The Ohio Division of Geological Survey (DGS) desires to make its core samples readily accessible for legitimate and professional scientific research by qualified practicing geologists, trained geotechnical individuals, consulting firms, graduate geology students, and university geology faculty. At the same time, the DGS has a determined responsibility to permanently preserve a minimum of one half (½) of each core held at the DGS Sample Repository. In order to achieve a balance of these goals, the following Core-Use Policy and the attached Permission Form for use by non-ODNR personnel have been prepared. Please do note that there is a separate DGS Oil-and-Gas Well Cuttings-Use Policy.
 
The Ohio Division of Geological Survey, H. R. Collins Laboratory is available for use by appointment only and during normal business hours. Normal business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays (http://acc.ohio.gov/holidays.html). All non-ODNR personnel should review this Policy and complete the Permission Form for use of laboratory facilities and core/sample repository by non-ODNR personnel (Insert link to form). They should return a completed form to the Facility Coordinator, Gregory Schumacher, prior to or during their scheduled visit. To schedule a visit, please send a brief email to describing the project, cores to be examined, duration of study, anticipated reports or publications, mailing and emailing addresses and telephone numbers (including cell phone numbers) of each investigator. Written requests to examine or borrow core samples should be submitted to the Gregory Schumacher, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey, H.R. Collins Laboratory, 3307 South Old State Road, Delaware, OH 43015-7635.
 
The DGS greatly prefers and highly recommends that core be examined at the Collins Laboratory. When macroscopic sample examination is not sufficient, a few thin-section billets may be provided as long as the minimum ½ core is preserved. If (1) many samples are requested, (2) destructive testing is involved, or (3) the core is to be examined off-site, a formal request must be submitted. The following requirements also apply:

1. The request must be specific as to which cores are required and the amount of sampling necessary. Sampling of cores must be kept to the minimum (i.e., generally not more than a quarter (1/4) core for cores 2 inches or less in diameter nor more than an eighth (1/8) core for cores greater than 2 inches in diameter).
    
2. All costs related to handling or transporting core material shall be borne by the borrower. If cores are to be split, this should be done at the Collins Laboratory unless other arrangements are approved by the Facility Coordinator. Extensive DGS time for processing core may necessitate a charge.
    
3. Cores remain the property of the DGS. Thin sections, polished sections, sample residues, etc. made from sampled portions of the cores shall be returned to the DGS at the conclusion of the project to become part of its permanent library for the benefit of the public. All thin sections, billets, and sample residues should be clearly labeled with DGS core number and footage.
    
4. Each core generally shall be on loan for a period of no longer than 45 business days. The DGS, under certain circumstances, may grant a limited extension to the original loan. A formal, written request must be submitted one week prior to the expiration of the original loan, and can be submitted as an email attachment. In the event returned core is determined to have been damaged, improperly handled or sampled, or is otherwise in poor condition, the borrower will forfeit the privilege of borrowing other materials from the core repository.
    
5. 5. Final sampling arrangements shall be set forth in an e-mail from the Facility Coordinator and acknowledged by the borrower.
    
6. Copies of core sample descriptions, data, analytical results, unpublished and published reports, must be supplied to the DGS. All data should be made public through independent publication and/or placed on open file at the DGS. In certain very unusual circumstances, information may be placed in a confidential status under the authority of the Chief of the DGS (ORC §1505.03).
    
7. 7. The DGS must be properly acknowledged in any unpublished report or formal publication resulting from the inspection and/or analysis of samples held by the DGS.

Last update March 31, 2006