Stabilizing pyritized

Jewelry Discussion
1

the problem is moisture content causing them to decompose to iron
hydroxideand sulphuric acid which will damage many materials that
pyrite is stored in like wood, paper, cotton wool etc. Once this
process starts it is almost impossible to stop but cleaning them and
drying in an oven at about 120 deg C will help. Nick Royall

2

I showed a lovely pyritized ammonite I’d bought to a paleontologist
friend, and he shook his head and said, “Too bad it’s going to
disintegrate.” I guess it’s not that uncommon.

Janet Kofoed

3 
One of my first ebay purchases was a group of four pyrite
ammonites. One I bezel set in a piece of silver jewelry, the other
three were put in a riker mount style case and kept in a warm dry
room for several years. The piece in jewelry is still fine, the
three in the case turned to dust.

One of my first ebay purchases was a group of four pyrite ammonites.
One I bezel set in a piece of silver jewelry, the other three were
put in a riker mount style case and kept in a warm dry room for
several years. The piece in jewelry is still fine, the three in the
case turned to dust.

4

We used to use a product called Opticon which is a crack and stone
sealer.

He let the stone warm (like to the temperature of dopping), then
apply a good coat and remove from the warming. After it dries well,
fine sand and very lightly polish with something like zam. If it is a
rough surface, just scrape off extra sealer from the edges. Keep it
cool while polishing.

Good luck
Steve Ramsdell

5

Thank you everyone for your kind replies to my pyritized ammonite
dilemma. Iwill investigate your suggestions and see what I can do to
save the ammonites not sure they are still salvageable some are
pretty brittle. They lookedso beautiful when I bought them from this
Russian guy at a gem show… never realized that they were that
fragile but I should have known given their age (I bought them for
$15 and $16 each and have about $130.00 dollars invested in them).
Thanks again.

Christine

6

Christine, My supplier has stopped selling them because of this
problem. I’m glad he told me before I invested any money into them.

So sorry you had this problem.
Gail,
in sunny, cold Massachusetts.