The conservation of a fossil tree trunk

Per Hoffmann, Robert A. Blanchette

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A waterlogged non-mineralized fossil tree trunk from a Miocene lignite stratum (c. 20 million years old) had to be stabilized against shrinkage, cracking and exfoliation on drying. Stabilization experiments, and light and electron microscopic examinations of treated samples, showed that impregnation with a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) not only prevented any macroscopic damage but also preserved the extraordinary wealth of ultrastructural details in this fossilizing wood. Accordingly, the trunk was treated with 25% PEG 300, and the conservation turned out to be a complete success.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)74-82
Number of pages9
JournalStudies in Conservation
Volume42
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1997

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