Need preservation help.

[jwvanno2]

While MD'ing an area in the Melbourne area, I found what turned out to be a seven link chain embedded in a piece of Coquina on the beach.

I think it has to be quite old, due to the coquina that had built up around it. (Spanish shipwreck old??) As I started cleaning the encrustation off it, I thought it was silver, because the metal was quite bright grey. Now, I've come to the realization that it's iron.

(I shouldn't have touched it with a magnet! I should have held my fantasy of discovering a Spanish chain. :-) )

At this moment, I have it submerged in vegetable oil. My thoughts were that it won't react with the metal at all, until I can figure out how to preserve it.

Soooo...

Can anyone guide me to a source of information about preserving iron that has been submerged in seawater? Any help will be appreciated!!

I've attached photos, but I'm not sure they'll come through.

 

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[tallpaul]

you really need to get that in fresh water like quick,, give it several washes with fresh water to remove alkalines,, then submerse in 10% nitric acid, and 90% fresh water,, in a ultrasonic bath if you have one,, this will do the trick,,, what happens is the metal becomes pourous and the salt water gets deep inside the metal,, thus leaching out the metal inside which forms a black brital crust,, after so long it is all black brital crust and no metal,, striking it clean after to long would just crumble it to a orange dust,, i guess thats been there for quite sometime so dont strike it with anything,, just get it soaked at least 7 new washes with fresh water,, then into the nitric acid 10% and 90% fresh water this will keep it,,, good luck,, paul

 

[jwvanno2]

you really need to get that in fresh water like quick,, give it several washes with fresh water to remove alkalines,, then submerse in 10% nitric acid, and 90% fresh water,, in a ultrasonic bath if you have one,, this will do the trick,,, what happens is the metal becomes pourous and the salt water gets deep inside the metal,, thus leaching out the metal inside which forms a black brital crust,, after so long it is all black brital crust and no metal,, striking it clean after to long would just crumble it to a orange dust,, i guess thats been there for quite sometime so dont strike it with anything,, just get it soaked at least 7 new washes with fresh water,, then into the nitric acid 10% and 90% fresh water this will keep it,,, good luck,, paul

Paul,

Thanks for the lightning quick reply.

So you recomend I drop it in the toilet tank for a few days, then the solution you mention? With 6 in the house, it'll get frequent water changes! :-)

I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner, but if they aren't too expensive, I'd consider buying one. Any ballpark cost guesses? If I can't get one, what is the second best method?

For future referance, is there any chance I've damaged it in the veggie oil for the last 2 hours??

And finally, does anyone have any idea how long it takes for coquina to form and bond to a metal like this one has?

It was surrounded on all sides in a chunk about 50 pounds. The MD was ringing on this rock for no reason I could see. A good whack with a hammer brought it to manageable pieces, then I carried the small piece that was still setting off the detector around all afternoon while I finished hunting. When I got home, another dozen lighter hits with a small ball peen hammer got me to the first photo above. When I saw the piece sticking out of the top, I started with a brass pick and very light hits to fracture the material along fault lines I could see.

Not very professional, and I know my comments just made some of you cringe, but it wasn't until I had gotten 1/2 way through that I realized I needed to think LONG term for this piece. I'll know better next time!!

Thanks again.

 

[tallpaul]

the oil want damage it,,, i dont know how many years it takes to get that much on,, but its a huge amount looks like its ben there a good 200 years or more to me,,, as long as you get all the alkaline washed off, and get it in that solution i mentioned ,, should be ok,,, try one link, see how fragile it is,, i would imagine there aint much metal left,, but still,, its a great old find,, HH Paul

 

[wreckdiver1715]

Outstanding finds, Brevard County beaches just continue to provide more clues.

 

[tallpaul]

ya know wreckdiver,,, i just cant wait to hit the beaches in florida,, only 3 weeks to go,,, there must be something for me,,, HH paul