Conservation, Rehousing, and Computerization of the Invertebrate Paleontology Collection at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology

密歇根大学的T·鲍米勒博士获得了一笔赠款，用于改进古生物博物馆(UMMPs)的无脊椎动物化石收藏。资金正被用来纠正藏品中的一些紧迫的保护问题，并用现代的、档案质量的金属橱柜部分取代过时的木柜。该藏品被广泛用于未来古生物学家的研究和培训。藏品中包括超过6500个“类型”和“数字”标本，以及许多保存精美的化石，这些化石来自经典的野外地点，不再可以接触到。这些是最重要的科学标本之一，因为它们是科学家在评估潜在的新物种或新出现的情况时所依赖的基本参考材料。国家科学基金会的支持将有助于确保这些重要的藏品得到妥善的收藏和保存，以备将来使用。许多化石含有矿物黄铁矿(二硫化铁)，在许多自然历史收藏中，黄铁矿的氧化是一个严重的问题。在水和氧气的存在下，黄铁矿分解，形成次生矿物，可能会抹去化石表面的细节，并产生导致标本物理解体的应力断裂。在分解反应过程中也可能产生腐蚀性硫酸，对样品、标签和存储托盘造成进一步的损害。拜恩病也是收集过程中的一个问题，当腐蚀性挥发物，特别是木材和纸制品分解产生的有机酸与样品中的碳酸钙发生反应时，就会发生这种情况。这些反应会导致二次晶体的生长，这也可能严重损害样品。因此，UMMPs收藏中大量最好和最重要的标本含有黄铁矿，因此处于危险之中。有一小部分人出现了拜恩氏病的迹象。将实施一项利用最先进方法进行补救和预防性保护的议定书，以抢救受损的标本并保护藏品不受未来的损害。这些处理基于成熟的保护技术，包括1)刷洗，2)用乙醇胺硫代乙酸酯和氨气脱酸，3)用无水乙醇干洗，4)使用干燥剂去除活性水，5)使用阻隔膜袋创造保护性的氧气、水分和无腐蚀的微环境。馆藏中的非档案优质材料将被档案优质材料取代。现在存放最危险标本的陈旧木柜将被档案质量的金属柜取代，所有标本将被转移到新装修的更大、更安全的设施。金属橱柜将提供额外的保护措施，因为众所周知，木柜会释放甲酸和醋酸等腐蚀性挥发物，这些挥发物可能会导致拜恩氏病，促进黄铁矿分解，并损害标本标签和托盘。新橱柜还将提供更高效的存储，新设施中增加的空间使其更易于使用。该项目的更广泛影响包括保护藏品和改善科学家和学生的机会。该藏品被广泛用于研究和教学，其中包含许多来自不再存在或不再可访问的地区的脆弱标本。我们对生命历史的了解依赖于这样的收藏品的完整性和持久性。该项目将包括研究生助理，并为未来的古生物学家提供有价值的收藏护理关键方面的培训。UMP无脊椎动物收藏品也被广泛用于公共教育和展品，它们的保存将确保普通公众继续从中受益。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. T. Baumiller at the University of Michigan to make improvements to the invertebrate fossil collection in the Museum of Paleontology (UMMP). Funding is being used to correct a number of urgent conservation problems in the collection and to partially replace antiquated wooden cabinets with modern, archival-quality metal cabinets. The collection is used widely in research and training of future paleontologists. Included in the collection are over 6500 "type" and "figured" specimens as well as many exquisitely preserved fossils from classic field localities that are no longer accessible. These are among the most important specimens to science because they are the essential reference material that scientists depend upon when evaluating potentially new species or new occurrences. National Science Foundation support will help to ensure that this important collection is properly housed and conserved for future use. Many fossils contain the mineral pyrite (iron disulfide), and the oxidation of pyrite is a serious problem in many natural history collections. In the presence of water and oxygen, pyrite breaks down, forming secondary minerals that may obliterate surface detail of the fossil and produce stress fractures that lead to physical disintegration of the specimen. Caustic sulfuric acid may also be produced during the breakdown reactions, causing further damage to specimens, labels, and storage trays. Byne's "disease" is also a problem in the collection and occurs when corrosive volatiles, particularly organic acids emanating from the breakdown of wood and paper products, react with calcium carbonate in specimens. These reactions cause the growth of secondary crystals that can also damage specimens severely. A large number of the finest and most important specimens in the UMMP collection contain pyrite are thus at risk. A smaller number show signs of Byne's "disease". A protocol for remedial and preventive conservation using state-of-the-art methods will be implemented to salvage damaged specimens and protect the collections from future damage. The treatments are based on proven conservation techniques and will include 1) brush-cleaning, 2) de-acidification of specimens with ethanolamine thioglycollate and ammonia gas, 3) dry-cleaning with anhydrous ethanol, 4) the use of desiccants to remove reactive water, and 5) creation of protective oxygen, moisture, and corrosive-free microenvironments using barrier-film bags. Non-archival quality materials in the collections will be replaced with archival quality materials. The antiquated wooden cabinets now housing the specimens at greatest risk will be replaced with archival quality metal cabinets and all specimens will be moved to a newly renovated, larger, secure facility. The metal cabinets will provide an added measure of protection because wooden cabinets are known to release corrosive volatiles such as formic and acetic acid, which can lead to Byne's "disease", promote pyrite decomposition, and harm specimen labels and trays. The new cabinets will also provide much more efficient storage and with the added space in the new facility allow a much greater ease of use. The broader impacts of this project include safeguarding the collection and improving access for scientists and students. The collection is widely used in research and teaching and contains many vulnerable specimens from localities that no longer exist or are no longer accessible. Our knowledge of life's history depends on the integrity and longevity of collections such as this. The project will involve graduate student assistants and provide valuable training in critical aspects of collections-care to future paleontologists. The UMMP invertebrate collections are also widely used in public education and exhibits, and their preservation will ensure that the general public continues to benefit from them.