Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

Les guides électroniques de la SMQ

Specimen Nature (Specimen/Description)

Mandatory fieldField to be used with an authority listField used for natural science collectionsSociété des musées québécois Info-Muse database field

Definition:

  • This field contains keywords describing the nature of the specimen.

Observations:

  1. This field contains keywords describing the physical nature of the specimen, such as an anatomical part making up the specimen.
    Example

    Specimen Naturewing
  2. This field also contains keywords describing the technique used to conserve the specimen.
    Example

    Specimen Nature naturalized
  3. For better search results in your database, avoid a large variety of terms; draw up an authority list and add keywords as necessary. You can use the following authority list, based on the one established by the CHIN natural sciences working group:

    aggregate enamel/dentine mix scrapbook
    altered entire specimen model section
    antler feather mold sediment
    artificial fibre moults seed
    block flower mummy SEM prep
    bone fold nail shell
    branch fossil naturalized sight
    cabochon fragment nest skeleton
    carapace fruit nodule skin
    carcass geode organ skull
    cast hair osteoderm slab
    chips head other slice
    claw horn packet slide
    cleared keratine part of anatomy stained
    compound layer partial stalactite
    concentrate leaf photograph stalagmite
    concretion limb pinned stem
    core liquid plastron stone
    crust lithic pressed synthetic
    crystal live rattles test
    cut macrofossil residue tooth
    discard mandible rock vein
    druse massif rosette viscera
    dry microfossil scales wing
    ear mineral scat wire
    egg

Entry rules:

  1. You may need to follow the keyword with information not included in this list. If so, enter the keyword followed by a space and the information in parentheses.
    Example

      Discipline mycology
     Genus Coprinus
      Species micaceus
    Specimen Nature partial (cap)
  2. This field may contain multiple entries separated by a semicolon followed by a space.
    Example

      Discipline mycology
     GenusMorchella
      Speciesesculenta
    Specimen Nature liquid; partial

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