diff --git a/sources/blocks.F90 b/sources/blocks.F90
index 6913cb8..302f3ff 100644
--- a/sources/blocks.F90
+++ b/sources/blocks.F90
@@ -303,13 +303,18 @@ module blocks
   type(block_data), pointer, save :: list_data, last_data
   type(block_leaf), pointer, save :: list_leaf
 
+! THE VECTOR OF DATA BLOCK POINTERS:
+! =================================
+!
+  type(pointer_data), dimension(:), allocatable :: data_blocks
+
 ! all variables and subroutines are private by default
 !
   private
 
 ! declare public pointers, structures, and variables
 !
-  public :: pointer_meta, pointer_info
+  public :: pointer_meta, pointer_data, pointer_info
   public :: block_meta, block_data, block_info, block_leaf
   public :: list_meta, list_data, list_leaf
   public :: ndims, nsides, nchildren, nregs
@@ -331,7 +336,8 @@ module blocks
   public :: metablock_set_configuration, metablock_set_refinement
   public :: metablock_set_position, metablock_set_coordinates
   public :: metablock_set_bounds, metablock_set_leaf, metablock_unset_leaf
-  public :: build_leaf_list
+  public :: build_leaf_list, build_datablock_list
+  public :: data_blocks
 #ifdef DEBUG
   public :: check_neighbors
 #endif /* DEBUG */
@@ -426,16 +432,29 @@ module blocks
 !
   subroutine finalize_blocks(status)
 
+    use iso_fortran_env, only : error_unit
+
     implicit none
 
     integer, intent(out) :: status
 
     type(block_meta), pointer :: pmeta
 
+    character(len=*), parameter :: loc = 'BLOCKS::finalize_blocks()'
+
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
     status = 0
 
+! deallocate the vector of data blocks
+!
+    if (allocated(data_blocks)) then
+      deallocate(data_blocks, stat=status)
+      if (status /= 0) &
+        write(error_unit,"('[',a,']: ',a)") trim(loc), &
+                         "Could not deallocate the vector of data blocks!"
+    end if
+
 ! remove all metablocks
 !
     pmeta => last_meta
@@ -3545,6 +3564,63 @@ module blocks
 !
 !===============================================================================
 !
+! subroutine BUILD_DATABLOCK_LIST:
+! -------------------------------
+!
+!   Subroutine builds the list of data blocks data_blocks.
+!
+!   Arguments:
+!
+!     status - the subroutine call status: 0 for success, otherwise failure;
+!
+!===============================================================================
+!
+  subroutine build_datablock_list(status)
+
+    use iso_fortran_env, only : error_unit
+
+    implicit none
+
+    integer, intent(out) :: status
+
+    type(block_data), pointer :: pdata
+
+    integer :: l
+
+    character(len=*), parameter :: loc = 'BLOCKS::build_datablock_list()'
+
+!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+!
+    status = 0
+
+    if (allocated(data_blocks)) then
+      deallocate(data_blocks, stat=status)
+      if (status /= 0) &
+        write(error_unit,"('[',a,']: ',a)") trim(loc), &
+                         "Could not deallocate the vector of data blocks!"
+    end if
+
+    allocate(data_blocks(dblocks), stat=status)
+    if (status == 0) then
+      l = 0
+      pdata => list_data
+      do while (associated(pdata))
+        l = l + 1
+        data_blocks(l)%ptr => pdata
+
+        pdata => pdata%next
+      end do
+    else
+      write(error_unit,"('[',a,']: ',a)") trim(loc), &
+                       "Could not allocate the vector of data blocks!"
+    end if
+
+!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+!
+  end subroutine build_datablock_list
+!
+!===============================================================================
+!
 ! subroutine SET_NEIGHBORS_REFINE:
 ! -------------------------------
 !