Most museums collections contain a wide variety of natural materials, and a diverse range of knowledge is necessary to keep so many types of objects at their best. Natural Materials: Sources, Properties and Uses studies the composition, structure and properties of natural materials such as wood, paper, amber, coral and feathers, and discusses the potential hazards they face, as well as the appropriate conservation techniques to use for each. Providing plenty of detail in an easily accessible format, Natural Materials: Sources, Properties and Uses is a useful resource for students, professionals and collectors alike.
- Introduction
- Minerals
- Rocks & fossils
- Natural glass
- Meteorites
- Introduction to organics
- Monera, Protista, Fungus
- Plants
- Invertebrate Animals
- Vertebrate Animals
- Bibliography
- Glossary
- Tables
- Index
"Natural materials are the basis for many types of collections. [the author} breaks down materials to the atomic level and builds them up from there. Bark feathers, gemstones, blood, milk and leather are all grist for her mill."
– Museum News, Jul-Aug 2006
"Some of the unique and useful data is summarized in tables, including asbestiform minerals, forms of quartz, fool's gold minerals, gems and ornamental stones, jade and other materials mistaken for it, plus a number of toxic minerals [...] the book makes an ideal reference for natural objects. Nice illustrations, a user-friendly index, and an easy-to-read writing style are additional attributes."
– Rocks & Minerals, Oct. 2006