Ammojoe Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Hello everyone, I have a rather rare ammonite in my collection which unfortunately is preserved in pyrite, and it is beginning to show signs of decay. I'd be interested in hearing your opinions on how to preserve a copy of this specimen - so if there is no better option than taking a cast of it, I'd be interested in knowing how you would recommend doing that. Would storing the fossil in kerosene prevent it from oxidising and therefore stop the decay? Has anyone tried using the ammonia technique? - or simply embedding the ammonite in resin? - at this stage I'm focused upon preserving the specimen, even if it is not a practical method for display. I've done the usual treatments with paraloid, but so far this hasn't stopped the actual decaying. Any insight into the matter would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Joe Kind regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everhardus Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Hi, You might want to try this method. I hope you can translate this : http://www.steinkern.de/praeparation-und-bergung/tips-tricks-und-fallbeispiele/715-die-konservierung-sulfidisierter-fossilien-mittels-ethanolaminthioglycolat-und-paraloid-b67.html I had to do this on a Amaltheus which started to decay a few months ago. It's a slow process and i had to repeat it several times. So far it seemed to stop the decay. Greetz,Marcel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Joe....Ive just donated a couple of yellowing Echioceras to the wheelie bin... If its a rare one maybe its worth trying to save it... What is it exactly? Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ammojoe Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 Thank you Everhardus, and Steve, Your thoughts are greatly appreciated, although I don't understand the entire article, Everhardus - I can make sense of the general methods used. It looks as if I may be heading down that route... Steve; well, now you've asked the question! I'm not 100% sure, but it's a Crucilobiceras from Charmouth - I don't think it is densinodulum or ornatilobatum though - so it's obviously quite a rare one. Have you many species of Crucilobiceras from the Jurassic Coast? Best wishes, Joe Kind regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Joe.... I think I may have one Crucilobiceras although I cant remember where it came from... I havent looked for pyrites for many years.... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everhardus Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 This is where you can get it : http://www.krantz-online.de/en/online-shop/___product/514/___showCat/115/___pageid/16/pyrite-stabiliser.html It's quite expensive and there's no garantees this works in the long run but i can't think of any alternative. Greetz,Marcel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ammojoe Posted December 27, 2012 Author Share Posted December 27, 2012 (edited) Steve; there's a fantastic selection to be found if you ever fancied a break from the straining work of the giant ammonites. The only problem with them is you can't guarantee how long the specimen will remain in your collection for. Everhardus; thank you for the link - it looks like I may be purchasing some. Best wishes, Joe Edited December 27, 2012 by Ammojoe Kind regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleecan Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 I keep my Arkona pyritized goniatites in Johnson's Baby Oil = Mineral Oil.... seems to stabilize pyrite rot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Steve; there's a fantastic selection to be found Joe I bet there is Joe... especially after these rains we been having.... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Hmmm, that stabilizer looks interesting, but yes, expensive... I only have a few pyritized items and don't plant to acquire any more unless someone sends them to me in a trade so it wouldn't be economical to buy a bottle... maybe someone else is in the same boat, and maybe we could team up on a purchase and share the stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I keep my Arkona pyritized goniatites in Johnson's Baby Oil = Mineral Oil.... seems to stabilize pyrite rot. Have you actually had trouble with pyrite rot in your Arkona specimens? I haven't done anything to protect mine, and haven't seen any sign of pyrite disease, and I've had some specimens for 30 years. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 If nothing else start taking good photographs of the specimen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nala Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 My reciepe is to clean properly the sample with alcool and dry them very carefully,after that you put them in hot paraffin oil,and let few hours this advice was given to me and works pretty well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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