Guidelines for the Curation of Geological Materials'
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GUIDELINES FOR THE CURATION I '- OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS Geological Society Miscellaneous Paper ~0.17 I Edited bv / C.H.C. Brunt0n.T f? Besterman and J.A.Coo~er I II 1 L , ' li I re ar d 7 :AL. p- A ..- .- CIJRPTOB~GR~UP by the GE~L~GI ~ .-..-2.--d--.-.-.----- i I - .~ . -+ ... - - .- --.~- r-.--~- m-, I I r~.I- I . 1 I I FOREWORD The Geological Curators Group, which is affiliated to the Geological Society, was founded in May 1974 by geologists concerned about the poor standard of geological curation and consequent plight of geological collections in many of the museums in Britain. The situation was documented and reported upon by Doughty (1981), who illuminated the extent of the problem and provided impetus towards achieving one of the Group's initial aims - the improvement of geological curatorial standards by the 'preparation of a code of practice for curation and development of collections'. While the need for such a code has been recognised for several years, it has been difficult for the Group, with widely scattered members and no permanent address, to start gathering the necessary scripts. However, when I became Chairman of the Group, I saw this objective as a priority in which the Group could make a significant contribution, and that the time was opportune to push ahead with 'Guidelines for the Curation of Geological Materials'. What follows is an imperfect first edition; it should be read as such and constructive comments are welcome. C. H. C. Brunton December 1984. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Part Page A ACQUISITION Contents Summaries General principles Acquisition methods DOCUMENTATION Contents Summaries Introduction Marking and labelling Entry documentation Acquisition documentation Specimen cataloguing Movement of material within a museum Material leaving the museum PRESERVATION Contents Summaries Field material in temporary storage Specimen conservation Permanent storage OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS Contents Summaries Museum safety Hazards from specimens USES Contents Summaries Information retrieval Scientific uses Exhibition and design REFERENCES APPENDICES Adhesives; types, names, manufacturers and comments APP 1 Products and suppliers; names and addresses APP 7 Geological site documentation scheme APP 27 ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Acquisition flow chart Fig. 2 Field documentation while excavating fossils Fig. 3 Cataloguing specimens Fig. 4 Examples of Examination labels Fig. 5 Part of a MDA Geology Specimen Card Fig. 6 Example of a Specimen History File Fig. 7 Examples of Removal slips Fig. 8 Example of a Conservation card Fig. 9 Representation of the documentation of a complex laboratory operation Fig. 10 Baryte crystals on a dolomite groundmass Fig. 11 Table of materials which may give off corrosive volatiles. Fig. 12 Purpose-built palaeontological storage. Fig. 13 Vertebrate specimens supported on shelving Fig. 14 The use of a brachiopod specimen in publications Fig. 15 Example of a Specimen Object Sheet GUIDELINES FOR CURATION OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS INTRODUCTION The good curation of geological material begins in the field. These Guidelines start at the site of collection and develop an unbroken thread of curation that continues in the museum, where the handling, preservation, documentation, storage and display of specimens is considered in detail. The question of why we collect geological material in the first place falls outside the remit of these Guidelines, but is one to which every curator should address himself in the context of his institution's acquisition policy. However, the reason why we attach such importance to keeping geological material is central to these Guidelines, and perhaps at the heart of geological curation. To the casual observer, most geological specimens appear relatively indestruct- ible and are presumed, in any case, to be replaceable with easily collected material. To those familiar with the nature of geological material such assump- tions could not be further from the truth. On the first count all geological specimens have a composition reflecting a physico-chemical environment at the time of formation which was very different from that obtaining in the museum. This may result in the kind of instability which can all too easily lead to the progressive degeneration of the specimen. On the second count, every geological specimen is in some sense unique. By the time a specimen reaches the museum it has been subjected to a rigorous four-stage selection process: first it is preserved by nature in rock; second, it is made accessible by nature or man; third, it is found and fourth, it is collected by man. Such considerations make the re-collection of an identical specimen, in most cases, an extremely remote possibility. Indeed, once the specimen has entered the museum together with its collection documentation and has been the subject of physical development, academic research, etc., its documented subsequent history of association can only reinforce its inherently irreplaceable nature. It is, therefore, of paramount importance to preserve specimens with all their associated information in conditions allowing easy access for research, education and display both now and in the future. Some geological localities, especially in the UK, have become so damaged by collecting over many years, that collecting is now severely restricted, totally or simply-no longer possible. other localities are no longer accessible because of development such as building or 'restoration' of quarries and because of natural erosion and slip. Collections and field records from such localities are precious and contain the bnly sources of our geological knowledge of these sites. Some collections are the result of old, manual quarrying techniques and, because of modern methods of rock extraction, would not easily be replaced. Other collections have been made by expeditions to remote places unlikely to be revisited, or by people who became eminent in their fields, so that such collections may contain 'gems' of information - perhaps currently undiscovered - which will fuel research activity in the future. The curation of geological specimens is not to be undertaken lightly. In common with all fields of museum collecting, the geological curator would do well to remember, when he accepts an addition to his institution's collections, that he lays an obligation on that institution and on his professional successors to ensure the well-being of that specimen "in perpetuity". Curators should be familiar with the 'Code of Conduct for Museum Curators' (Duggan et al. 1983, published by the Museums Association annually in the 'Yearbook'. Whatever rules, regulations or guidelines are formulated to assist the curator in fulfilling his professional obligations to the material entrusted to his care, the day-to-day exercise of his trade will always demand of the geological curator the application of common sense. In so doing he should apply the highest standards of personal responsibility and morality, albeit in an informed manner. Ultimately the value and quality of the collection will reflect the integrity of the curator. These Guidelines are presented as a practical guide to good housekeeping for the geological curator. Conceived and edited within a carefully planned frame- work, they comprise a compilation of edited essays by a number of authors who have contributed the component sections. Inevitably we are addressing these Guidelines to curators having varied experience with geological materials and who will be looking for different types of information at different levels of detail. We have attempted to provide necessary information in the text, with references to publications extending on the topics. The Summaries at the beginning of each Part bring together the most important points and recommendations, and should provide introductory reading for the curator unfamiliar with geological proce- dures. Paine (1984) provides excellent notes on a wide variety of museum methods, far beyond those covered in these Guidelines. Much of what is written here can only be opinion because a consensus view on many topics remains unknown, elsewhere we provide recommendations when we believe there to be reasonably widespread agreement. Definitions The terms 'geological curator' or 'curator' are used to denote any person charged with the care of geological material in a museum, irrespective of formal title. Following the usual convention, where the curator is referred to by pronoun, the masculine form is used, without prejudice to gender. The word 'museum' is used to refer to any insitution formally charged with the care of collections. 'Geological material' includes both natural objects ('specimens') and associated documentation, manuscripts, published works, maps, plans, drawings, prints and photographs. It also includes the equipment and personalia associated with significant figures in the history of geology, but these will seldom be dealt with here (see for instance Doughty in Thompson 1984). References The text is divided by coloured cards into five major Parts, each separately paginated and distinguished by !ts code letter A to E. Cross-references within the text are always to paragraph numbers. including their Part Letter, and never to page numbers. Text references to other publications are given as author plus date of publication and are listed fully in the References. The main Contents page provides access to the major subjects and the Contents lists at the start of each major Part provide a detailed subject index using paragraph and page numbers.