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Showing results for '"Pyrite Disease"'.
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Not sure if these resources have been shared before, but this is how professional collection managers deal with pyrite disease/decay/rot. From the LA County Natural History Museum: https://lacmip.github.io/emu/documentation/pyritedecay/ June, 2019 Volume 11 of the Geological Curator is devoted to the subject: https://www.geocurator.org/images/resources/geocurator/vol11/geocurator_11_1.pdf Fenlon and Petrera's paper on page 9 has a good discussion about various coatings which were historically used as well as what the current best practice. It seems the current best practice for museums is storage in low oxygen microenvironments, i.e. storing it in a cardboard box with plastazote foam, putting in an RP System(R) Type K oxygen scavenger, and sealing in Escal (TM) Neo barrier film.
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Greetings! I just learned about pyrite disease and got really scared. Is it really common to happen to a fossil? Is it present this possibility for every fossil? How do I recognize it if it starts happeningnon a fossil? How to prevent it from happening? How do I stop it if it happens? Please help me because I start to become paranoid....
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Sorry for your loss. Many of us have lost specimens to "pyrite disease." Search the Forum for lots of proposed prophylactic measures. I've tried some of the simple ones, but they never worked.
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I'm not positive but It looks like there might be pyrite preservation? If so, that explains the warning your daughter was given. When exposed to moisture/excessive humidity there's a condition known as pyrite disease that ruins pyrite fossils. I would personally be fine putting it in a case or something like a riker mount as is. If you have problems with humidity you can use consolidant or put dessicant in the case/riker mount. Let's see what others think.
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Peripristis tooth changing color over time
Collector9658 replied to Collector9658's topic in Questions & Answers
Thanks for the information. I'll periodically check on the fossil every few months now for some time to see if I notice any bad pyrite disease/ rot. -
Peripristis tooth changing color over time
jdp replied to Collector9658's topic in Questions & Answers
Exposure to oxygen and humidity definitely can change color of hydroxyapatite. But they can also cause pyrite disease. This could be either honestly. -
I recieved these ammonites, along with many other items, from an old collection. I have no idea where they come from, although the previous owner was Dutch, so I'd expect them to be from somewhere in Europe. I also suspect that both pieces come from the same place, as they have the same shell imprint in their matrix. The collection also came with heavily pyritised nautilus fossils (some of which had pyrite disease) which may or may not come from the same location. Ammonite 1: I tried preparing this one, but the matrix contains too much pyrite.
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Hi Savvas. When exposed to an environment with high levels of humidity, pyrite can indeed rust. The best way to preserve pyrite specimens is to keep them in as dry an atmosphere as possible. If necessary use a dehumidifier. If pyrite rot/disease does occur, you can try using a dessicant like silicone gel packs (?)to help remove moisture from the container the pyrite specimen is stored in. Once damage has occurred it’s irreversible, all you can do is halt further damage to the specimen or in extreme cases prevent the specimen from gassing out and damaging items in close proximity to the item. The phenomenon of pyrite rot gassing out is what is sometimes referred to as pyrite disease. I would google museums and pyrite for more comprehensive instructions as to caring for pyrite and what to do to halt pyrite rust if the process has started to occur in your collection. Remember any chemical treatments to halt pyrite rot should be done under the guidance of an expert! Good luck!
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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
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Simple question. Would the application of Butvar B-76 prevent pyrite disease??????? I hope so. I just applied some to the pyrite I collected from the Pella beds, Pennsylvanian of Iowa.
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Curious about iron and pyrite in the Hell Creek Formation
hadrosauridae replied to Maniraptora's topic in Questions & Answers
I cant speak for all specimens. The fossils I have seen with pyrite were patchy. It doesnt look like "gold" pyrite, it looks black and extremely rough in texture. Not all pyrite results in pyrite disease and I dont know if the HC specimens are prone to it but I suspect they are. Pyrite disease can not be prevented. Very humid conditions can cause it to happen faster, but tests done, and observations with pyrite over years have shown that the decay process can not be stopped. It can be slowed, delayed, but never stopped. The fossil can be vacuum sealed in plastic and it will still happen. There are some chemical treatments you can use to remove the oxidized pyrite, but it only treats a shallow layer and has to be repeated, forever (or nearly for human life cycles) possibly.- 11 replies
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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?
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Sorry for your loss Kris! I’ve never collected any pyritized fossils, but I hear pyrite disease is nasty stuff.
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This doesn't look like the dreaded pyrite disease so you should be fine. Not familiar with the fossil material in your area. The holes are quite variable in size and so it really doesn't look as much like cancellous (spongy) bone as it does like bioeroded mollusk shell material. Maybe one of our members more familiar with the material found around Lyme Regis will have a better clue. Cheers. -Ken
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Hi guys I recently found this nice sized Pholadomorpha pholadoformis at the Humber River in Etobicoke, Ontario. It belongs to the Georgian Bay formation and is late Ordovician in age. The specimen has pyrite in addition to the black film. Does this fossil have some sort of pyrite disease to it?
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About pyrite disease
pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon replied to Savvas's topic in General Fossil Discussion
I've also heard that Paraloid B-67 works well, as it is hydrophobic and therefore keeps moisture away from the specimen. The varnish, however, starts to disintegrate after a couple of years, leading the specimen to be exposed and in need of renewed treatment. The best solution, I think, though somewhat out of reach of most collectors, would be to use a Pyrite Stopper. This will remove the core triggers for pyrite disease and should equally last multiple years. There's no long-term solution, however, that doesn't require monitoring and renewed treatment. Currently, I'm trying out submersion in Paraloid B-72 after heating at 200 Celcius in an oven for a batch of pyrite cubes from Winterswijk... -
some of you may like: Tacker, R. Chris. 2020. A review of “pyrite disease” for paleontologists, with potential focused interventions. Palaeontologia Electronica, 23(3):a45. https://doi.org/10.26879/1044 palaeo-electronica.org/content/2020/3159-pyrite-disease edit:spacing 1044pyr.pdf
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Curious about iron and pyrite in the Hell Creek Formation
Oxytropidoceras replied to Maniraptora's topic in Questions & Answers
How about making a 3D scan of it and converting it into a digital model. Also, color images of the specimen can be applied to the digital model? By the way, below are some papers about pyrite disease with links to their PDFs. Tacker, R.C., 2020. A review of “pyrite disease” for paleontologists, with potential focused interventions. Palaeontologia Electronica, 23(3). open access Becherini, F., Del Favero, L., Fornasiero, M., Guastoni, A. and Bernardi, A., 2018. Pyrite Decay of Large Fossils: The Case Study of the Hall of Palms in Padova, Italy. Minerals, 8(2), p.40. open access Larkin, N.R., 2011. Pyrite Decay: cause and effect, prevention and cure. NatSCA News, 21, pp.35-43 Yours, Paul H.- 11 replies
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Hi! I'm new here. Is this a coprolite?
pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon replied to Roxana's topic in Fossil ID
Hi, and welcome to the forum! I find it hard to estimate whether this could be a coprolite, as their shapes can sometimes be rather amorphous, especially when it concerns reptile coprolite. Lori would be able to help you based on the morphology, Below are a couple of examples from Lyme Regis for comparison. My guess is that this piece "is just geological", as marine coprolites often show bone, fish scale and other inclusions - which, I believe, would survive, even if the rest of the coprolite (the "matrix", if you will) were to become pyritic (something, by the way, I haven't seen before). When I say "geological", however, it may very well be that your piece is the decay-product of another fossil. See, the thing about pyrite is that it's a mineral often enlisted by nature to permeate or completely replace organic matter with during fossilisation. That's probably why when you explicitly searched for it, you found the nice cubic crystalline specimens, rather than "golden" ammonites, "golden" shells, etc. (as an aside, pyrite is often confused with marcasite, a remarkably similar mineral that, as I understand it, is somewhat more stable in nature, however). Pyrite may even replace entire vertebrae or simply permeate them, given them a somewhat golden shine (hence the common name "fools' gold") when fresh. However, this will typically decay over time - into a solid black substance if you're lucky. For pyrite is a type (sulferic) iron rust, and the latter is it's stable decay product. Often, though, pyrite decay is way less stable, with it breaking apart into yellowish and white/greyish powders known as "pyrite bloom". This pyrite bloom can affect a fossil to such an extent that the entire piece may eventually entirely crumble into dust, if left untreated. This decay is also highly contagious to other pyrite-affected pieces in a collection, and is for that reason often referred to as "pyrite disease". Pyrite being an iron rust, however, also means that, given enough time, the mineral will eat away at a fossil, eventually making it look entirely amorphous. Such is the fate of many a pyritised ammonite from the Lyme Bay area I've seen... I have no doubt, by the way, that your piece is pyrite-affected. Not only does pyrite glitter appealingly when fresh, leading to a lot of people - even those without an interest in fossils and/or minerals - simply picking it up, but your description of a "glittery nugget" fits the bill of microcrystalline pyrite perfectly. Not just that, though, as the fact that your piece fell apart is due not to dessication, but rather internal pyrite disease set in motion by the piece's initial contact with sea water (which one would normally rinse out by extensive amounts of soaking in subsequent "baths" of fresh water). Traces of this pyrite bloom can be seen in the white deposits on the inside of your piece and the orange/yellow outline around its core. As treating pyrite disease can be rather difficult and never gets you full 100% security against further/renewed decay, I'm afraid it might be best to simply get rid of the piece - unless it's a particularly sentimental piece and you're willing to invest the effort to stabilise it (there are ways, but none are particularly effective and some require chemical treatment). Sorry! Anyway, lets first see what others make of your find
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Ichthyosaurus communis Premaxilla?
pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon replied to Westralian Fossils's topic in Fossil ID
The pyrite isn't just impossible to prep through, but it also has a tendency to decay, is what Byron means. The best thing for you to do is just leave it as it is, as bone is often softer than the surrounding matrix, with pyrite - an iron compound - being especially hard to work through, and then just hope the pyrite won't start to disintegrate from what's known as "pyrite disease". -
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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! -
Let's see your latest mailbox score - 2022!
Josesaurus rex replied to Yoda's topic in Member Collections
Hello, a really exceptional fossil, very good details preserved. Is there a thread or page that explains well what pyrite disease consists of? I have some pyritized ammonites and I want to be attentive to some kind of decomposition or deterioration of them. Some have tiny pyrite cubes embedded in them, they were already like this when I bought them, but I don't know if that will be an effect of pyrite disease. Greetings and thanks -
BTW I heard that soaking in Zaponlack (completely submerged) for a week heals and prevents pyrite disease. Somebody may want to test it
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As I read this thread I begin to believe that some folks are misunderstanding "pyrite disease". It is not pyrite attacking a fossil specimen, but a specimen that is composed of a large percentage of pyrite literally turning into powder (extreme case scenario) as the iron sulfide reacts with the environment and changes composition. It is the pyrite itself that is the victim of the "disease", which may destroy any specimen with a great degree of pyratization. Pyrite Oxidation: Review and Prevention Practices Shinya, A. and L. Bergwall The Field Museum, Chicago IL Pyrite (FeS2 ) is a common mineral found in sedimentary rock and fossils, and its decay is a major problem in the conservation of fossil specimens. Pyrite oxidation, also referred to as pyrite disease or pyrite decay, is identified by a sulphuric acid odor, white crystalline powder, yellow sulphide powder, and/or gray to yellowish microcrystalline mass in and out of specimens. Its presence can be devastating to a geological collection. In the presence of oxygen, pyrite breaks down to ferros sulphate (FeSO4 ) and sulphur dioxide (SO2 ). If water is present, sulphuric acid (H2 SO4 ) is also produced and can cause damage to labeling and storage containers. The most effective method to preventing rapid pyrite oxidation decay is to store specimens within a moisture and oxygen barrier containing an oxygen scavenger. Further oxidation can be reduced or eliminated by storing specimens in an environment with a humidity level below 30%. Ammonium gas and ethanolamine thioglycollate treatments neutralize sulphuric acid and remove ferros sulphate, and are reportedly effective in partly or completely removing oxidation reaction products. Specimens that contain large amounts of pyrite and are in danger of losing morphological information through pyrite oxidation should be molded and cast. Because latex rubber contains ammonium, its use as a molding material can have the added benefit of neutralizing sulphuric acid and ferros sulphate. Although not tested in a controlled scientific experiment, it has been reported that this method was successful in halting the oxidation process in some specimens. More info here: http://vertpaleo.org/Education-Resources/Preparators-Resources-PDF-files/Pyrite-Oxidation_Shinya_and_Bergwall_2007.aspx#:~:text=Pyrite oxidation%2C also referred to,devastating to a geological collection.
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Curious about iron and pyrite in the Hell Creek Formation
Maniraptora replied to Maniraptora's topic in Questions & Answers
Thanks for the helpful info! That's pretty frustrating that there's no way to prevent this. I guess a lot of specimens will eventually become "lost to science" via pyrite. How would I recognize the very beginning stages of pyrite disease if it was happening to a specimen? I have one bone fragment where the cortical bone seems to have darkened in color (from light beige to... very slightly less-light beige) and gotten a bit shinier, but the difference doesn't seem to photograph and makes me wonder if I'm just noticing the way it always looked.
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