Investigative conservation of the Royal Cornwall Museum minerals
- Resource Type
- Authors
- L. Ratcliffe; A. Valentine-Baars
- Source
- Geological Curator. 9:305-314
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 0144-5294
A programme of conservation work was initiated at the Royal Cornwall Museum (RCM) to stabilise some decaying groups of minerals identified by a condition survey. The main problems identified were pyrite decay and accelerated, often localised corrosion on the native coppers. Decay products from the unstable specimens were sampled and analysed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) to identify them and therefore try and determine which contaminants in the storage environment were significant in their formation. Conservation of the decaying material was undertaken in order to prevent further damage. Low humidity microclimates were created to store the minerals. Approximately 260 specimens, about 2% of the over- all mineral collection, were stabilised in this way during 2007.