Mastodon Tusk Project Posters

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Document Type

Poster

Keywords

Mastodons--Iowa--Franklin County; Fossils--Collection and preservation--Iowa;

Description

During the first visit to the tusk, Dr. Sebree found the crack that had been filled with a strange plaster that was not known at the time.

After seeing the plaster glow from the small flashlight Dr. Sebree had with him, identifying this material seemed like an interesting project.

Due to the fact that the plaster’s makeup is unknown, but identifying the material it was made of, future attempts to restore and preserve the fossil can be done more safely in the event that the material is harmful

Initial x-ray analysis of the mastodon tusk revealed many unexpected surprises.

In section 4 of the tusk, a series of cracks had been packed with a red-ish plaster that was opaque to x-rays indicating a high concentration of possible heavy metals.

If the material is a heavy metal, extra precautions would need to be taken to stay safe while working with the tusk.

• Popular methods of preserving fossils in the past use harmful materials.[2]

• Lead oxides blood affect bone marrow , central nervous system , peripheral nervous system and kidneys and may be a carcinogen.

• This includes plasters that use heavy metals such as lead.

• The tusk has also never been tested for a radiation, so there is a chance of the material being radioactive.

The sample was unable to be tested for radioactivity, however.

Publication Date

12-2017

Faculty Advisor

Joshua A. Sebree

Department

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Publisher

Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

What is the Red Plaster in the Mastodon Tusk?

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