Jane:

If you have the budget to do it, always go with steel drawers with an
inert powder finish rather than wood. Reasons: volatile gases from the
deterioration of wood or paint carriers tend to be acidic, and fossils
are variably susceptible to this. Other materials, such as labels and
adhesives, are very susceptible to this sort of acidic micro-atmosphere.
Fossils which are natural casts with very durable mineralization may not
be affected, but fossils with any amount of original matrix, reactive
minerals such as microcrystalline pyrite, or original tissues or
biomolecules are vulnerable. And there are more of these than I think
most people realize.

If the budget is tight (and whose isn't?) and you need to cut corners,
get steel cases and wooden drawers, then refer to the conservation
literature for finishes and sealants that can be applied to the wood to
minimize the acidic offgassing. Be sure to line the drawers with an inert
foam (*not* polystyrene/styrofoam). As the budget permits, invest in
acid-free cardboard storage boxes and trays; put the most investment into
the materials that will be in the closest contact with the specimens.
Start budgeting to replace the wooden drawers as best you can.

If you have very reactive specimens and no chance of getting them out of
an acidic storage environment in the immediate future, you can cut your
losses by sealing them in an anoxic enclosure or other microenvironment.
There is a technical leaflet by John Burke, published by the Society for the
Preservation of Natural History Collections last spring, that gives
specific directions for this.

Cheers,

Sally Shelton
Director, Collections Care and Conservation
Geological conservator (University of Cambridge)
President-elect, SPNHC

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On Wed, 4 Sep 1996, JANE C MACKNIGHT wrote:

> I would appreciate some feedback from collection managers, curators
> or anyone with responsibilities for caring for vertebrate paleo
> collections.
>
> When ordering new museum-quality metal cabinets for storage of fossil
> material, would you use metal or wooden drawers?  Thanks.
>
> Jane MacKnight
> Idaho Museum of Natural History
> [log in to unmask]
>