[Nhcoll-l] [External] Fossil collections and radioactivity

[Tacker, Christopher]

Hi, everyone,


A resource for this is the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals:

http://www.smmp.net/rept-rad.htm

HANDLING RADIOACTIVE SPECIMENS IN MINERAL COLLECTIONS - SMMP<http://www.smmp.net/rept-rad.htm>
www.smmp.net
HANDLING RADIOACTIVE SPECIMENS IN MINERAL COLLECTIONS. In 1996, in response to concerns expressed by SMMP members and others regarding the proper handling of natural specimens of radioactive minerals, members produced the reports below on behalf of their institutions.


There are policies from several different museums.


One of your local universities, or government, will have classes in radiation safety for anyone using research isotopes or X-ray diffraction, etc. I strongly recommend that you take one, simply as a matter of self-defense.


The problem is twofold, first, local and national safety regulations on radiation exposure. Second, possible radon emitted. In both cases you need measurements to assist you in making plans. A good radiation meter is essential. You'll need to measure radon inside the storage cases as well as ambient radon.


On top of these problems is the fact that, at our state level,  naturally occurring forms/sources of radiation are not regulated. Radiation exposure may be, and radon almost certainly is. Dust you can probably treat as you usually handle dust, or treat it as an inhaled silica problem.


I kind of doubt that there's enough radiation to matter in the specimens. Phosphatic layers from the Lee Creek mine in Aurora, North Carolina, are mapped in the subsurface using gamma logs. However, I've stood on a pile of the ore with a Geiger counter and measured nothing.


Finally, I can recommend from experience that you be discreet in working with the radiation issue. More than once, I've had people panic over marginally radioactive materials.


Best regards,

Chris Tacker


Chris Tacker, Ph.D., P.G., Research Curator, Geology
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences       http://www.naturalsciences.org/
11 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC  27601-1029

Please note:
E-mail and phone have both changed:
christopher.tacker at naturalsciences.org     919-707-9941.

E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North
Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
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Hello everyone,

in the fossil mammal collection of the MNHN Paris, we are currently
dealing with issues of high level radioactivity for a number of
specimens (>usual background radiation) and we are trying to set up an
action plan. For this reason, we would love to hear about the policy in
other Museums concerning radioactive fossils.
Do you systematically measure specimens for radioactivity in your fossil
collection?  Does your institution have a strict policy about
radioactive fossils? Most particularly, how do you cope with the risk of
inhaling radioactive dust due to such specimens?

Many thanks and best wishes
Guillaume


--
Guillaume BILLET
Assistant Professor & Curator (MNHN)
Maître de conférences & Chargé de conservation (MNHN)

Centre de Recherches sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements (CR2P)
UMR CNRS 7207
Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
8, rue Buffon
75231 Paris Cedex 05, FRANCE
Phone + 33 (0)1 40 79 38 14

Email address: guillaume.billet at mnhn.fr


Collection website / Site des collections: http://colhelper.mnhn.fr
AND:  http://www.mnhn.fr/en/collections/collection-groups/palaeontology/mammal-fossils

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