AN AIR-TIGHT MOUNT FOR MOISTURE-SENSITIVE MINERALS

There are a number of minerals that can degrade on exposure to air, either by absorbing or losing water. These are best kept in an air-tight environment. This mounting technique isn’t new to me. I first learned it from the late John Ade of Glen Ellyn, IL, and I later saw it described in Milton Speckels’ book.

The materials needed are:

Clear flexible plastic tubing, ¾” (18 mm) O.D.

Cover glasses for microscope slides, ¾” (18 mm) diameter

Matte black paper

Corks, erasers or balsa wood for pedestals

Micro boxes

Glue

The tubing and cover glass sizes presuppose use of the standard North American micro box.

Cut sections of tubing about 3/8” (10mm) and circles of black paper ¾” (18 mm) diameter.

Glue a circle of black paper to a cover glass.

Glue a piece of tubing to the paper.

Glue the specimen to the paper inside the tubing.

Glue another cover glass to the tubing over the specimen.

Glue a pedestal to the bottom of the construction.

Glue the mount into a micro box.

Label and file.