Meteorite preservation

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    Date: 14 Feb 95
    Sender: Museum discussion list <MUSEUM-L [at] UNMVMA__BitNet>
    From: Chip Lindsey <doe [at] metronet__com>
    Subject: Meteorite preservation help.

    I am writing this for a cohort without access to the Net.

    Does anyone have some recent information about the conservation of
    iron-type meteorites?  Particularly in regards to prevention of
    corrosion on their surfaces.  Is there any type of coating that
    retards their oxidation?  Any thoughts are welcome.  You can respond
    to me directly or to the list if there is interest.

    Thanks in advance,

    Chip Lindsey
    Assistant Director of Education
    Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
    doe [at] fohnix__metronet__com


    Date: 15 Feb 95
    Sender: Museum discussion list <MUSEUM-L [at] UNMVMA__BitNet>
    From: Sally Shelton <libsdnhm [at] class__org>
    Subject: Re: Meteorite preservation help.

    Iron meteorites have been driving everyone slightly crazy for years.
    First warning: do NOT coat the surface with ANYTHING, no matter what
    anyone tells you. There is a chapter in the Butterworths book on the
    conservation of geological materials (ed. F. Howie) that deals with
    meteorites. I recommend this highly.

    I have been using anoxic micro-enclosures with good results, using
    heat-seal anoxic film with packets of the oxygen scavenger Ageless. I
    can
    send details to you off-list if you are interested. The size of the
    meteorites and the degree of existing deterioration will affect the
    design of this.

    I find that meteorites which have been cut and polished to show the
    Widmanstatten lines are very vulnerable to oxidation and need
    immediate
    enclosure. Those that have been coated with shellac or something else
    awful don't seem to show much slow-down of oxidation except in the
    driest
    climates.

    Good luck.

    Sally Shelton
    Director, Collections Care and Conservation
    Post-graduate diploma, geological conservation, Cambridge U.

    San Diego Natural History Museum
    P. O. Box 1390
    San Diego, California   92112  USA
    phone (619) 232-3821; FAX (619) 232-0248
    email LIBSDNHM [at] CLASS__ORG

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:64
                Distributed: Thursday, February 16, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-64-014
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