The database houses a wide range of information available for samples from all over the globe to be grouped into two categories: (a) observations and measurements (e.g. mineral data, images, chemical analyses), for which robust data models already exist, and (b) interpretative results (e.g. P-T conditions, crystallization ages, cooling rates, etc.), which are conclusions based on the observational data. Development of a robust data model for interpretative data is currently underway as of December 2010. The database system is beginning to incorporate a number of tools for data analysis and calculation that adds considerable power to the researcher.
MetPetDB differs from other Geochemistry relational databases (e.g. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070610152747/http://georoc.mpch-mainz.gwdg.de/georoc/ GEOROC], [http://www.navdat.org  NAVDAT], PetDB) in that it incorporates unpublished data in addition to data published in peer-reviewed journals. The vast majority of data collected by metamorphic geologists is not presented in publication, and therefore a forum for sharing this data with the public is an objective of MetPetDB. Contributors to MetPetDB also have the ability to store private data and create projects, or collections of private, public, and published data for sharing and organization.  A comprehensive list of the publications and their published samples are located at [http://metpetdb.rpi.edu/MetPetRest/parse_publications.html MetPetDB Published Samples]