Preventive and remedial conservation methodology for the collection specimens falling within palaeontology and mineralogy endangered by sulphide degradation products

The methodology is a complex system of procedures involving experimentally verified as well as modified already known methods, completely novel procedures, and their combinations. Many technologies as well as materials are employed for the first time in this field. Modifications of the existing methods bring either effectivity improvements, invasivity reduction or both. This methodology is the very first to cover all phases of the collection material treatment from acquisition to final storage. The methodology structuring follows logical succession of procedures. The theoretical chapter summarizes grounds of the degradation process, materials endangered with sulphide degradation and products of it. Area maps of types of sulphides labelled by process of origin, and a map of high-risk Czech localities are also involved. This introductory chapter is followed by part devoted to methods of field work and early care, suitable preventative collection care, and procedures of the remedial care. A special remedial care chapter for paper-documentation is also involved. This chapter is followed by instrumental methods useful for detection of degradation products and their influence on specimen condition. A separate part focuses on suitable ways of documentation. The safety-hazards chapter closes the methodology. The methodology is equipped with a list of references and flow diagrams helping the user to find the suitable procedure fast and easily. The methodology project was supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic under NAKI DF12P01OVV031