diff --git a/examples/minimal/README.md b/examples/minimal/README.md
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+# Minimal PQG Example Data
+
+This directory contains small, hand-crafted example datasets to help understand the iSamples PQG format. The same data is represented in JSON, CSV, and all three parquet formats (export, narrow, wide).
+
+## Dataset Overview
+
+**Domain**: Geological rock samples from Mount Rainier volcanic monitoring project
+
+**Entities**:
+- 3 MaterialSampleRecords (samples)
+- 3 SamplingEvents (collection/preparation events)
+- 2 GeospatialCoordLocations (coordinates)
+- 1 SamplingSite (Mount Rainier Summit Area)
+- 1 Agent (Jane Smith, collector)
+
+**Relationships demonstrated**:
+- Sample → produced_by → SamplingEvent (how samples are created)
+- Sample → derivedFrom → Sample (parent/child relationship)
+- SamplingEvent → sample_location → GeospatialCoordLocation
+- SamplingEvent → sampling_site → SamplingSite
+- SamplingSite → site_location → GeospatialCoordLocation
+
+## File Structure
+
+```
+minimal/
+├── json/
+│   ├── 1_sample.json       # Single sample (simplest case)
+│   └── 3_samples.json      # Three related samples
+├── csv/
+│   ├── samples.csv         # MaterialSampleRecords
+│   ├── events.csv          # SamplingEvents
+│   ├── locations.csv       # GeospatialCoordLocations
+│   ├── sites.csv           # SamplingSites
+│   ├── agents.csv          # Agents
+│   └── edges.csv           # Relationships (for narrow format)
+└── parquet/
+    ├── minimal_export.parquet    # Export format (3 rows, nested)
+    ├── minimal_narrow.parquet    # Narrow format (21 rows, with edges)
+    └── minimal_wide.parquet      # Wide format (10 rows, p__* columns)
+```
+
+## The Three Parquet Formats
+
+### Export Format (`minimal_export.parquet`)
+- **3 rows** - one per sample
+- Sample-centric with nested structs for related entities
+- Best for: Simple queries on sample properties
+- Coordinates pre-extracted to `sample_location_latitude/longitude`
+
+### Narrow Format (`minimal_narrow.parquet`)
+- **21 rows** - 10 entities + 11 edge rows
+- Graph-normalized with explicit `_edge_` rows
+- Columns `s` (subject), `p` (predicate), `o` (object array)
+- Best for: Graph traversal, flexible relationship queries
+
+### Wide Format (`minimal_wide.parquet`)
+- **10 rows** - one per entity (no edge rows)
+- Relationships stored as `p__*` columns with row_id arrays
+- Best for: Fast entity queries, smaller file size, analytical queries
+
+## Example Queries
+
+### Query 1: Find all samples (works in all formats)
+
+**Export format:**
+```sql
+SELECT sample_identifier, label
+FROM read_parquet('parquet/minimal_export.parquet')
+```
+
+**Wide format:**
+```sql
+SELECT pid, label
+FROM read_parquet('parquet/minimal_wide.parquet')
+WHERE otype = 'MaterialSampleRecord'
+```
+
+**Narrow format:**
+```sql
+SELECT pid, label
+FROM read_parquet('parquet/minimal_narrow.parquet')
+WHERE otype = 'MaterialSampleRecord'
+```
+
+### Query 2: Find samples with their locations
+
+**Wide format (uses p__* columns):**
+```sql
+SELECT
+    s.pid as sample,
+    s.label,
+    loc.latitude,
+    loc.longitude
+FROM read_parquet('parquet/minimal_wide.parquet') s
+JOIN read_parquet('parquet/minimal_wide.parquet') e
+    ON e.otype = 'SamplingEvent'
+    AND list_contains(s.p__produced_by, e.row_id)
+JOIN read_parquet('parquet/minimal_wide.parquet') loc
+    ON loc.otype = 'GeospatialCoordLocation'
+    AND list_contains(e.p__sample_location, loc.row_id)
+WHERE s.otype = 'MaterialSampleRecord'
+```
+
+**Narrow format (uses edge rows):**
+```sql
+SELECT
+    s.pid as sample,
+    s.label,
+    loc.latitude,
+    loc.longitude
+FROM read_parquet('parquet/minimal_narrow.parquet') s
+JOIN read_parquet('parquet/minimal_narrow.parquet') e1
+    ON e1.otype = '_edge_'
+    AND e1.s = s.row_id
+    AND e1.p = 'produced_by'
+JOIN read_parquet('parquet/minimal_narrow.parquet') ev
+    ON ev.otype = 'SamplingEvent'
+    AND list_contains(e1.o, ev.row_id)
+JOIN read_parquet('parquet/minimal_narrow.parquet') e2
+    ON e2.otype = '_edge_'
+    AND e2.s = ev.row_id
+    AND e2.p = 'sample_location'
+JOIN read_parquet('parquet/minimal_narrow.parquet') loc
+    ON loc.otype = 'GeospatialCoordLocation'
+    AND list_contains(e2.o, loc.row_id)
+WHERE s.otype = 'MaterialSampleRecord'
+```
+
+### Query 3: Count entities by type
+
+```sql
+SELECT otype, COUNT(*) as count
+FROM read_parquet('parquet/minimal_wide.parquet')
+GROUP BY otype
+ORDER BY count DESC
+```
+
+Expected output:
+```
+MaterialSampleRecord     3
+SamplingEvent           3
+GeospatialCoordLocation 2
+SamplingSite            1
+Agent                   1
+```
+
+## JSON Schema Validation
+
+The JSON files validate against the iSamples Core 1.0 schema:
+
+```python
+import json
+from jsonschema import validate
+
+# Load schema (from isamplesorg-metadata repo)
+with open('path/to/iSamplesSchemaCore1.0.json') as f:
+    schema = json.load(f)
+
+# Load and validate
+with open('json/1_sample.json') as f:
+    sample = json.load(f)
+
+validate(instance=sample, schema=schema)  # Raises if invalid
+```
+
+## Entity Relationship Diagram
+
+```
+MaterialSampleRecord ──produced_by──► SamplingEvent ──sample_location──► GeospatialCoordLocation
+        │                                   │
+        │                                   └──sampling_site──► SamplingSite ──site_location──► GeospatialCoordLocation
+        │
+        ├──registrant──► Agent
+        │
+        └──derivedFrom──► MaterialSampleRecord (parent sample)
+```
+
+## Size Comparison
+
+| Format | Rows | File Size | Notes |
+|--------|------|-----------|-------|
+| Export | 3 | 1.7 KB | Nested structs, sample-centric |
+| Narrow | 21 | 4.8 KB | Explicit edge rows |
+| Wide | 10 | 5.0 KB | p__* columns |
+
+In production datasets:
+- Wide is typically 60-70% smaller than narrow
+- Export is smallest but less flexible for complex queries
+
+## See Also
+
+- [PQG Specification](../../docs/PQG_SPECIFICATION.md) - Full format specification
+- [Edge Types](../../pqg/edge_types.py) - All 14 iSamples edge types
+- [Schema Definitions](../../pqg/schemas/) - Python schema validators
diff --git a/examples/minimal/csv/agents.csv b/examples/minimal/csv/agents.csv
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/csv/agents.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+agent_id,name,role,affiliation,contact_information
+agent:jsmith,Jane Smith,collector,University of Washington,jsmith@uw.edu
+agent:labtech,Lab Technician,preparer,University of Washington,
+agent:curator,Collections Manager,curator,Burke Museum,
diff --git a/examples/minimal/csv/edges.csv b/examples/minimal/csv/edges.csv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1090eab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/csv/edges.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+subject_id,predicate,object_id,description
+ark:/99999/example001,produced_by,event:example001,Sample was produced by this sampling event
+ark:/99999/example002,produced_by,event:example002,Sample was produced by this sampling event
+ark:/99999/example003,produced_by,event:example003,Sample was produced by this sampling event
+ark:/99999/example002,derivedFrom,ark:/99999/example001,Thin section derived from parent rock sample
+ark:/99999/example003,relatedTo,ark:/99999/example001,Sibling sample from same site
+event:example001,sample_location,loc:rainier001,Event occurred at this location
+event:example003,sample_location,loc:rainier002,Event occurred at this location
+event:example001,sampling_site,site:rainier001,Event occurred at this site
+event:example003,sampling_site,site:rainier001,Event occurred at this site
+site:rainier001,site_location,loc:rainier001,Site is at this location
+ark:/99999/example001,registrant,agent:jsmith,Sample registered by this agent
+ark:/99999/example002,registrant,agent:jsmith,Sample registered by this agent
+ark:/99999/example003,registrant,agent:jsmith,Sample registered by this agent
diff --git a/examples/minimal/csv/events.csv b/examples/minimal/csv/events.csv
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index 0000000..f9d8e04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/csv/events.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+event_id,label,description,result_time,project,feature_of_interest,site_id,location_id,collector_id
+event:example001,Mount Rainier Field Collection 2024-06-10,Field collection during summer geology survey,2024-06-10,Cascade Volcanic Monitoring Project,Recent lava flow on Mount Rainier,site:rainier001,loc:rainier001,agent:jsmith
+event:example002,Lab Preparation 2024-07-01,Thin section preparation in petrology lab,2024-07-01,,,,agent:labtech
+event:example003,Mount Rainier Field Collection 2024-06-10 (Site B),Field collection 10m from first sample,2024-06-10,Cascade Volcanic Monitoring Project,Recent lava flow on Mount Rainier,site:rainier001,loc:rainier002,agent:jsmith
diff --git a/examples/minimal/csv/locations.csv b/examples/minimal/csv/locations.csv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d63ebb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/csv/locations.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+location_id,latitude,longitude,elevation,obfuscated
+loc:rainier001,46.8523,-121.7603,4392 m above mean sea level,false
+loc:rainier002,46.8524,-121.7601,4390 m above mean sea level,false
diff --git a/examples/minimal/csv/samples.csv b/examples/minimal/csv/samples.csv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b73ebd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/csv/samples.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+sample_id,label,description,last_modified_time,event_id,material_category,sample_object_type,registrant_id
+ark:/99999/example001,Rock Sample MR-001 (Parent),"Basalt collected during 2024 field survey. Fresh, unweathered sample from recent lava flow.",2024-06-15T10:30:00Z,event:example001,rock,physicalspecimen,agent:jsmith
+ark:/99999/example002,Rock Sample MR-001-A (Child - Thin Section),Thin section prepared from parent sample MR-001 for petrographic analysis.,2024-07-01T14:00:00Z,event:example002,rock,thinsection,agent:jsmith
+ark:/99999/example003,Rock Sample MR-002,"Second basalt sample from same site, collected 10m away from MR-001.",2024-06-15T11:00:00Z,event:example003,rock,physicalspecimen,agent:jsmith
diff --git a/examples/minimal/csv/sites.csv b/examples/minimal/csv/sites.csv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2573e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/csv/sites.csv
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+site_id,label,description,place_name
+site:rainier001,Mount Rainier Summit Area,Collection site near the summit crater rim,"Mount Rainier, Pierce County, Washington, USA"
diff --git a/examples/minimal/json/1_sample.json b/examples/minimal/json/1_sample.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac915fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/json/1_sample.json
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+{
+  "sample_identifier": "ark:/99999/example001",
+  "label": "Rock Sample from Mount Rainier",
+  "description": "Basalt collected during 2024 field survey. Fresh, unweathered sample from recent lava flow.",
+  "last_modified_time": "2024-06-15T10:30:00Z",
+  "produced_by": {
+    "label": "Mount Rainier Field Collection 2024-06-10",
+    "description": "Field collection during summer geology survey",
+    "result_time": "2024-06-10",
+    "project": "Cascade Volcanic Monitoring Project",
+    "has_feature_of_interest": "Recent lava flow on Mount Rainier",
+    "sampling_site": {
+      "label": "Mount Rainier Summit Area",
+      "description": "Collection site near the summit crater rim",
+      "place_name": ["Mount Rainier", "Pierce County", "Washington", "USA"],
+      "sample_location": {
+        "latitude": 46.8523,
+        "longitude": -121.7603,
+        "elevation": "4392 m above mean sea level",
+        "obfuscated": false
+      }
+    },
+    "responsibility": [
+      {
+        "name": "Jane Smith",
+        "role": "collector",
+        "affiliation": "University of Washington",
+        "contact_information": "jsmith@uw.edu"
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "has_material_category": [
+    {
+      "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/material/1.0/ite",
+      "label": "ite",
+      "scheme_name": "iSamples Material Type"
+    }
+  ],
+  "has_context_category": [
+    {
+      "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/sampledfeature/1.0/activehumanoccupationsite",
+      "label": "Earth interior",
+      "scheme_name": "iSamples Sampled Feature Type"
+    }
+  ],
+  "has_sample_object_type": [
+    {
+      "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/specimentype/1.0/physicalspecimen",
+      "label": "Physical specimen",
+      "scheme_name": "iSamples Specimen Type"
+    }
+  ],
+  "keywords": [
+    {
+      "keyword": "basalt",
+      "scheme_name": "Free text"
+    },
+    {
+      "keyword": "volcanic rock",
+      "scheme_name": "Free text"
+    },
+    {
+      "keyword": "Cascade Range",
+      "scheme_name": "Geographic"
+    }
+  ],
+  "registrant": {
+    "name": "Jane Smith",
+    "affiliation": "University of Washington",
+    "contact_information": "jsmith@uw.edu",
+    "role": "registrant"
+  },
+  "curation": {
+    "label": "UW Geology Sample Collection",
+    "description": "Stored in climate-controlled facility",
+    "curation_location": "University of Washington, Burke Museum, Room 142, Drawer B-15",
+    "access_constraints": ["By appointment only", "Research use only"],
+    "responsibility": [
+      {
+        "name": "Collections Manager",
+        "role": "curator",
+        "affiliation": "Burke Museum"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/examples/minimal/json/3_samples.json b/examples/minimal/json/3_samples.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02e47fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal/json/3_samples.json
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+[
+  {
+    "sample_identifier": "ark:/99999/example001",
+    "label": "Rock Sample MR-001 (Parent)",
+    "description": "Basalt collected during 2024 field survey. Fresh, unweathered sample from recent lava flow. This is the original field sample.",
+    "last_modified_time": "2024-06-15T10:30:00Z",
+    "produced_by": {
+      "label": "Mount Rainier Field Collection 2024-06-10",
+      "identifier": "event:example001",
+      "result_time": "2024-06-10",
+      "project": "Cascade Volcanic Monitoring Project",
+      "has_feature_of_interest": "Recent lava flow on Mount Rainier",
+      "sampling_site": {
+        "identifier": "site:rainier001",
+        "label": "Mount Rainier Summit Area",
+        "place_name": ["Mount Rainier", "Pierce County", "Washington", "USA"],
+        "sample_location": {
+          "latitude": 46.8523,
+          "longitude": -121.7603,
+          "elevation": "4392 m above mean sea level"
+        }
+      },
+      "responsibility": [
+        {
+          "name": "Jane Smith",
+          "role": "collector",
+          "affiliation": "University of Washington"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "has_material_category": [
+      {
+        "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/material/1.0/rock",
+        "label": "Rock",
+        "scheme_name": "iSamples Material Type"
+      }
+    ],
+    "has_sample_object_type": [
+      {
+        "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/specimentype/1.0/physicalspecimen",
+        "label": "Physical specimen"
+      }
+    ],
+    "registrant": {
+      "name": "Jane Smith",
+      "affiliation": "University of Washington"
+    }
+  },
+  {
+    "sample_identifier": "ark:/99999/example002",
+    "label": "Rock Sample MR-001-A (Child - Thin Section)",
+    "description": "Thin section prepared from parent sample MR-001 for petrographic analysis.",
+    "last_modified_time": "2024-07-01T14:00:00Z",
+    "produced_by": {
+      "label": "Lab Preparation 2024-07-01",
+      "identifier": "event:example002",
+      "result_time": "2024-07-01",
+      "description": "Thin section preparation in petrology lab",
+      "responsibility": [
+        {
+          "name": "Lab Technician",
+          "role": "preparer",
+          "affiliation": "University of Washington"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "has_material_category": [
+      {
+        "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/material/1.0/rock",
+        "label": "Rock"
+      }
+    ],
+    "has_sample_object_type": [
+      {
+        "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/specimentype/1.0/thinsection",
+        "label": "Thin section"
+      }
+    ],
+    "related_resource": [
+      {
+        "label": "Parent sample",
+        "relationship": "derivedFrom",
+        "target": "ark:/99999/example001",
+        "description": "This thin section was prepared from the parent rock sample"
+      }
+    ],
+    "registrant": {
+      "name": "Jane Smith",
+      "affiliation": "University of Washington"
+    }
+  },
+  {
+    "sample_identifier": "ark:/99999/example003",
+    "label": "Rock Sample MR-002",
+    "description": "Second basalt sample from same site, collected 10m away from MR-001.",
+    "last_modified_time": "2024-06-15T11:00:00Z",
+    "produced_by": {
+      "label": "Mount Rainier Field Collection 2024-06-10 (Site B)",
+      "identifier": "event:example003",
+      "result_time": "2024-06-10",
+      "project": "Cascade Volcanic Monitoring Project",
+      "has_feature_of_interest": "Recent lava flow on Mount Rainier",
+      "sampling_site": {
+        "identifier": "site:rainier001",
+        "label": "Mount Rainier Summit Area",
+        "place_name": ["Mount Rainier", "Pierce County", "Washington", "USA"],
+        "sample_location": {
+          "latitude": 46.8524,
+          "longitude": -121.7601,
+          "elevation": "4390 m above mean sea level"
+        }
+      },
+      "responsibility": [
+        {
+          "name": "Jane Smith",
+          "role": "collector",
+          "affiliation": "University of Washington"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "has_material_category": [
+      {
+        "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/material/1.0/rock",
+        "label": "Rock"
+      }
+    ],
+    "has_sample_object_type": [
+      {
+        "identifier": "https://w3id.org/isample/vocabulary/specimentype/1.0/physicalspecimen",
+        "label": "Physical specimen"
+      }
+    ],
+    "related_resource": [
+      {
+        "label": "Sibling sample",
+        "relationship": "relatedTo",
+        "target": "ark:/99999/example001",
+        "description": "Collected from same site as MR-001"
+      }
+    ],
+    "registrant": {
+      "name": "Jane Smith",
+      "affiliation": "University of Washington"
+    }
+  }
+]
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