[Nhcoll-l] thoughts on "Pyrite Stop" product?

[Monaghan, Nigel]

Dee

This is in use since 1984 for treating pyrite decay in fossils and their matrix, and can be very effective. https://www.palass.org/publications/palaeontology-journal/archive/27/2/article_pp421-424

It is a brand name for monoethanolaminethioglycollate (we call it ET for short in our museum!). Highly alkaline and corrosive, check safety sheets and read up using more recent publications before using. It is supplied at 40% and used at around 4% in solvents or as a poultice. It turns purple when it has reacted with the pyrite breakdown products. Multiple applications will see paler purple and eventually clear, indicating you work is done. Washing out pyrite decay products is often followed by consolidation to retain physical integrity of the specimen.

Nigel

Mr Nigel T. Monaghan
Keeper – Natural History Division
National Museum of Ireland – Natural History,
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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Dee Stubbs-Lee
Sent: Thursday 3 February 2022 14:04
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] thoughts on "Pyrite Stop" product?

Apologies for cross posting.

A colleague in our Geology and Palaeontology section has asked my opinion on a new product that has come to his attention that is being marketed as preventing or correcting pyrite disease (www.zoicpalaeotech.co.uk/products/pyrite-stop<https://www.zoicpalaeotech.co.uk/products/pyrite-stop>). As my experience with mineralogical collections is quite limited, I would like to get thoughts from colleagues on the listserv about the product's suitability for use with pyritic materials in museum mineralogical collections, particularly where both environmental control in collections storage and laboratory ventilation are sub-optimal.

Thank you,
Dee


Dee A. Stubbs-Lee, MA, CAPC
Conservator / Restauratrice
New Brunswick Museum
277 Douglas Avenue
Saint John, New Brunswick
E2K 1E5
Canada

(506) 643-2341


https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Decorative-Arts-History/Exhibitions/Studio-State
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