Thanks all! This has been a very helpful conversation. Thanks for the paper, Paul. It is a nice resource for my question.
It depends on the quality of the paper. Cheap cardboard is often rather acidic and a cause of severe Byne's disease over the years. I can confirm that old gelcaps get brittle and opaque over time.
Sulfur compounds in fossils can be a serious source of acid as well. Pyrite molds and casts are especially a problem, but other minerals may also be present in some cases.
"I have seen specimens stored in glass vials in old collections that were severely affected by Byne's disease, but I cannot tell whether the main culprit was
the glass, the stopper or the paper."
Dear Paolo,
the main culprit often is neither of these, but salt residues in the shell. Thorough rinsing in fresh water remains essential.
Cheers,
Marien
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