Anoxic storage for 'pyrite decay' at Oxford University Museum of Natural History - an exercise in cost-efficiency as well as long-term preservation

Abstract

'Pyrite decay', the oxidation and disintegration of pyrite and marcasite-bearing geological specimens, is a serious problem in many natural history collections, and is often further compounded by financial or staffing restrictions that prevent best practice being implemented. This paper explains how pyrite decay has been addressed at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH) in the past, and outlines a recent project to first survey the collections and then to prioritize, treat and re-store vulnerable specimens in anoxic / low humidity microclimates, in order to ensure their long-term preservation for future use. The project has been guided throughout by the need to minimize the burden on staff, reduce costs and avoid wastage, and as such is likely to have relevance for other institutions where time and resources are limited.