We continue with the series: 💎 "Foundations of a Reliable Geological Database" 📍 Post 3: The Critical Connection Between Files – Structure, Errors, and Control. In mineral exploration, we talk about grades, models, and estimations… but all of that begins with a well-structured geological database. A reliable database is not just a tidy spreadsheet — it's a system of interconnected files, where each part contributes essential geological context. 📁 The 4 Essential Files °Collar: 🔍 Possible errors: coordinates outside the grid, incorrect elevations, out-of-range values. ✅ Control: topographic validation, standard formatting. °Survey: 🔍 Common errors: reversed paths, dips >90° incorrectly recorded, paths not starting from the collar. ✅ Control: logical and geometric consistency, dip/azimuth range, review with 3D viewers. 🧪Assays: Chemical analysis data by interval (from/to and grades). 🔍 Frequent errors: overlapping intervals, gaps, duplicate grades, incorrect units. ✅ Control: continuity checks, positive limits, duplicates, unit conversions. °Lithology: 🔍 Typical errors: inconsistent names, intervals not closing properly, overlapping data. ✅ Control: use of a code dictionary, geologist review, QA/QC validation. ➡️ What connects them? 🔏 Hole_ID is the primary relational key—the unique identifier that links each file. 🗝️ Without this clear relationship, data integrity is lost and the model becomes unreliable. 💣 Common error: records with Hole_IDs not found in the collar, duplicates, or inconsistencies across tables. 🚦 How to maintain integrity? ✔️ Implement automatic cross-table validations ✔️ Standardize nomenclature (e.g., “LIT01” ≠ “LITO01”) ✔️ Use scripts to detect overlaps and structural issues ✔️ Ensure traceability with formal QA/QC (change logs, approvals, versioning) ✔️ Educate the team on each file’s role and associated risks 📌 In Summary 📂 Each file is like a layer of information that, when properly aligned, builds the full geological story. ❕ But if just one layer is misplaced or misclassified, the entire model can fail. 🛠️ Inter-file integrity isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a critical practice to avoid multi-million-dollar mistakes.