Global or Geochemical Reference Network

In order to begin systematic international geochemical mapping it is necessary to establish a primary global Geochemical Reference Network (GRN), analogous to a geodetic grid.  Wide-spaced sampling is required over the entire land surface, including regions already surveyed, and regions where there is low probability of any geochemical mapping being carried out in the near future.  The samples collected will serve as analytical reference materials, so strict procedures must be followed, and adequate quantities must be obtained and retained for future reference and research requirements.

Further, there are plans to cover the marine part of the earth.  Therefore, provision is made for this future work.

The primary Global Reference Network or Geochemical Reference Network (GRN) comprises the Global Terrestrial Network (GTN) and Global Marine Network (GMN) grid cells of 160x160 km, covering the whole globe with 19,833 grid cells.  It is important to explain the difference among (i) the Global Reference Network or Geochemical Reference Network, (ii) the Global Terrestrial Network or Geochemical Terrestrial Network (GTN) and (iii) the Global Marine Network or Geochemical Marine Network (GMN):