Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'pyrite disease'.
-
Curious about iron and pyrite in the Hell Creek Formation
Maniraptora posted a topic in Questions & Answers
Hey all! When I went on a collecting trip in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, there were many iron concretions, and I've noticed that some specimens from there appear to be iron-stained. This makes me wonder if pyrite could be among the minerals involved in fossil preservation there. Are some of the bones found in the Hell Creek pyritized, and how could those be distinguished from others preserved differently? If so, do those Hell Creek specimens ever develop "pyrite disease," and what would be the warning signs to look out for? Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!- 11 replies
-
- dinosaur bone
- hell creek formation
- (and 5 more)
-
Lyme Regis plesiosaur propodial with pyrite disease - how to treat
pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon posted a topic in Fossil Preparation
Hi all, A couple of years ago I acquired a lovely pair of plesiosaur propodial bones from Lyme Regis. It was a matched pair of both humerus and femur. Today, when I was looking to make space in my cabinet for a new acquisition I had made, I discovered some odd dust next to the humerus that, on inspection and to my horror turned out to be pyrite bloom! I immediately removed the specimen from the cabinet, checked the other podial and nearby fossils, and used a tooth brush to brush of the most direct traces of pyrite decay. But the question is: what now? How do I ensure the propodial's preservation, and make it safe for display again. Should I store affected piece in an open or closed container? I suspect the latter, together with silica beads to consume any excess moisture might be best right now. But how do I get to the point where I can take it out again? Any suggestions are welcome. From my own thread on this topic I know of the existence of pyrite stopper, which sounds ideal for this situation. But I've also been warned that this is quite a hazardous solution and am therefore afraid of trying this out myself. So, part of the question would be whether someone offers pyrite treatment as a service, of knows of someone who does. Thanks in advance for your help! @Ptychodus04 @DanJeavs @paulgdls @RuMert and others -
Help please! Newbie with Deteriorating Ammonite-type Fossil
starksight posted a topic in Questions & Answers
I started off rinsing with water until I realized it was causing all the fine detail to disintegrate away (I saw little suction cups on the tentacles!). I think it'a pyrite disease? Is it? I dunked it in a bowl of vinegar and it it still there now, hoping to stop the water damage and it seems to have halted the rapid deterioration, but now I'm concerned about the acid causing damage. What should I do next? I read online that a phosphate treatment may replace the escaping sulfur and stop the oxidation and that a recommended field treatment would be common fertilizer. How the heck would I apply fertilizer to a fossil? I do have some chemicals in the house for art in furniture restoration, but definitely not pure phosphate. Again, this is foreign territory. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you all! Location: Annandale, Virginia within the Virginia Gold-Pyrite Belt. My neighborhood is in the Cambrian period, but there was a geographic displacement from the Blue Ridge Mountains into Northern VA, not sure how/if that figures into the scenario.- 7 replies
-
- ammonite
- fine detail
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi all, I recently acquired the below fossil, a pair of articulated jaws, purportedly from Pachystropheus rhaeticus, still with teeth, found at Garden Cliff/Westbury-on-Severn. Whether I wasn't paying proper attention when I bought it or just hoping there wouldn't be any pyrite on the piece, when I received the specimen it turned out that there are quite numerous pyrite-crystals growing to the side of the fossil. As it's quite an unusual piece that I'd rather like to keep, I'm now looking for people with experience with pyrite from the Garden Cliff location. In essence, I'd like to ask how stable the pyrite from this location typically is: whether it decays into a black oxidation product or starts blooming with time. How concerned should I be about the stability of this piece? The pyrite itself looks relatively clean right now, so I'm thinking the rock on which the fossil sits hadn't been exposed for too long. But any advice would be welcome. @Welsh Wizard @Pterygotus @DanJeavs
- 6 replies
-
- garden cliff
- jaws
- (and 9 more)
-
My fossilized bivalves seem to be turning gold in some areas, and some parts have chipped off . Is this "pyrite disease"? Is it due to being on wooden shelving? I wouldn't say my climate is particularly humid. My great uncle gave these five to me when I was seven, so they are special and I would like to save them None of my other fossils or minerals are exhibiting these signs?