Bynes Disease is indeed a great threat to shell collections.  It appears
that it's an attack by a pesky fungus, the rhizomes entering the
crystalline matrix of the shells.  It appears as a white dust on some
shells.  It attacks some groups more than others and even within these
groups certain individuals more than others  This probably has something to
do with the 'density' of the matrix of the group and/or individual.

There has been quite a bit of newish research on the subject.  John's
comments are correct.  However, I must add one very important point, which
may keep some of the list from having heart palpitations.  High or
drastically fluctuating humidity is also necessary to cause major problems.
 So, the good news.....anyone with wooden cases and/or those who can't
afford the expensive achival boxes, don't panic!  If you live in an area
with high humidity, invest in a good air conditioner or at least an
efficient dehumidifier for your collection room.  And watch your cowries,
some muricids, small cones, and micros in general.

And buyer beware.....what looks like a good deal on an old shell collection
housed on some tropical island for the last fifty years, may not be a deal
at all.

Have a great weekend.

Kurt

At 09:45 PM 6/17/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Bynes disease is a very serious problem to shell collectors and museums.
>The Bishop Museum in Honolulu replaced their wooden cabinets with metal ones
>a few years back because of this problem.  They also replaced their old
>cardboard boxes with archival quality boxes.  Land shells are particularly
>susceptible because of their thin shells.  Wood, acidic paper and cardboard
>boxes can eventually cause Bynes disease.
>
>I've seen Bynes disease.  Once a shell has it, it's too late; the shell is
>permanently damaged.
>
>John
>
>John & Cheryl Jacobs
>Seffner, FL
>[log in to unmask]
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, June 17, 1999 5:09 PM
>Subject: Bynes disease
>
>
>At http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/sea-site/1999-03/0031.html, Barry Kaye
>wrote,
>"Calcium carbonate is susceptible to 'Bynes disease' or 'Efflorescence X' -
>basically, if stored in wooden cupboards or on wooden shelves in
>unventillated stores, acetic or formic acid from the wood result in the
>formation of hydrated calcium formates or acetates (the actual formula is a
>bit more complicated). These new minerals appear as a white 'fluff' on the
>surface of the ceramic (problem is very common with natural history
>collections of shells, and results in white blotches, and damage to the
>surface of the shell)."
>
>Interesting. I'd like to hear more. Are bacteria involved? What can be done
>about it?
>
>Andrew K. Rindsberg
>Geological Survey of Alabama
>