Geological sampling

Geological sampling forms the foundation for a vast array of preliminary and advanced geochemical data collection. The data generated after sample collection underpins many of the fundamental hypotheses and paradigms that have been developed in the earth sciences. Geological sampling can, at times, be an underappreciated aspect of a geochemist's workflow, particularly given the influence sample collection can have over resulting datasets. In this chapter, we provide examples of scenarios where biases can be imposed onto geochemical datasets during the sampling process. We also attempt to summarize aspects of geological sampling that tend to be under-discussed or are of a growing concern to the geoscience community. This chapter represents a somewhat personal account of geological sampling with anecdotes that serve to highlight various aspects of the important discussion surrounding geological sampling.