Re: Nasty shale processing (posted for M. Sutton)

[N.MacLeod@xxxxxxxxx (N. MacLeod)]

From: MARK SUTTON <SGLMDS@cardiff.ac.uk>
To: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk
Date:          Thu, 18 Jan 1996 13:01:03 GMT
Subject:       Re: Nasty shale processing
Priority: normal

Have you tried surfactants? I've broken down Welsh Ordovician
black shales succesfully with Quaternary O (see Zingula, 1968 - J.
pal. 42, p.1092), althought the process is pretty energetic and no
good for extracting anything fragile. You may have trouble getting
hold of the stuff - I don't think its made anymore, although there is
probably a modern equivalent. I used some old stock belonging to Prof.
Mike Bassett at the National Museum of Wales, and I can probably
persuade him to let you have some.


Mark Sutton, UWCC, Cardiff