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10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00718.x
LESLIE, S. A., MITCHELL, J. C. 2007. Removing gold coating from SEM samples. Palaeontology, 50, 6, 1459–1461.
Stephen A. Leslie and John C. Mitchell An essential tool in micropalaeontological studies is analysis and imaging using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is commonly necessary to coat the sample with a thin layer of gold or gold-palladium alloy in order to prevent charging of the surface, to promote the emission of secondary electrons so that the specimen conducts evenly, and to provide a homogeneous surface for analysis and imaging. However, coating a specimen with gold is a semi-destructive process that masks the surface of specimens, and a common curatorial practice is to prohibit coating of important specimens. We describe a non-destructive, simple and inexpensive technique that uses KCN (or NaCN), a glass jar, paper towels, cardboard and a fume hood for the removal of gold coatings from SEM samples. This technique requires little additional handling of the specimen, and there is no need to place the specimen in a solution.- CRISSMAN, R. S. and MacCANN, P. 1979. A technique to remove gold-palladium from SEM samples. Micron, 10, 37–38.
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