Conservação e documentação em acervos fossilíferos microscópicos de vertebrados

Abstract

The curating of museum collections comprises actions aimed at the conservation of objects through physical protection, cataloging and dissemination of knowledge. However, practices are established on a daily basis with macroscopic objects, those visible to the naked eye. In the case of microscopes - here taken as the basis for the vertebrate microfossils, Ictiolitys - the traditional curatorial actions followed activities such as the separation of the rocky matrix, cleaning, bonding, waterproofing, tipping and cataloging, generally performed almost mechanically. The storage method used was dug blades kept in small cardboard boxes where handling was insecure, facilitating loss and making individual access impossible with tipping by lot. In order to create a microfossil storage and cataloging system, specific forms of storage, fixers and documentation for this type of collection were analyzed. The specimens were fixed on slides approved for being chemically stable, economically viable and safe. For the documentation, the specimens' specificities were considered and an Ictiolitys Cataloging Form was created. The results demonstrated that these new curatorial techniques facilitated the safety, access and handling of this material, assisting in future research regarding the morphology and comparison studies of these specimens in different fossiliferous units and even their exposure by the institution, facilitating access to information about them produced.