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Cleaning and Preserving Meteorite Collections

Jim,

Alcohol forms an azeotrope (an azeotrope is a mixture that distills with
a constant composition) with water that, if memory serves me correctly,
is 96% alcohol and 4% water.  Since "Everclear" is produced by grain
fermentation followed by distillation, it contains at least 4% water
which is very wet compared to anhydrous alcohol.  You might consider the
paint department at your local home builders supply store.  Stores like
Builders Square sells Parks products which packages anhydrous alcohol in
quart, gallon, and 5 gallon containers and it's cheap. Check the label
though for undesirable impurities such as chlorinated products.  

Before you soak your Murchison in alcohol, you might consider that
alcohol probably has the ability to extract out any aromatic compounds
that may be still be present.

As far as storage goes, try a desiccator, I'm sure they are far cheaper
than any vault or safe that is moisture proof. You can also use
desiccant that indicates when it is expired (changes color) or needs to
be re-generated. 

One last thing on alcohols, methanol is drier than ethyl alcohol and
leaves less residue.  It is toxic but, it is less permeable through the
skin than ethyl alcohol.

Good Luck

Ron Fiedler
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