[Nhcoll-l] Green bird skeleton

[John E Simmons]

Jessica,
Although arsenic exposure is a possibility, I think it is far more likely
that the fluid specimen was stored in a copper container. I have seen the
same color green in anuran skeletons stored in copper containers. There
were a number of substances added to fluid preservatives that stained
specimens green (e.g., alum).

If you know anyone who has an arsenic test kit you could probably confirm
whether it is arsenic green. The test kits are relatively easy to use.

--John

John E. Simmons
Writer and Museum Consultant
Museologica
*and*
Research Associate, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
*and*
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima


On Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 2:35 PM Tir, Jessica K <jessica.tir at wsu.edu> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> There is a mint green razorbill skeleton in our collection. The particular
> shade of green reminds me of arsenic-based pigments like Paris/Scheele's
> green. I’m wondering if any of you have encountered a green skeleton like
> this or have guesses about what happened here?
>
> This bird was collected in 1951 and preserved in fluid until 1968 when it
> was converted to a skeleton. I don’t have any other information about what
> chemicals or treatments were applied to the specimen.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Best,
> Jess
>
>
>
> *[image: Washington State University Logo: W, S, U, letters create a
> cougar head.]*
>
> *Jessica Tir *(she/her)
>
> Curator
>
> Charles R. Conner Museum
>
> School of Biological Sciences
>
> Washington State University
>
> Office: 509-335-3515
>
> Email: *jessica.tir at wsu.edu <jessica.tir at wsu.edu>*
>
> *Conner Museum Website <https://sbs.wsu.edu/conner-museum/>*
>
>
>
>
>
>
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