This database contains a comprehensive inventory of geologic (coral, coral reef, limestone, and sediment) cores and samples collected, analyzed, published, and/or archived by, or in collaboration with, the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (USGS SPCMSC). The SPCMSC Geologic Core and Sample Database includes geologic cores and samples collected beginning in the 1970s to present day, from study sites across the world. This database captures metadata about samples throughout the USGS Science Data Lifecycle: including field collection, laboratory analysis, publication of research, and archival or deaccession. For more information about the USGS Science Data Lifecycle, see USGS Open-File Report 2013-1265 (https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20131265). The SPCMSC Geologic Core and Sample Database also includes storage locations for physical samples and cores archived in a repository (USGS SPCMSC or elsewhere, if known). The majority of the samples and cores in this database come from field activities associated with the SPCMSC and have been assigned a field activity number (FAN) in the field activity management and data inventory tool for USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP) Coastal and Marine Geoscience Data System (CMGDS), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/. Some cores and samples were retroactively assigned FANs based on existing metadata and published information. Cores and samples without FANs indicate there is insufficient information regarding collection of the core(s) or sample(s) needed in order to assign a field activity number in CMGDS. Please see the supplemental information section of the metadata for more information about FANs. All samples and cores contained in this database are described in published research. The database contains a link to the FAN page within the CMGDS for each sample or core where associated publications can be accessed. For a complete list of fields used in this database, please refer to the entity and attribute information section of this metadata record.