Multimedia Web-based databases in Earth sciences (crystal chemistry, mineralogy, petrology)
Abstract:
Classification of Informational and scientific Internet resources in the field of Earth’s sciences, including the multimedia Web-oriented databases in the field of geochemical sciences is considered. The examples are the WWW-Mincryst information and computing systems developed by the authors on mineral structure and crystal chemistry (more than 10,700 structures for 4,400 minerals and their analogues) and WWW-Sapphirine on the petrology of sapphire-containing associations of highly metamorphosed rocks of the world (almost 2,000 sapphirine and up to 2,500 coexisting minerals). The methods for implementing the systems, their main components are described: databases, complexes of intelligent tools for searching and selecting information, tools of multimedia presentation of information, tools of forming cross-references and the use of auxiliary information.
