[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: Green bird skeleton

[Dirk Neumann]

Hi Jessica,

could also be Schweinfurter Green, also called Paris or Vienna green, i.e. copper(II) acetate triarsenite or copper(II) acetoarsenite. This green copper-arsenic pigment was also used for preservation and has been used as a rodenticide and insecticide (second link in German, but you may run this through DeepL or similiar translator)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_green

https://www.uni-bamberg.de/restaurierungswissenschaft/forschung/forschungsprojekte/schweinfurter-gruen/

If you are in reach of an XRF you should be able to trace the elements, that should give you a quick, non-invasive hint.

Hope this helps
Dirk


Am 24.09.2025 um 20:57 schrieb 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<mailto: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




[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<mailto:jessica.tir at wsu.edu>

Conner Museum Website<https://sbs.wsu.edu/conner-museum/>








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--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
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