[NHCOLL-L:1834] Conserving amber in mineral oil

[Robert Waller]

Hi Janet,
I have no direct experience but I shall not let that stop me from giving an
opinion.  I would hesitate to recommend placing new, previously
uncontaminated, amber specimens in mineral oil.  Having said that, once the
specimens are in mineral oil, I think it is an excellent preservative as a
barrier to moisture and oxygen.  I would try to maintain them in mineral
oil, perhaps finding a container that would work well for exhibit if that is
what is needed.  As you suggest, I expect that the mineral oil would cause
separation at the surface if embedded in polyester resin.
Robert Waller
Chief, Conservation
Canadian Museum of Nature
Box 3443, Station "D"
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6P4
CANADA
 
tel: 613-566-4797
fac: 613-364-4027
rwaller at mus-nature.ca
Visit our web site: www.nature.ca
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Janet Waddington [mailto:janetw at rom.on.ca <mailto:janetw at rom.on.ca> ] 
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 10:23 AM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:1833] Conserving amber in mineral oil
 
Does anyone have any experience with conserving amber that has been stored
in mineral oil?  We have several specimens, with insect inclusions, that
have been in oil for several decades.  
Will the oil contribute to the physical degradation of the amber?
Is there any way to remove the oil from the amber?
Has anyone tried embedding specimens in bioplastic that have previously been
stored in mineral oil? I suspect that the oil and the resin would be
incompatible.
I'd be interested in hearing other people's experiences.
Thanks,
Janet
 
Janet Waddington
Palaeobiology
Royal Ontario Museum
 
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