Hi, Conch-Lers! Do you think this formula could be used on old, but still in good condition Unionids? Thanks, Linda On 19-Jun-01, Kevin Kutolowski <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Paul I have use a mixture of Glycerine, Denatured Alcohol and Demineralized Water all in equal parts. I have used this on dead freshwater clams (Unionids) that I have found. When treated right after cleaning it prevented the shell from cracking. If the unionid is left to dry out the shell itself will crack. I have had very good success with this formula. Kevin Kutolowski Stanfield, North Carolina ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Callomon To: [log in to unmask] Sent: 6/19/01 1:15:18 AM Subject: Pompadours for those butch hairy-chested whelks Comrades, On the subject of periostracum preservation : Has anyone any reliable information about the long-term stability of Glycerine? I can't imagine that in commercial form it is 100% pure (it's extremely hard to make anything absolutely pure) - what are the prinicipal contaminants? Is it hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) as a surface film? Does it readily react with, for example, acids (acetic acid; formic acid etc.) from wood, and if so what are the products? To what extent does Glycerine preserve the cell structure in the periostracum - well enough for microscope slide preparation? Thinking about the longer-term implications of this preservation method, I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has some older (20+ years) specimens with their periostraca preserved in this way. I would also appreciate any pointers to literature on this matter. We have a number of abyssal molluscs here which arrived floating in jars of thick Glycerine; their provider insisted that this was the only way to keep them from cracking up. I suspect that as long as air is kept out, they won't suffer --- Kevin Kutolowski --- [log in to unmask] --- EarthLink: It's your Internet.