**2.2 Importance of GIS in mining exploration**

Several authors have studied on the importance of GIS in mineral exploration [3, 8–12]. During mineral exploration vast amounts of spatial data are collected. Geo Science information which commonly consist of geological, geographical, geophysical and geochemical information, are gathered routinely from satellite and airborne sensors in a digital form. Large sets of ground survey data are also stored in digital form as argued by [13, 14]. Accordingly, integration of field survey data, maps, and other information for the purpose of mineral exploration and resource estimation is a very time consuming task. However, GIS can accomplish such a task in a time efficient and cost-effective manner (**Figure 1**). Moreover, the state and federal agencies involved in the mine permitting process are adopting the GIS format as the standard for communicating spatial data.

Although GIS is able to manage data like database management systems, mining exploration projects use to store data in other databases. That is because of the semantic form of data. Meaning that usually, they contain information describes as "*good for spatial purpose*" and other that are used for assessment, management, and validation. Do not forget that, mining companies also use these two types of database for backup of their data and for the distribution.

#### **2.3 Database management**

A database is a collection of related data stored in a manner that enables information to be retrieved as needed. This typically consists of tables (a collection of related records), fields and records. Field is a single category of data to be stored in a database like name and their abbreviations, telephone number, etc. Fields are collection of related fields information in a database. Excel and Access are forms of database software. Databases are important because of their: low level of redundancy, faster response time, lower storage requirements, easier to secure, increased data accuracy. Many types of database exist depending of the level of usage. We will name here the two most widely used in the level of single users and small projects:

**A Single-User Database System** is located on a single computer and is designed to be accessed by one user. This type of database is widely used for personal applications and very small business.

**A Multiuser Database System** is designed to be accessed by multiple users (most business databases today).

A database with only one table is sometimes called a flat-file database.

#### **2.4 Importance of database in mining projects**

Database are used in mining exploration project because of: (1) Their property to be imported into a GIS or to mining software, mostly in case they contain geographical information system like coordinates; (2) They permit to write and adopt their Standard operations procedures (SOP) by codification which leads the whole of their field work.

Thus, for a sample to enter the database, a name must be given, an identity, coordinates, location, prospect and project name (**Figure 2A**). If a name does not already belong to the database built, an error occurs. The notebook of the geologist is considered as database in some projects. In others, printed spread sheets of excel are used for (**Figure 2B**). So that the physical database exists and the numeric database exists also.
