[NHCOLL-L:5021] RE: Labeling rocks and fossils

[Demouthe, Jean]

White-out and similar compounds are unacceptable on any type of specimen.  Most will either become brittle and flaky with age, and some will react with the specimen, even if covered with clear varnish.



Just because geologic specimens are often sturdier and appear to be less chemically sensitive than biological materials, there is no reason to use substandard collection materials in their labeling and conservation.



I suggest you look at Segal, T. 1998.  Marking in The New Registration Methods, R.A. Buck & J.A. Gilmore, eds.  Pages 65-93.  American Association of Museums, publishers.



There is a list of barrier materials for base coats in Table 4 (page 89).  For geological specimens, most people use either B72 acryloid or PVA (polyvinyl acetate).



Jean DeMouthe





Dr. Jean F. DeMouthe

Senior Collections Manager for Geology

California Academy of Sciences

55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park

San Francisco, California 94118

jdemouthe at calacademy.org

(415) 379-5258









-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Pellegrini, Rodrigo
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 12:11 PM
To: 'NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu'
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5018] Labeling rocks and fossils



Dear colleagues,



My museum has used a water-based correction fluid as a base layer to label catalog numbers onto our rock and fossil collections for many years (and later coated said number with nail polish). I'm well aware that such labeling is not the best practice for most other collections, but it is still generally accepted for rocks and fossils as far as I know (something akin being described as such in "The New Museum Registration Methods," Buck and Gilmore, Eds.)



I haven't heard of anything new on the subject, but was curious what those of you that have geological collections under your care use.

I'm quite frankly tired of rehydrating dried-up correction fluid bottles that were never opened, and feel something like acrylic-based white paint might be better.



Any ideas? Suggestions? Info I should be aware of? I would much appreciate any help and to hear your thoughts and experiences on this topic.



Best wishes,



Rod



Rodrigo Pellegrini, MA, MS

Registrar, Natural History Bureau

New Jersey State Museum

PO Box 530

Trenton, NJ 08625-0530

USA



Voice: (609) 292-5615 (office)

       (609) 826-3924 (laboratory)

       (609) 826-5449 (storage)

Fax: (609) 292-7636

E-mail: Rodrigo.Pellegrini at sos.state.nj.us

www.newjerseystatemuseum.org




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