.
DepToScnd	-	Depth in feet of 2nd litho horizon
Locality	-	Focus area within a project, as designated by sponsor
Terrane	-	Subprovince or other large geologic terrane feature in which the borehole was drilled.
InitMthd	-	Starting hole Drilling Method with bit size if known.
InitDia	-	Diameter of hole, or of core if drilled, in millimeters.
InitStart	-	Depth at which initial method began (in feet)
SecMthd	-	Second drilling method with bit size if known.
SecDia	-	Diameter of second boring, or of core if drilled, in millimeters.
SecStart	-	Depth at which second method began (in feet)
ThrdMthd	-	Third drilling method with bit size if known.
ThrdDia	-	Diameter of third boring, or of core if drilled, in millimeters.
ThrdStart	-	Depth at which third method began (in feet)
CWINum	-	This number uses the MDH number though adds zeros in front of it. Carryover from previous versions.
MDHStatus	-	Borehole status, typically Temporarily Sealed, Permanently Sealed, or Active.
CWILogs	-	Indicates whether CWI logs exist
MDHformDNR	-	Link to original scanned MDH exploratory sealing report sent to DNR. This includes a map where the company has generally sited the location of the drill hole.
MDHformWeb	-	Link to MDH online repository of digital exploratory sealing report. This is not the scanned original document. It is based on the original document, inputted by MDH and MGS.
CMT_MDH	-	General comment field to insert compiler comments about MDH form for drill hole.
GeolLogs	-	Indicates whether Geologic Logs exist on file with DNR
GeopLogs	-	Indicates whether Geophysical Logs exist on file with DNR
OtherLogs	-	Indicates whether logs of any other type exist on file with DNR
DhDocs	-	Link to DNR or online repository of any other documents related to drill hole
DhFolder	-	DNR internal folder name containing documents related to drill hole
CMT_Hstry	-	Compiler comments related to the history of the drill hole and project
CMT_MetaD	-	Compiler comments related to the collection of data to complete this table
TgtCmmdty	-	Original commodity target at time of drilling
CMT_Loc	-	Compiler comments related to the spatial information about the drill hole
XY_Source	-	Source and reason for using these X and Y Coordinates for DNR Library Official values
Z_Source	-	Source and reason for using this Z value for DNR Library Official values
Township	-	Township location of collar
Range	-	Range location of collar
Section	-	Section location of collar
Forty	-	Forty location of collar
GovtLot	-	Government lot # of forty collar location
ArchvElev	-	Elevation value from alternative/archival source
X_DNRInsp	-	X UTM collar coordinate from DNR first site visit, NAD83 Zone 15 meters
Y_DNRInsp	-	Y UTM collar coordinate from DNR first site visit, NAD83 Zone 15 meters
Z_DNRInsp	-	Z coordinate in NAVD88 meters. Extracted from statewide LiDAR-based elevation at time of inspection.
Azi_DNRIns	-	Azimuth taken during the DNR's inspection.
Dip_DNRIns	-	Dip taken during the DNR's inspection. -90 value for vertical.
Method_DNR	-	DNR's location method during inspection, typically the GPS model ID.
CMT_DNR	-	Comments associated with the DNR inspection
X_UTMMDH	-	from MDH exploratory boring sealing report
Y_UTMMDH	-	from MDH exploratory boring sealing report
X_LonMDH	-	from MDH exploratory boring sealing report
Y_LatMDH	-	from MDH exploratory boring sealing report
Z_MDH	-	from MDH exploratory boring sealing report, often provided by the borehole sponsor from a 1:24,000 topographic map.
Azi_MDH	-	from MDH exploratory boring sealing report
Dip_MDH	-	from MDH exploratory boring sealing report
CMT_Ref	-	Description of additional "Reference" spatial data source, such as another database, a report, or sponsor/driller provided info
Mthd_Ref	-	Instrumentation and/or methods used for Reference source
X_Ref	-	Reference source X coordinate
Y_Ref	-	Reference source Y coordinate
Z_Ref	-	Reference source Z coordinate
Azi_Ref	-	Reference source Azi value
Dip_Ref	-	Reference source Dip value
Proj_Ref	-	Reference source XY coordinate system
Datum_Ref	-	Reference source vertical datum
Link_Ref	-	Reference source direct link
GPSErr_DNR	-	DNR's GPS estimated error with units included (vary with device).
created_user	-
created_date	-
last_edited_user	-
last_edited_date	-

Section 6: Distribution

Publisher: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Publication Date: 05/09/2017

Contact Person Information: Zeb Thomas, GIS Data Systems Coordinator
Minnesota DNR - GIS
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-259-5637
Email: zeb.thomas@state.mn.us

Distributor's Data Set Identifier: geos_boring_hole_locations

Distribution Liability: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources General Geographic Data License Agreement is online: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/sitetools/data_software_license.html

Ordering Instructions: Please visit the download page for this dataset on the Minnesota Geospatial Commons website using the web link below (Online Linkage).

Online Linkage: I AGREE to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above. Clicking to agree will either begin the download process, link to a service, or provide more instructions. See "Ordering Instructions" above for details.

Section 7: Metadata Reference

Metadata Date: 06/27/2019

Contact Person Information: James Olson, GIS Analyst
Minnesota DNR - Lands and Minerals
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-259-5429
Email: james.olson@state.mn.us

Metadata Standard Name: Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

Metadata Standard Version: 1.2

Metadata Standard Online Linkage: http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/committee/standards/mgmg/metadata.htm

This page last updated: 06/27/2019
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