University of Kentucky (Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky)

The Kentucky Geological Survey will improve access to its geologic core sample collection for use by energy and mineral industry scientists, engineers, researchers, and students. Access to the collection is currently limited to physical visits to view specimens. Project activities will include purchasing, labeling, and tracking equipment, and hiring student interns to assist with re-labeling and re-boxing the specimens. This will improve the longer term care of the collection. The survey will photograph the contents of 10,000 boxes, including the 1,000 core samples set to be re-boxed, and an additional 9,000 of the most used and at-risk cores. The resulting high resolution digital core images will be made available online through the survey's website and in the online platforms of the International Geo Sample Number database.