Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

╳Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

GeneralMineral Storage Help

21st Oct 2010 02:50 UTCLogan Babcock (2)

okay, i come in need of storing instructions...

over the weekend the MNCA (including myself) went to the vulcan quarry full of stilbites... (just with the stock would go up 0_o) and i got some Laumontite which is beautiful and i want it to last the test of time.

i was thinking like a plastic seal up case and a wet napkin... but you know more than me.

help, please!!! i dont want those crystals to crumble to pieces....

21st Oct 2010 14:53 UTCBryan Davis

Logan,

I have collected some nice specimens of Laumontite from the NJ traprock quarries. Most collectors throw the stuff out because it dries out within a few days, and crumbles to pieces if you try to handle it. I find it interesting, though and wanted to keep a few thin plates of laumontite as a example of the species. What I did is make a solution of water and Elmer's glue and sat the specimen in it, letting the glue soak into all the pores of the specimen, then removed it and let it dry on a piece of waxed paper (so it wouldn't stick to the counter). It seems to have worked well, I can now pick up the specimens and move them around without pieces of the specimen crumbling off every time I touch them. I may get blasted by the mineral purists for this method, because it essentially "ruins" the specimen. However, if "ruining" it means I get to keep it in my display case rather than throwing it out, I'm OK with that.

I'm not sure about the ratio of glue to water I used, it was pretty watery, maybe 20% glue/80% water? You may want to experiment with scrap pieces if you have any...

Bryan

21st Oct 2010 16:52 UTCLogan Babcock (2)

so you coated the specimen? well, i found the specimen on the surface... not in a pocket. i will do more research and thanks for the post!

21st Oct 2010 16:57 UTCBryan Davis

Essentially yes. Though by looking at it you can't tell its coated, probably because of the low concentration of glue I used. So its fine for display, but not for any kind of scientific purposes. Now I can store it right in my display case with no worries.

21st Oct 2010 18:52 UTCBryan Davis

Logan,

I also found another discussion about coating laumontite.

http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,19,188752,188755#msg-188755

Bryan

21st Oct 2010 20:05 UTCMichael Hatskel

Hi Logan

Which quarry was that - Manassas?

Also, how big are the laumontite xls?

22nd Oct 2010 00:43 UTCLogan Babcock (2)

Michael, yes from manassas. the crystals are about 2mm and coating the diabase pure white.

thanks Bryan!!!!

22nd Oct 2010 02:18 UTCJohn Sobolewski Expert

I have used a solution of 15% Elmer's white glue and 85% water with a drop or two of hand soap to improve the penetration.

The specimens are put in the solution for a couple of minutes, removed, excess solution shaken off, and allowed to air dry in

a cool shady place. The solution penetrates into the Laumontite, dries and forms a thin invisible film that preserves the

specimen. I have Laumontites preserved this way that have kept their shape and color for 30 years. John S.

22nd Oct 2010 03:55 UTCLogan Babcock (2)

i have read about hair spray for laumontite. luckily, i have the number for the guy who stores them at the smithsonian so... i will probably ask him... i completely forgot i had that... *slaps self*

24th Oct 2010 20:42 UTCTom Henderson

Has anyone tried Vinac to stabilize minerals? Some type of acetate dissolved in acetone. It's what the fossil people use.

25th Oct 2010 05:17 UTCRay Hill Expert

The most common method of preservation I had heard of was that dilute sol'n of Elmer's glue, in addition

I also read somewhere of someone using a dilute solution of what amounts to dissolved silica gel and letting

it soak in and then dryng the crystals in the same way...and since these are standard means of actually

preserving the integrity of an otherwise unstable mineral, I cannot see , even a mineral purist , complaining

or criticizing this...

25th Oct 2010 07:31 UTCRock Currier Expert

I have never found any method to very satisfactory. If they don't eventually fall apart the glues that are used to treat them usually make them turn yellow or look sort of funny. I think a mixture of water and white glue is about as realistically do. Make sure that you at least put them in clear plastic box to protect them from dirt. Also if they are really good specimens, you should take a good picture of the specimen so that in future years you can have a rely faithful image of the specimen. In most cases they will outlast the specimen.

Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 19, 2024 22:30:31

Go to top of page