Defining Damage and Susceptibility, with Implications for Mineral Specimens and Objects: Introducing the Mineral Susceptibility Database

Abstract

Damage and susceptibility are key concepts in conservation but are rarely explicitly defined. This paper provides definitions for these terms and applies them to mineral collections. Minerals are often overlooked in the context of heritage conservation due to their assumed stability. While many appear to be stable under ambient conditions, at least 10% of known mineral species are susceptible to temperature, moisture, light, or pollutant levels common in museum stores and displays. These susceptible minerals are represented in museums as natural history specimens (as crystals and inclusions within rocks and fossils), pigments in paintings, and deterioration products of other minerals, metals, and many other object types. A new online resource, the Mineral Susceptibility Database, has been designed to facilitate the preservation of minerals by providing relevant information in a single, accessible location. Data were collated and synthesised from various fields of research, many of which are not easily accessible to museum professionals. As an open repository of interdisciplinary research, the Mineral Susceptibility Database encourages informed decision-making and advocates cross-disciplinary communication, both of which are necessary to improve the care of mineral and geological materials.