FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Leon56]

I store minerals in plastic boxes (jousi-box), but most collectors in glass cabinets or cupboards. What is better for the storage of minerals?

[h.abbasi]

I think If you wanted to show, you must use a front glass cabinet and if you wanted to storage them for long time, is better cover them in some line unused newspaper carefully then store them in a wood cabinet (for none acute crystals).
But if you have delicate crystals, you must storage them in a safe place, for example for apiece use one box and fix crystal in that.

[Leon56]

Compared with glass cases, I think a better are choice jousi-boxes:

- no direct contact with mineral
- we can take the mineral with us
- mineral has its own microclimate
- no physical damage
- any time mineral can be changed for another one
- the possibility of sunlight
-... and much more

[vicen]

Please remember that both plastic and news papers deteriorate with time and can produce gases as a consequence of the deterioration.
If you have to wrap the specimens (to protect them from UV) please use acid paper free, never newspaper!
Remember too that newspaper are really good to attract pest.

[Maxilos]

Leon56, I totaly agree with you. With those jousi-boxes your specimens stay clean and free of any form of dust.

Mark

[Tobi]

[Leon56]

Due to generation of gases the minerals in plastic boxes should be vented occasionally- yes, this way of storage is one of more inconvenient points.

I have over 200 jousi-boxes (cca. 150 pieces 8 x 6 x 6 cm and 50 pieces 8 x 8 x 8 cm). Big specimens can not be stored in these boxes. For this purpose glass cabinet is needed.


By purchase of glass cabinet all minerals may be placed in it without boxes. A thorough comparison of good and bad points of both storage ways (boxes vs. glass cabinet) the boxes seem to be preferable.

[Tracy]

...I'm confused. Are we talking about storage or display? Putting large specimens that are light-sensitive into glass cabinets (as an example) will not ensure their safety. If one plans to display the specimen, it belongs in a glass cabinet (with proper precautions against light, air, heat, humidity etc. taken), but if the specimen is only going into storage and not intended for display, isn't inside a cool, dry, light-free drawer (perhaps ventilated, again with proper precautions taken) and/or container a better course of action? What about radioactive specimens? This seems to be a case-by-case discussion.

- Tracy

[Maxilos]

Well, that last question of Tracy is something I would like to ask too. I recently bought a few radioactive minerals: Torbernite (micromount), uranocircite (micromount), uraninite (that small you can't see it, or it is hidden) and some minerals with high possibility to be radioactive: polymignite, cerite and eudialyte. I have stored these in simple jousi- and micromount-boxes. If there is a better way, please I'd like to hear it.

Don't say a 2" (5.08cm) lead box or something cause I would like to enjoy the view.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

[Antonio Alcaide]

About radioactive minerals we have this topic

https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=7014&highlight=radioactive#7014

among others got using "Search button"

Regards

[cascaillou]

in a general way, minerals are best stored away from:

-acidity (avoid acidic wood such as oak)
-humidity (especially sulfides)
-heat, frost, and brutal temperature changes.
-direct sunlight
-oxidizers
-vibrations, shocks

Protecting these from dust (airtight showcase or airtight storage boxes) is also a good idea.


Then, some minerals might require specific handling and storage.

[Leon56]

It was proved in reality that the storage of minerals in plastic PVC jousi-boxes is appropriate only for minerals up to 8 cm long. For bigger and heavier minerals it is necessary to construct different packaging, due to relatively heavy weight, for which the box bottom may fall out.

Box storage is not appropriate for those collectors having minerals of larger sizes (i.e. cabinet sized minerals). In such cases glass shelves are the best solution for storage.