[meteorite-list] Rusty droplets/AD

From: AL Mitterling <almitt_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:56:20 -0400
Message-ID: <466951F4.7080308_at_kconline.com>

Hi All,

You can also purchase one or more of my new Meteorite Dry products and
place in your display cabinet. I've been experimenting with these in my
own cabinets. They are basically dessicant/silica gel with mostly white
crystals but I have added enough of the blue crystals that they "turn
color" when they become moist. Since they are in a perforated tube with
caps it allows the drier to do it's job without coming into contact with
the meteorites.

I'd say the draw back (if it is any at all) is having to pull the end
off a tube, place the dessicant in a pan and place in a pre-heated oven
at about 350 degrees for about a half hour or less so you can re-use
over and over. They seem to fit well into my crowed cases and although I
have done a good job at keeping specimens, I have found these are still
pulling some humidity from the cases over a period of time despite my
precautions.

My initial offering of these had a fair turn out but I thought more
people would be interested in these and protecting specimens. I was
expecting more responses than I received. If anyone is interested in
these please contact me off list.

Some meteorites are rust prone, Ghubara is one of them. Even under
perfect preparation methods if not properly kept they will still oxidize
as the oxygen molecules attach themselves to the iron in specimens.
Living in a low humidity climate helps but a lot of us don't have that
option and so keeping specimens as dry as possible is the best answer.
All my best!

--AL Mitterling
Mitterling Meteorites

mark ford wrote:

> <>or use dessicant/silica gel with the rock and recharge it regularly).
>
> They also preferably need to be kept somewhere dry like inside a cabinet
> with dessicators inside, or better still a dehumidifier.
>
> Most slices reach a stable point eventually once you have done this!
>
> Best
> Mark Ford
Received on Fri 08 Jun 2007 08:56:20 AM PDT