EarthResourceML/INSPIRE Mineral Resources data models and ERML Lite:
Data Standards to Deliver Mineral Resources Data EU and Globally
Abstract
EarthResourceML (http://www.earthresourceml.org) is the international
data model and standard for mineral resources data. EarthResourceML
(ERML) was initially developed for the Australian Chief Government
Geologists Committee (CGGC) but is now under the governance of the
Commission for Geoscience Information (CGI), a commission of the
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). ERML/INSPIRE MR data
models are the preferred standard for mineral resources data sharing
initiatives and projects, such as the European Union’s INSPIRE
directive, and EU-projects (Minerals4EU, ProSUM) and the Australian
AuScope, and Geoscience Portal projects. The current version of ERML
v2.0 was released in August 2014 and ERML v3.0 will be published 2018.
Current ERML v.2.0 and INSPIRE Mineral Resource data models are
practically identical. The main elements of the ERML/INSPIRE models
cover mineral occurrences, mines, and mining activity. The standard
describes the geological characteristics and settings of mineral
occurrences, their contained commodities, and their mineral reserve,
resource and endowment. It is also able to describe mineral exploration,
mines and mining activities, processing/transformation activities, with
the production of concentrates and refined products, and waste material
characterization. ERML/INSPIRE utilises the GeoSciML v4.1 Mapped Feature
model to describe spatial representations of mineral occurrences and
mines, and the GeoSciML Earth Material model to describe host- and
associated materials. ERML Lite v. 1.0 version was accepted and released
in August 2016. The new version 2.0 of ERML Lite was published June
2018. ERML Lite 2.0 delivers a user-friendly designed and simplified
flat view of key elements of the full ERML/INSPIRE data models. The CGI
Geoscience Terminology Working Group
(http://resource.geosciml.org/def/voc/) and INSPIRE code list register
(http://inspire.ec.europa.eu/codelist/) provides a range of standard
vocabularies that can be used to populate ERML/INSPIRE data services.
ERML Lite test service will be demonstrated at the AGU meeting at
Onegeology portal and data providers are from Oceania (AUSGIN and New
Zealand), Europe (Minerals4EU, FODD, and Finland) and Arctic (60°- 90°)
data (Nordic Countries, Russia, Alaska, and Canada). The ERML and ERML
Lite data models enable comparison of mineral resource information from
different jurisdictions. With increasing participation from geological
surveys these data model will assist global resources estimates and
exploration targeting.