Dust

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John Cooper has drawn attention to dust in collections.I am glad he raised 
it since there is, in some areas, a belief that "fossils are 
[intrinsically] dusty". However, as Sally Shelton has pointed out ( Hello, 
Sally ) a particular problem for conservation is the synthetic materials 
which have been used on fossil material as adhesives and consolidants. This 
is probably particularly true in the case of collections which are actively 
used for research and in which specimens may have been extensively prepared.

John's suggestions about washing 'robust and inert' specimens and 'robust 
pyritic specimens' generally must be avoided where synthetic materials 
exist on and in the specimen. In the first instance the synthetics should 
be identified before any cleaning takes place. This is no less important 
than recognising the effect any cleaning agent might have on the mineral 
content of the fossil and any attached matrix. 

Where there are no synthetics, gentle brushing or blown air may be enough. 
To get specimens really clean without damage to the material may be 
extremely difficult, as some of my colleagues know, and you may have to 
live with a grubby fossil. (I expect some of us do!).

I think a more important issue here, raised by John's correspondence, is 
how did the dust - other than that from disintegrating matrix (if you do 
not think of that as part of the specimen) - get onto the specimen in the 
first place. Identifying the source of the dust and how the specimen was 
exposed to it seems like a place to start. I'm sure you all know that if 
your collections are safely stored, properly packaged, not left in studies, 
not put on windowsills, your cabinet doors closed, your research visitors 
are instructed in handling, there were more of you etc. etc. you are likely 
to reduce the amount of dust which gets to your specimens. Prevention is a 
major topic in the conservation world and one in which conservators and 
curators/collections managers can collaborate to good effect.

So, John, here in the Palaeontology Laboratory of the Natural 
History Museum specialist conservators are looking at dust in more detail, 
John. 

William Lindsay,
Head of the Palaeontology Lab.


====================================================
William Lindsay
Department of Palaeontology
The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, England

Telephone: +44 (0)71 938 8821
Fax:       +44 (0)71 938 9277
JANET:     w.lindsay@uk.ac.nhm
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