It is a computerized inventory of all marine geology data archived by, and available through NGDC, regardless of data format. Marine geologic data types include descriptions and all kinds of analyses of marine sediment and hard rock samples, including paleontology and logging data. Data sources include academic institutions, NOAA, other US government agencies, foreign countries, and a few private companies. Searches are performed free of charge.
Most data sets are either directly viewable or downloadable online through inventory searches.
Data available offline Paper reports, logs, maps, microfilm, slides, etc., identified by inventory searches may be ordered from NGDC on a cost-recovery basis. Although most digital data are available for direct download from this server, some data sets are available as CD-ROM products or in other forms. Links to downloadable data are provided from within searches. In addition, scanned images of paper data reports are now viewable online through the inventory. Data announcements for popular data sets and ordering information are also available online.