The database contains an index to over 600 ground geophysical surveys carried out in the UK for a variety of projects. A large number of these surveys were done for the DTI Mineral Reconnaissance Programme in the 1970s and 80s; many others were done at the request of BGS field mapping groups. Information held describes the survey objective, location of measurements, geophysical methods and equipment used, reports and publications, storage locations of data and results (for analogue and digital data), dates and personnel.

The collection, amounting to c.6,000 records, consists of reports and data relating to geochemical sampling, geophysics, drilling and field mapping deposited by mineral exploration companies dating from c.1960 onwards. Major accessions include records of Mineral Exploration Incentive Grant Act (MEIGA) and reports and plans of Exploration Ventures Ltd (EVL) relating to NE Scotland. Indexed in Land Survey Record Index Database (LSRI).