I guess it depends in large part what we want our collection to be. If it is destined for physico-chemical or similar rigorous scientific analysis, then perhaps "unadulterated" is better. If it is as much for appreciation of the beauty of the shells as for pure scientific rigor (and I am not convinced that "adulteration," depending on the nature of it, destroys all scientific value), then "adulteration" may be justified.
I use small amounts of baby oil (I find regular mineral oil too expensive for my budget) to bring out the color. The one situation in which I do not oil the specimen is if viewing the pallial line/sinus is necessary for identification (eg, small tellins) - oiling makes viewing these characteristics virtually impossible (at least for me).
So, I think that there is not a single "right" answer - it depends on the overall goal and personal situation.
Bob Fales
Edison, NJ
-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2016 2:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Silicone versus paraffin/mineral oil
Now it comes out; after I've oiled most of my shells with mineral oil, (but not recently). A few I even sprayed with silicone after a discussion on Conch-L. I was hoping to save periostracum and ligament.
I guess my collection will not be suitable for any analysis.
---- Susan Hewitt and/or Ed Subitzky <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
=============
I am glad that someone pointed out that if you may ever want some of your shells to go into a museum collection, where they can help science for possibly hundreds of years, it is better not to do anything to them in terms of applying any chemicals, except, in the case of marine species, to wash them well/soak them in freshwater to get the salt out.
Susan
> On Sep 29, 2016, at 5:23 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Maybe I am in the minority, however, I no longer apply anything to my
> shells. If they are a bit dull, such is life. If I have a specimen
> where I worry that the periostracum might peel off or the shell may
> shatter, I place them in a 4 or 6 mil ziplock bag. While the bags are
> not totally impervious, the internal humidity equilibrates so slowly
> that the shells that I have stored this way have not shown any
> appreciable changes in over a decade. On the other hand, some stored
> in trays, and exposed to atmospheric changes, have shown significant changes.
>
> I no longer have to deal with fumes, shells that are too tacky, etc.
>
> The additional benefit, as pointed out by Paul, is that if someone
> wants to do an analysis of the shell, it has not been adulterated. As
> most of my collection is earmarked (in my will) to the Carnegie
> Museum, this is an important consideration to me.
>
>
>> Hello,
>> I saw some silicone “beauty serumâ€, if I remember the name well,
>> at the last paris Shell show.
>> Would somebody know whether silicone is better than paraffin/mineral
>> oil to enhance colors of seashells and why?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Franck Frydman
>>
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>
>
> Regards,
> Charlie
> .................................................
> Charlie Sturm
>
> Treasurer
> American Malacological Society
>
> Research Associate - Section of Mollusks Carnegie Museum of Natural
> History Pittsburgh, PA, USA
>
> Associate Professor - Family Medicine
> Fellow-American Academy of Family Practice Fellow-Academy of
> Wilderness Medicine
>
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