Phyiscal Characteristics
Museum collections encompass a wide array of objects comprised of an even wider range of materials. Stone objects, often considered some of the most stable of collection items, have unique and important conservation issues that can affect their impact as historical artifacts. While stone may be denser or carry more weight than other materials, it is susceptible to breaking, shattering, and environmental deterioration. There are many different types of stone, each with its own needs for preservation. Use the Resources tab to find some guides and manuals for additional information and more specific conservation techniques and strategies. What follows is a guide for basic conservation across all types of stone.
Stone types are divided into three broad categories that inform the identification of curation problems and environmental reactants. Preservation strategies depend on more than just type of stone: storage location, historic preservation theories, and institutional mission/collections management policies all affect conservation tactics. Stone durability results from array of factors like porosity, permeability, hardness, and mineral content. Porosity is a reference to the amount of empty space within a stone type; permeability refers to the ability of a stone to allow moisture to pass through it. Follow the links below or use the navigation bar above to find out more information about the categories of stone.
