On Tue, 25 December 2001, Bob Martino wrote: > > I might try putting dessicant in the bottom of the jar with tissue paper on > top of the dessicant. Meteorite goes on top of tissue paper. Now pump out > the air. If the meteorite is first treated with alcohol, lye, and baking > as per previous posts, it may last forever! > > But don't use a pickle jar. Get Mason (canning) jars.
Mason canning jars will definitely work, but the standard pickle jars with the rubber lip, if intact, and not pitted work very well in holding a vacuum-- especially if oiled with olive or vegitable oil. Piclkles come vacuum packed in the jars anyway, so eat the pickles and save those jars. They are really quite good as the lids index to the right sealing surface and can be used over and over again if the rubber seal is not scratched or breached. I tried it on three jars that my wife saved, and the vacuum in each is staying firm. I have an onery piece of Brahin in one and I will report how it stays. With 90% of the air out and at an equivalent altitude of 80,000 plus feet, this should in and of itself be dryer than any desert on earth. And furthermore if the vacumm holds as I suspect it will, then any residual oxygen will be absorbed in minor oxidation of the specimen thus making the vacuum even harder. And yes, it should stay forever. I am really excited about the possibilites. And I am looking into some nice display type bell jars that can be fitted with an "o" ring and a base that can be easily modifed with a pin hole and the "pump and seal" bandaid check valve to quickly remove the air once the specimen is mounted in a mounting frame secured to the base. As close to space as as a specimen can get on earth. Interesting to note that NASA has their moon rocks that are on display mounted in containers with the air pumped out. It should be easy for us meteorite collectors to do the same now. I love this cheap and effective "pump and seal"-- so simple to achieve a commercial high vacuum. It is just a matter of making a vessel that would meet out needs. But that should not be too difficult with a bit of imagination. But for now there are some nice standard jars that can suit the purpose quite well. Steve Schoner, AMS > > > >No air, no oxidation, and with 90% of the air out, that is like 80,000 > >feet, fifteen miles up. > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Bob Martino Can you really name a star? > http://home.columbus.rr.com/starfaq/ > "This is how men behave when they > believe they have absolute knowledge." > -Jacob Bronowski (speaking from the ashes of Auschwitz) > > > > Show your support at the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund - >http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/PKAXFNQH7EKCX/058-5084202-7156648 > _______________________________________________ > Meteorite-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ___________________________________________________________________ Join the Space Program: Get FREE E-mail at http://www.space.com. Show your support at the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund - http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/PKAXFNQH7EKCX/058-5084202-7156648 _______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
