Large reptiles, localised solutions: investigating alternative delivery systems for the treatment of oversized pyritic specimens

Abstract

Ethanolamine thioglycolate and sepiolite paste is a traditional method for localised treatment of pyrite oxidation products, but there are drawbacks to the technique. The paste can be difficult to apply, especially on non-horizontal surfaces, and is occasionally ineffective. This article documents trials of solvent gel delivery systems and proposes Laponite RD (a synthetic colloidal clay) as an effective alternative.