Hi Anita, Depends on what specimens you are touching. Irons and slices should defiantly be handled with gloves, (those white cotton handling gloves like jewelers use are good), if you can get used to gloves, then wear them every time! But my opinion is to certainly wear gloves for Irons and slices and for all others handle them by the fusion crust only and certainly try not to touch freshly cut surfaces.
To clean them or not to clean them, that is ... tricky. Well you could use a gentle wash over with pure alcohol (to remove grease and salts), again depends on the material, Irons can be washed with alcohol then some light gun oil wiped over the surface to protect it, but avoid oil on OC's etc if poss, because it can stain the matrix. Hope that helps! Mark Ford -----Original Message----- From: Anita Westlake [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 26 July 2004 13:29 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [meteorite-list] Handling Meteorties Hi Gang: I think this was discussed before but I don't remember the outcome. I frequently have occasion to touch my meteorite specimens (to catalog them, look at them under a microscope, show them to newbies, etc.) I am concerned that the oil, salt, etc. from my hands will in some way damage them or begin to deteriorate them. A few questions: 1. Should I be wearing gloves when I handle them? Latex? 2. How do I clean the ones I've touched gloveless in the past? Thanks for your help, Anita ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
