Continental margins are an important part of the ocean floor. They separate the land above sea level from the deep ocean basins below and occupy about 11% of Earth's surface. They are also economically important, as they harbor both mineral resources and some of the most valuable fisheries in the world. In this article students investigate North…

Discusses educational applications and implications of the GeoRef geoscience database. GeoRef is 15 years old and will soon contain one million references. The online product of the database is explained in relation to accessibility, educational impact, and searching methodology. (Author/JN)

Describes the nature and function of source and reference databases in the geosciences and discusses current trends in the development of such databases. A 32-item reference list and a directory listing geoscience databases from around the world (including information on organizational sponsors and online accessibility) accompany the text. (JL)

Summarizes trends in the dissemination and exchange of geoscience information. Two major themes in 1980 are (1) the growth and development of computerized data bases, and (2) increased cooperation among professional organizations and government agencies. (Author/WB)

One of the most beneficial uses for technology in the science classroom is data manipulation. During labs and other learning experiences, students can quickly put the data they collect into spreadsheets or databases. Then they can make comparisons, create graphs, draw conclusions, sort the data in new ways, and, ultimately, give their data…

Discusses a computer database which includes optical properties of 142 minerals. Uses fuzzy logic to identify minerals from incomplete and imprecise information. Written in Turbo PASCAL for MS-DOS with 128K. (MVL)