[Nhcoll-l] Storing and or displaying pyrite

[Carrie A. Eaton]

Hi Leslie,
There was a really great GCG publication back in 2019 "Pyrite oxidation: where are we now?" Vol 11, No 1: https://www.geocurator.org/resources/51-geological-curator/the-geological-curator-volume-11

I mostly tackle known problematic specimens here using the preventative microclimate approach with whole loads of color-changing silica gel in a tray near the specimen or in a box-inside-the-box approach. Then I can just open a drawer and check quickly whether the silica needs replacing. I was also surprised (thanks to the paper in that volume by Nigel Larkin) how much cleaning and repair can do to a specimen that looks "lost"!

I believe Chris Tacker at NCMNS has presented on this in the past and could be a good resource.

Good luck!
All the best,
Carrie

Carrie Eaton, Museum Curator (she/hers)
UW Geology Museum
1215 West Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53706
608.262.4912
twitter @uwgeologymuseum
facebook.com/uwgeologymuseum

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Leslie L Skibinski
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 11:27 AM
To: NHCOLL-L (nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu) <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Storing and or displaying pyrite

Hello everyone,

We have just gotten some fossils where the organism has been replaced with pyrite (FeS2).  Because of this, they are inherently unstable and very prone to pyrite disease.  Just in the short time we have had them, they have started to become less shiny (oxidize).

Has anyone had experience with storing pyrite?  Are there ways of packaging or storing the specimens that reduce oxygen and help maintain a stable low relative humidity?  Should we use a molecular sieve or is silica gel OK. Has anyone worked with a fabricator to design and produce a storage or exhibit case?  Would storing the specimens in an anoxic environment such as storing them in nitrogen or some inert gas be feasible and reasonably cost effective?

Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

--Leslie

Leslie L. Skibinski
Collection Manager

Paleontological Research Institution
1259 Trumansburg Road
Ithaca, New York  14850
Phone:  (607) 273-6623  ext. 128
Fax:  (607) 273-6620

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