June 27, 2006

... Errata and Additions

This 356-page, 6x9 inch format manual, with a plastic reinforced cover,
is currently available from:

Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada
34 King Street East, 9th Floor
Toronto, ON, Canada, M5C 2X8
Tel:416-362-1969  FAX: 416-362-0101
E-mail: info@pdac.ca      URL: http://www.pdac.ca

or,   Geological Association of Canada
       c/o Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador
          Tel: 709-737-7660   FAX: 709-737-2532
       E-mail: gac@esd.mun.ca    URL: http://www.gac.ca/

A 356-page geoscience textbook, of broad interest to all geoscientists, regardless of specialty.

This book is particularly aimed at geologists and students as it focuses primarily on report products and standards required for mineral exploration, geological mapping and related geoscience reports. It identifies the necessary components for good reports, and assists in creating those components to professional standards. It not only suggests the types of information to include in a report, and the critical supporting data, but explains why such information may be important to understanding and how some critical data must be collected in order for it to be meaningful in the final presentation.

It is also an excellent reference for geoscience Editors. It has material dedicated to peer review and editorial issues, reviewing foreign-language manuscripts and the basic concepts to apply to copy-editing and scientific review. By applying these editiorial concepts, the manual also provides a basis for evaluating professional geoscience reports and data by those specializing in minerals-related industries, such as regulators, stock brokers, analysts and investment managers.

The book presents techniques for reviewing and editing scientific information, and establishes a logical basis for evaluating information contained within published reports on mineral properties and other geoscience topics. It provides basic standards for report and map content and layout, geological symbols, the correct use of scientific terms and numerous other guidelines. There is also a section focused on digital issues, data management and archiving.

It contains the only published guidelines for reporting on the exploration and early development aspects of diamond and kimberlite exploration geology. In addition, the 'Specialist Reporting' section also covers common reporting requirements such as, university theses, journal articles, geological field notes, core logs, valuation reports, geochemical reports, feasibility studies, abstracts and journal manuscripts, and hints for posters and oral presentations.

The manual incorporates and elaborates on recommendations for reporting proposed in the National Standards 43-101, produced by the Canadian Securities Commissions. It also incorporates the CIM standards for ore reserve and resource definitions and mineral property valuation guidelines. It also addresses and elaborates on most issues covered by various Australian, US and European regulatory guidelines.

Scientific writing also requires a basic understanding of the logic and sequence of scientific (and geologic) arguments as well as grammar, word usage, spelling, punctuation, use of abbreviations and symbols and informative referencing standards. This manual covers all these topics and identifies additional references for information and authority on these topics. It is particularly appropriate for geoscientists as it uses examples which are specific to geology, geophysics and geochemistry.

This publication, and its earlier version "The Art and the Science of Writing Geoscience Reports", have been sold in over 55 countries, and on every continent including Antarctica. This revised and greatly expanded version is now used as the 'standards manual' at several government geological surveys and as a textbook in geoscience communication at several universities.

---

The author has over 35 years experience in mineral exploration and development in Canada and overseas.  This includes 20 years associated with government surveys and geoscience organizations in positions responsible for editing and setting reporting standards. He has authored, edited and published numerous geoscience publications for a variety of companies, government and public & private geoscience organizations. 

He is a Professional Geologist in British Columbia, and is also a long time member and active participant in professional groups such as, the Geological Association of Canada, the Mineral Deposits Division – GAC, the Society of Economic Geologists, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia, Vancouver Mineral Exploration Group, the Association of Earth Science Editors, Mineral Deposits Study Group, the Centre for Earth and Ocean Sciences, and is a Director of the Victoria School of Writing. 

Brian published The Gangue, an economic geology newsletter for the MDD-GAC for over 10 years, has been an Associate Editor for Geoscience Canada, and is the Editor of the Provincial Geologists Journal. 

Enquiries regarding content or suggestions for new material can be addressed to: 
Brian Grant c/o  geomanual@shaw.ca

•   is a useful reference written specifically for geologists, students, geoscience writers, editors, researchers and others working with the geosciences
•   describes all components essential for informative geoscience reports and maps
•   provides extensive guidelines for diamonds/kimberlite, university theses, NI43-101, prospecting reports, geological field notes, core logging, property valuations, posters & oral presentations, and other specialized products
•   presents standards for data collection, data archiving and presentation
•   includes material on grammar, spelling, language usage and formatting with examples specific to the geosciences
•   is an excellent, textbook-style reference for university level, writing and communications courses in the sciences
•   includes a geological time scale as the back cover
•   includes a comprehensive index, references (paper & web) and table of contents
•   has received extensive peer review by specialist

A Field manual and textbook on geoscience reporting standards and conventions, written for field geologists, students, researchers, editors and others:

DOWNLOAD pdf files for:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INDEX TO DOCUMENT

GEOLOGICAL TIMESCALE

Geoscience Reporting Guidelines
by Brian Grant, PGeo