GUIDELINES FOR THE CURATION OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

museum on completion or abandonment of the project. A full account of the
ethical and legal position is set out in B6.2.2, with specific guidance on the
procedure to be followed for the complete or partial destruction of specimens for
the purpose of scientific study being given in B6.2.2.5.
The curator must always remember that he is the temporary custodian of the
materials in his care and that they must be preserved for inspection and study
both now and for perpetuity. Thus, when conflicts arise between the conservation
and scientific study of specimens, careful thought must be given to an evaluation
of the arguments:
Can an alternative, near identical but less important, specimen be used?
Can the possible harm be justified by the likely scientific gain of information?
Are there less harmful means of studying the specimen?
Can harm be minimised by restricting processing to less important areas?
Will the proposed action render the specimen of little use to future study,
(which may utilise techniques yet to be devised)?
Can parts of the specimen be preserved in their original form?
Can the museum be furnished with a replica and photographic record of the
specimen before (and perhaps during) the proposed treatment?
Should the museum's own technical services staff carry out the proposed
work rather than the researcher concerned?
The continued availability of the material in its original form should normally be
uppermost in the curator's mind, especially when type or figured material is
concerned.
2.1. ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS
Curators, by the arrangement and storage of their collections (C3.5) and by the
documentation techniques (B4.4.1) they employ, should ensure reasonable access
to their materials by bona fide scientists and by the public known to the museum
or colleagues. Preferably there should be a room or area in which materials can
be inspected; it should be clean, furnished with adequate table or bench sp.ace for
spreading out reference material for study, be well lit and have a low-power
binocular microscope available.
Security
Curators are responsible for the safety of materials being inspected by visitors,
but whether material is always taken to the visitor or whether the visitor is
allowed into the collections area with or without a member of staff, are practices
which vary according to the 'worth' of the materials and reliability of the visitors.
No unknown visitors should be let into collection areas unescorted, and known
risk visitors should be identified discreetly to colleagues outside their own
institution, with due regard for the laws of libel. Be very clear in your own mind
as to what material may or may not be handled by visistors, remembering the
delicacy, unique nature or hazards of some specimens.
Visitors' comments
Specialist visitors should be encouraged to comment upon specimen documentation,
preferably using pro-forma Examination Labels on which their remarks,