[Nhcoll-l] Pyrite decay treatment

[Vjosa Ferati]

Dear Nhcoll-l member,

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is Vjosa Ferati, I am a Swiss Master's student specializing in Conservation and restoration of archaeological and ethnographic objects at the Haute École Arc of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

I am currently preparing my master's thesis on pyrite decay treatments at the Zoological Museum of Zurich, where I will have access to several dozen ammonites at various stages of pyritization. My study will focus on applying different treatments, artificially ageing them, and comparing the results to determine which technique is the most effective, least expensive, and requires the least preparation and equipment. A practical protocol will be made available to the museum's staff, who – like many natural history collections – lack the budget and time to properly treat pyritized objects. These practical criteria are therefore essential.

Based on existing literature, I plan to test three treatments: ammoniac gas, ethanolamine thioglycolate, and passivation using clay-carbon compounds. Because opportunities to test conservation treatments directly on museum objects are rare, I would like to ask you, based on your experience with pyrite decay:

  1.
Are there any treatments you would like me to test in a laboratory setting during my internship?
  2.
Are there specific treatments or research questions for which you would like to see more precise data under laboratory conditions?
  3.
Does this project interest you? If yes, would you like me to inform you of the results at the end of my internship?

Any suggestions or expressions of interest would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much for your time and for considering my request. I look forward to any advice or recommendations you might offer.

Best regards,

Vjosa Ferati
Master's Student, Conservation – restoration of archaeological and ethnographic objects
Haute École Arc, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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