Technical regulations for the preservation of vertebrate paleontological fossil specimen resources

Foreword

The vertebrate specimens described in this protocol include fossils and living skeletons of fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. In order to ensure that these specimens can be stored correctly and effectively, stored safely, cleanly and orderly, and recalled quickly and accurately, the storage unit needs to operate according to a strict and standardized working procedure. In order to unify the working procedures and data collation specifications of various preservation units, give full play to the research, display and use value of specimens, and at the same time adapt to the standardization requirements of specimen collation of the National Science and Technology Basic Conditions Platform, the "Technical Regulations for the Preservation of Paleovertebrate Specimen Resources" is specially formulated to Standardize and guide the preservation procedures of such specimens.

The preservation work procedures of vertebrate specimen resources include receiving registration, creating files and cards, entering the database, placing specimens in boxes or trays, storing them in cabinets, daily maintenance, specimen query or loan management, and specimen re-examination. Steps such as positioning, making molds and models.

Appendix A to Appendix F of this regulation are normative appendices, and Appendix G to Appendix L are informative appendices.

This procedure is proposed by the National Science and Technology Basic Conditions Platform.

This protocol was drafted by: Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The drafters of this regulation: Liu Liping, Liu Zhongyun, Lou Yushan.

This procedure is explained by the National Rock Mineral and Fossil Specimen Resource Sharing Platform.

1 Scope

This standard specifies the working procedures and technical requirements for the preservation of vertebrate specimens.

This standard applies to the preservation of vertebrate specimens in research institutions, universities, museums and cultural relics management departments at all levels.

2 Normative reference documents

The clauses in the following documents become the clauses of this regulation through reference in this regulation. For dated reference documents, all subsequent modifications (excluding corrigenda) or revisions do not apply to this regulation. However, parties that reach an agreement based on this regulation are encouraged to study whether the latest versions of these documents can be used. For undated referenced documents, the latest version shall apply to this regulation.

GB/T2260—2007 Administrative Division Code of the People’s Republic of China

GB50222—95 Code for Fire Protection Design of Interior Decoration of Buildings

GA27—2002 Cultural Relics System Regulations on risk levels and safety protection levels for museums

GB/T16571—2012 Safety and protection system requirements for museums and cultural relics protection units

Specifications for the complete description of natural scientific and technological resources (vertebrate fossils) Specimen Resources) Classification and Coding. 2006

3 Terms and Definitions

3.1 Vertebrate fossils (vertebrate fossils)

Vertebrate fossils are fossilized Remains (or remains) of vertebrates, including early chordates and vertebrates including jawless, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals solid fossils, relic fossils (such as egg fossils, coprolites ) and trace fossils (such as footprint fossils), etc.

3.2 Model (cast)

A model refers to an imitation made from a vertebrate fossil specimen with the same shape, structure and size as the original specimen. Models are generally colored according to the real thing, have the same visual effect as the real thing, and can be used as a substitute for the real thing.

3.3 Mold

Use materials such as silicone rubber or resin to make external molds for vertebrate fossil specimens. The outer mold is filled with plaster, resin or other filling materials, and the model can be made after the filler solidifies.

4 Preservation of vertebrate fossils

4.1 Basic requirements for preservation of specimen resources

Fossil resources are within the scope of protection under the National Cultural Relics Law, and special institutions should be established by professional institutions. The management department shall manage, set up fixed storage spaces, have fire prevention, anti-theft, moisture-proof, dust-proof, sun-proof and other equipment and measures, assign specialized and fixed management personnel, and establish corresponding management systems.

4.2 Warehouse requirements

4.2.1 Fire prevention

——Set no-smoking, no-smoking and other relevant signs.

——Open flames are strictly prohibited in the warehouse, and smokers or those carrying fire tools (matches, lighters) are strictly prohibited from entering.

——The use of electric stoves is prohibited.

——It is strictly prohibited to store oil, vaporized, flammable and explosive items, and staff should check them regularly.

——It is strictly prohibited to overload electrical equipment and prohibit the operation of electrical equipment when it is sick.

——The electrical equipment, switches and gates in the warehouse should be inspected and repaired regularly, and any faults should be eliminated in time.

——After fire-fighting equipment is equipped, staff must be familiar with the location and use of the equipment, and do daily cleaning and maintenance work to ensure that the equipment is intact and effective.

4.2.2 Anti-theft

——Install anti-theft doors, anti-theft windows, and electronic monitoring systems.

——When entering and exiting the specimen warehouse, you must be accompanied by a dedicated person and registered.

—— Remember to lock the door when entering and exiting the warehouse, and conduct regular inspections of the warehouse.

——Important and typical specimens should be placed in a safe or safe.

4.2.3 Moisture-proof

——Install a thermometer and hygrometer to keep abreast of changes in temperature and humidity in the warehouse.

——Set up ventilation and dehumidification equipment, open windows frequently to keep the air fresh (such as installing ventilators, dehumidifiers, etc.).

4.2.4 Dust prevention

——Clean the warehouse frequently and keep the specimen cabinet tidy.

——Before placing the specimens in the specimen cabinet, make sure the specimens and specimen box are clean and tidy.

4.2.5 Sun protection

- Curtains should be installed on the windows of the specimen library.

——Specimens and specimen cabinets should be placed away from direct sunlight.

4.3 Receipt registration and numbering of specimens

1) In principle, specimens obtained through collection, excavation and collection, or exchange with domestic and foreign research institutions, as well as through donations or transfers All vertebrate fossil specimens and models (tools) are within the scope of acceptance. Specimens must be carefully organized before being put into storage, so that each specimen meets the basic requirements of complete information, cleanliness, and clear labeling, and specimen labels must be produced. See Appendix A for the label format.

2) When receiving specimens, the administrator should give a receipt to the person who submitted the specimen. See Appendix B for the receipt. The recipient column should be signed by the administrator for future verification.

3) Managers should conduct detailed inspections and records of the status of the specimens received, such as whether there is any damage and the cause of the damage, whether it is natural damage or man-made damage, etc.; whether certain protective measures and protection measures have been adopted. technology, protection records, etc., and arrange technical personnel for reinforcement in a timely manner.

4) Each specimen must be numbered. Each collection and storage unit can establish its own numbering principle according to the actual situation. It is best to have the characteristics of its own unit and try to avoid similarities with the numbers of other units.

4.4 Establishing files and cards

1) The collection unit should establish corresponding data files for the specimens in stock. These files include:

——The storage status of the specimens Records and related photos and other imaging materials.

——Published research papers.

——Specimen number register.

——Register of field location numbers.

—A register for the exchange of specimens and models.

——Register of loaned specimens.

——Outreach Specimen Register.

——Model and mold information of inventory specimens.

——Records of specimens returned by resigned and retired personnel.

2) In order to facilitate the retrieval of inventory specimens, three types of inquiry cards should be made for each specimen, namely specimen number card, location card and classification card. They are respectively named by specimen number, location name and vertebrate fossil specimen. Classification is used as cards sorted in order to adapt to the different requirements of callers for querying specimens. Please refer to Appendix C for the card format.

4.5 Entry into database

Units with conditions and abundant inventory should establish a collection specimen management database, and the database should be queried and shared through the Internet. In order to ensure data security, it is recommended to set up two servers on the internal network and the external network respectively. The internal network server is the main server for data entry and storage. Network sharing is not implemented. The external network server regularly copies data from the internal network server. Shared online. The data structure of the database can be established according to the needs of the unit. Please refer to Appendix D for the main content.

4.6 Specimen Storage

Specimens are generally stored separately in special specimen boxes or trays. Specimen boxes and trays can be made in different sizes to accommodate specimens of different sizes. There are various specifications of specimen boxes. Each unit can customize the specimen box according to the actual situation and financial conditions. The box should be padded with soft cloth or other lining materials to stabilize the specimen in the box and avoid collision. See Appendix G for the types and specifications of commonly used specimen boxes.

4.7 Cabinet storage

1) Specimens must have a fixed storage device, preferably a dedicated specimen cabinet. The appropriate type of specimen cabinet can be selected according to the storage space and funds of the storage unit, paying attention to factors such as dust prevention, load-bearing, and safety. The types and specifications of commonly used specimen cabinets are shown in Appendix H and I.

2) The arrangement of specimens in the specimen cabinet requires a relatively fixed position and pattern. Once the order of placement is determined, it must remain stable for a long time to facilitate search and management. Since the types of vertebrate fossils are very complex and the number is huge, in order to facilitate the search for specimens, it is recommended that each major category (class) be stored separately. The major categories can be further refined by location or category according to the actual situation of each unit.

4.8 Routine maintenance

——Managers should check the specimens frequently and reinforce the fossils regularly. The recipe of the reinforcement liquid is shown in Appendix J (because the raw materials of the reinforcement liquid are all flammable, the specimens Reinforcement must be carried out in a dedicated room).

——Regularly check the storage, protection and safety of specimens in the warehouse, and deal with problems in a timely manner. If any specimens are damaged, they should be handed over to the repair department for repair.

——Discover problems from the feedback information of the borrowed specimens from researchers, and promptly strengthen the specimens or make corrections to the specimen information.

——The temperature and humidity of the warehouse should be adjusted according to the characteristics of different specimens.

4.9 Specimen Inquiry and Borrowing Management

——Visitors who want to inquire or borrow specimens must fill in the registration form. The content of the form is shown in Appendix E.

——When borrowing specimens or models, you must complete the exit procedures: fill in the loan form, and then enter it into the computer to save it. The contents of the loan registration form are shown in Appendix F.

——Borrowed specimens should be set for a certain period of use and returned on time.

——Personnel from outside institutions can generally only observe specimens in the library and cannot lend them out.

——Managers collect specimens from specimen borrowers on a regular basis. After the specimen is recovered, the manager will fill in the return date and signature on the specimen loan registration form.

——The storage condition of the specimen should be checked when recycling the specimen. If the specimen is damaged, the borrower is responsible for repairing it.

——For the lending of important specimens, specific personnel responsibility systems must be implemented and strict exit procedures must be implemented.

4.10 Repositioning of Specimens

After the management staff recovers the specimens, they should relocate the specimens to their original storage locations.

4.11 Making models or molds

During the use or lending process, specimens will inevitably be damaged or even lost to a certain extent, which may cause irreparable losses. Making models can prevent or reduce this loss to a certain extent. Models should be made of all important specimens to prevent unexpected events. Special warehouses or specimen cabinets can be set up to store important specimens, and high-definition photos can be stored at the same time. The loan of these specimens requires a stricter review system, or only models can be borrowed to prevent loss. Other important specimens are also best pre-cast before loaning them out. Models and molds should also be numbered, classified and managed effectively. See Appendix K and Appendix L for the registration information of models and molds.

4.12 Handling of specimen storage emergencies

There is a possibility of accidents occurring during the storage of specimens in the warehouse, such as fire, theft, building collapse, sudden natural disaster, When a war breaks out and encounters air strikes, etc., an emergency response mechanism should be established to minimize losses.

Appendix A

(Normative Appendix)

Labels of vertebrate fossil specimens

Table A.1 Labels of vertebrate fossil specimens Tags

Appendix B

(Normative Appendix)

Specimen Receipt Receipt

Table B.1 Specimen Receipt Receipt

Appendix C

(Normative Appendix)

Specimen Card

Table C.1 Specimen Number Card