The State of Paleontological Collections in Industry

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Date
     From:  H. Richard Lane, Amoco Corporation
            Alvin M. Gabriel, Amoco Corporation
            Sheila Barnett, British Petroleum Exploration
            Michael DuMont, Vastar Resources
     
     As part of a larger effort by industry, academia, government entities 
     and museums to identify and determine the state of invertebrate 
     paleontology collections in the U. S., we have been charged with 
     gathering and compiling information on such collections within the oil 
     industry.  Additionally, we want to get a feeling for the size, scope 
     quality, and archival condition which exists, for each collection.
     
     We are seekng information on any existing industry paleontological 
     collection which falls within the parameters set out below.
     
     MATERIAL:  
         *foramininfera, ostracoda, charophytes, conodonts--isolated  
     ("picked") fossil specimens, or thin-section preparations
     
         *palynomorphs, silicoflafellates, calcareous nannofossils, 
     diatoms, trace fossils--slides (or photographs if they are accompanied 
     by the original slide)
     
         *any macroscopic collections that have been utilized in solving 
     industry related business problems (home mantle display specimens are 
     not sought)
     
        ***Note:  unprocessed samples material will NOT be tallied
     
     ARCHIVAL CONDITION:
     
        Included in the "archival condition" we are looking for the amount 
     and type of documentation which exists for the collection; for 
     example, is there data on the specific locality from which the 
     specimen(s) was obtained, the stratigraphic level, any 
     paleobathymetric interpretation, etc. Obviously, the more specific the 
     data accompanying the collection, the more useful it is.  At the very 
     least, general geographic information (e.g., northeastern Gulf of 
     Mexico) is necessary and any other information you feel comfortable in 
     providing.
     
     SIZE:
     
         How large is the collection?  (approximations will be sufficient, 
     but specifics are appreciated)
     
     SCOPE:  
     
         What type of material does it contain?  (Picked and mounted 
     slides, free specimens, glass slides, photographs accompanying slides, 
     etc.)
     
         What fossil groups are included in the collection?  Age and/or 
     geographic range?
     
     We are looking for information on collections from any size oil 
     companies, personal collections, those which may exist in large or 
     small consulting grooups, "orphan collections" (or those which may 
     become "orphans" in the near future due to retirements, downsizing, 
     death, etc.).
     
     We are presently in the information gathering mode of this process.  
     That accomplished, we will begin to compile the results in some 
     meaningful format.  The intent would be to gain a better handle on 
     what collections actually still exist, where they reside, and how to 
     preserve those which may be in danger of being disposed.  As mentioned 
     in the opening paragraph, this is a part of larger study concerned 
     with the value, distribution, preservation, curation, and access to 
     invertebrate paleontological collections in the U. S.  Plans are to 
     organize a cross-organizational (i.e., museums, industry, government, 
     etc.) meeting later this year with the intent of providing basic 
     information to museums so that they may prepare for collections 
     (space, manpower, budgets, etc.) that are in the 'pipeline' and 
     inevitably heading, sooner or later, for curation at a museum of some 
     sort.
     
     Any information you can provide will be helpful.  We need this data in 
     hand by April 1, 1996.  Please send information to:
     
     H. Richard Lane
     Amoco Corporation
     Exploration and Production Technology Group
     RM. 786W3, P. O Box 4092
     Houston, Texas
     77253-4092 
     hrlane@amoco.com
     
     Sheila Barnett
     BP Exploration
     P. O. Box 4587
     Houston, Texas
     77210-4587 
     GNB@pheonix.net      
     
     Alvin M. Gabriel
     Amoco Corporation
     Exploration and Production Technology Group
     West Little York Earth Science Laboratory
     P. O. Box 4092
     Houston, Texas
     77253-4092
     amgabriel@amoco.com
     
     Michael P. DuMont     
     Vastar Resources, Inc.
     15375 Memorial Drive
     Houston, TX
     77079
     MDumont@is.arco.com