GUIDELINES FOR THE CURATION OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

to each other, save a great deal of space. Several manufacturers produce these
compactable units and, while they require very strong floors, they can provide
excellent. high-density bulk storage, such as for non-accessioned specimens from
the field or those held for disposal. These systems may provide good security if
the units can be locked on their tracks. A disadvantage is that they may be prone
to vibration when moved and thus may damage delicate materials if inadequately
packed.
3.4. SPECIMEN TRAYS
Individual, or essentially identical specimens with their data, should be kept in
individual boxes or trays, stored in drawers or on shelving, so as to prevent
abrasion or mixing of the specimens. Boxes or trays should be packed in drawers
leaving no spaces, thus preventing sliding as the drawers are opened or shut;
unused upturned trays can be used to fill gaps. Trays should be deep enough to be
lidded, in dusty atmospheres, or to prevent specimens from 'jumping' out.
Trays and boxes are commonly of cardboard or plastic. The former is better in
most conditions, other than the undesirable condition of dampness: Card trays
which are paper lined can be purchased in colours, which may be helpful in the
arrangement of specimens in the collections, or in their identification e.g. type or
figured specimens in differently coloured boxes. Acid-free boards and papers
should be used in the construction of trays or boxes. Specimens too large for
boxing should have labels tied to them and placed on polyurethane foam sheeting
on shelves. Some large specimens may need extra support by special bracing, e.g.
cut foam blocks, semi-cocooning in poured urethane foam, timber or plaster
work. Care must be taken if supporting with a closed-cell foam. or with plaster,
lest moisture be trapped against the specimen causing deterioration. Specimens
supported by coccooning should be inspected regularly for support or specimen
damage. Other specimens, such as microfossils, sea-floor sediments, cores,
meteorites or delicate silicified specimens are unsuitable for open trays and
require special storage (see C3.7). Specimens within trays or on shelves may be
kept in ventilated polythene bags, which, if closed using a resealable strip or
simply by folded over, give good protection from dust.
Small specimens, of a few mm in diameter, can be kept in cavity slides or in
small glass or plastic bottles or vials. These should be capped and loosely packed
with lint-free cellulose wadding (not cotton-wool - A2.1.2.2) to minimise movement
of the specimens. Bottles or vials should be kept in trays with the labelling,
the containers being marked as if the specimens. The labels with unmarked
specimens should always include a note of the number of specimens in each
container, for collection checking purposes.
STORAGE ORGANIZATION
PREAMBLE
It is the responsibility of the curator to ensure that every specimen in the
collection is worthy of its place. The maintenance of museum collections requires