Conservation of geological collections

Abstract

This study comprises a general overview of the conservation of geological collections, namely the collection of minerals, rocks, and meteorites from the Museum of Geosciences of the University of São Paulo (USP), in Brazil. In order to perform this study, the researchers used the available bibliography about conservation of geological collections; the knowledge acquired throughout participations in congresses, lectures and other courses; technical visits to other geological museums around the world, and the experience of the first author as a museum technician at the Museum of Geosciences since 2005. Considering conservation a process that comprises a set of ideal conditions under which the exhibited samples and the storage samples should be submitted to (light, temperature, relative humidity, and air pollutants), this study describes the general condition of museum samples in each one of the parameters mentioned. The main conservational issues are: deterioration due to relative humidity (deliquescence or dehydration), oxidation, color changes by light exposition, and isolation of radioactive and asbestos minerals. The goal of this study is to create tools to support our museum staff as well as the staff of other geological collections regarding the care of the mineral collections to keep them available to researchers and general visitors for as long as possible.