[Nhcoll-l] cleaning shells

[Gegick, Patricia, DCA]

Dear Listers:

We are in the process of creating a permanent exhibit of mostly marine, some land snail shells.    Most of our shells were collected in the 1950's on collection trips sponsored by another museum.  These were the shells that the sponsoring museum did not want for their museum, but most all of them have collection data.  The organisms were removed, but the shells were not necessarily cleaned.  Some still have remnants of periostracum and dirt/sand inside.  Since these shells will be on exhibit, we want to show them in their best light and so are considering removing the periostracum and dirt,  i.e. cleaning them.  Are shells usually cleaned for exhibit in museums?   If so, can someone recommend a process?  I've seen sites which recommend bleach and water, NO bleach at all, mild soap and water with a toothbrush, soap and water plus baking soda, and using mineral oil to protect them and make them shine.  All of these sites were regarding personal shell collections.  I'm wondering if there are any museum best practices.  Thanks.

Patricia J. Gegick
Bioscience Collections Specialist
Department of Collections and Research
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
1801 Mountain Road, NW
Albuquerque, NM  87104-1375
Phone:  505.841.2867  Fax: 505.841.2808
email:  patricia.gegick at state.nm.us<mailto:patricia.gegick at state.nm.us>
"Every calculation based on experience elsewhere fails in New Mexico." Lew Wallace, New Mexico Territorial Governor from 1878-1881. New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment

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