Preservation and storage of geological samples : implications and suggested methods
Bird, E.J.M.; Cuss, R.J.; Hines, A.. 2025 Preservation and storage of geological samples : implications and suggested methods. Nottingham, UK, British Geological Survey, 29pp. (OR/25/012) (Unpublished)
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Abstract/Summary
This report describes a study undertaken to determine the effectiveness of various preservation methods for reducing desaturation of geological samples held in long-term storage. A total of 24 samples of Callovo-Oxfordian claystone were tested using different storage methods. The change in water content was recorded regularly over one year and revealed that the best method is using a chamber vacuum sealer with sandwiched aluminium/mylar bags. Oven-drying two samples also revealed that it can take up to 7 days for all water to be removed from samples, so this should be the minimum drying time before geotechnical properties are determined. The moisture loss seen in a pre-compacted sample of bentonite showed that exposure to the atmosphere of just 1 hour is sufficient to reduce saturation sufficiently to change THMCG properties. Therefore, samples should be vacuum sealed in Mylar as much as possible during sample preparation.
Item Type: | Publication - Report |
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Funders/Sponsors: | British Geological Survey |
Additional Information: | This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed. |
Date made live: | 22 Aug 2025 10:21 +0 (UTC) |
URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/540127 |
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