Kosmoceras Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 How should I preserve Pyritised wood? At the moment some of it has oxidised. I have read somewhere to put it in water, so it is there at the moment. When I take it out later what would you do? Some people have said coat it in wax, others varnish it with matt varnish. What is the best way to preserve it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted December 27, 2010 Share Posted December 27, 2010 water isn't a preservative for pyrite. pyrite disease, or pyrite rot, is a major problem for many specimens. use a search engine to look up those two terms and read as much as you can stand on the problem and then choose a strategy. my strategy has been to not collect anything preserved in pyrite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted December 27, 2010 Author Share Posted December 27, 2010 water isn't a preservative for pyrite. pyrite disease, or pyrite rot, is a major problem for many specimens. use a search engine to look up those two terms and read as much as you can stand on the problem and then choose a strategy. my strategy has been to not collect anything preserved in pyrite. Yes, I now know not to collect more wood. I guess it is just trial and error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 How should I preserve Pyritised wood? At the moment some of it has oxidised. I have read somewhere to put it in water, so it is there at the moment. When I take it out later what would you do? Some people have said coat it in wax, others varnish it with matt varnish. What is the best way to preserve it? I've collected quite a bit of charcoalized Cretaceous wood. It's always damp and some contains marcasite / pyrite. If left to dry out the wood crumbles and the pyrite turns white and powdery. I now give the specimens several coats of Elmer's Glue All, 10 - 20% in water, and they have stayed good now for 5+ years. Tom AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobWill Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 I haven't tried any of this but it can't hurt to have a look. http://www.sheppeyfossils.com/pages/pdf/the%20trouble%20with%20pyrite2.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted December 29, 2010 Author Share Posted December 29, 2010 OK, I will consider those things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megalodon Man Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Send it to me I will keep it in my collection forever.....Nice find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted December 29, 2010 Author Share Posted December 29, 2010 Send it to me I will keep it in my collection forever.....Nice find :sword: I hope that you are joking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ammojoe Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hello Thomas, Follow the Sheppey Guide it's very good, also search 'Pyrite Ammonia' for ideas. I personally coat pyrite with paraloid, it has worked so far for a few years! Joe Kind regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleecan Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Depending on the size of the fossils... Ithis may or may not be practical.... but for small stuff... I keep my pyritized goniatites in mineral oil to slow down decomposition... as suggested by paleo guy JB of Leeds/Cambridge UK.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 I have seen the link before, I am not confident though. Here it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 I have seen the link before, I am not confident though. Here it is. That looks interesting. Can you post a few closeups of the better pieces? Here is one of mine, Cretaceous, near Dallas, Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted December 30, 2010 Author Share Posted December 30, 2010 That looks interesting. Can you post a few closeups of the better pieces? Here is one of mine, Cretaceous, near Dallas, Texas. I will get some new ones as soon as I can, but for now, this is all I canshow you: http://english.fossiel.net/forums/viewtopic.php?TopicID=11453 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I will get some new ones as soon as I can, but for now, this is all I canshow you: http://english.fossiel.net/forums/viewtopic.php?TopicID=11453 That's a better look. Pretty cool. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 That's a better look. Pretty cool. Thanks. OK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squali Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 I have found some nice pieces of what I call mummified wood with partial pyrite replacement. They are beautiful at first but will almost always dehydrate/oxidize to disintegration. The only specimens that I have been able to preserve had minimal pyrite present and I coated them with several dips -over time-of 50/50 (Elmers glue and water). The glue -water mix allows the gasses to escape. I once coated an awesome chunk loaded with nodules in a hard polymer. 1 month later there was an explosion that sent me diving for the floor. It's hard to remember why you drained the swamp when your surrounded by alligators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 I have found some nice pieces of what I call mummified wood with partial pyrite replacement. They are beautiful at first but will almost always dehydrate/oxidize to disintegration. The only specimens that I have been able to preserve had minimal pyrite present and I coated them with several dips -over time-of 50/50 (Elmers glue and water). The glue -water mix allows the gasses to escape. I once coated an awesome chunk loaded with nodules in a hard polymer. 1 month later there was an explosion that sent me diving for the floor. Well, I read not to put any PVA glue on it, as it will destroy it for some reson. But thanks anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 Wait... what exploded? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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