Research paper
Electrochemical characterization of the pyrite material degradation process in geological and palaeontological collections: curational and treatment approaches
TERESA SÁEZ-MÁÑEZ
Museu de la Universitat de València d’Història Natural. C/Doctor Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, España; tesama@alumni.uv.es
Corresponding author
ANTONIO DOMÉNECH-CARBÓ
Departamento de Química Analítica. C/ Doctor Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, España; Antonio.domenech@uv.es
ANNA GARCÍA-FORNER
Museu de la Universitat de València d’Història Natural. C/Doctor Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, España; Anna.Garcia@uv.es
CARLOS MARTÍNEZ-PÉREZ
Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva. C/ Catedrático José Beltrán Martínez 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, España; Carlos.Martinez-Perez@uv.es
School of Earth sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
Corresponding author
ABSTRACT
This work analyses the conservation and treatment problems of pyrite crystals and pyritised fossils specimens hosted at museums, highlighting the main factors that af ect the preservation of this kind of materials. A practical intervention has been applied to geological and palaeontological pyrite specimens, after an electrochemical study to characterise the oxidation reaction that produces the degradation of the specimen to identify their decay stage. The electrochemical analysis has allowed the identification of three different stages (produced during their storage) featured by the presence and abundance of different reaction products. In addition, the identification of those oxidation stages has allowed the determination of the appropriate conservation treatment and its application to the studied specimens.
Key words: Museistic curation, Fossil, Pyrite, Electrochemistry, Decay.
How to cite: Sáez-Máñez, T., Doménech-Carbó, A., García-Forner, A. & Martínez-Pérez, C. 2020. Caracterización electroquímica del proceso de degradación de materiales piritosos en colecciones geológicas y paleontológicas: propuestas de tratamiento y conservación. [Electrochemical characterization of the pyrite material degradation process in geological and palaeontological collections: curational and treatment approaches]. Spanish Journal of Palaeontology, 35 (1), 77-88.
Received 25 May 2019, Accepted 10 January 2019, Published 30 June 2020
https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.35.1.17184
(Spanish only)