Shipwrecks and Salvage > 7. Conservation >
Explain that artefacts from long submerged wrecks will be saturated with dissolved chlorides and sulfates
- Seawater contains approximately 3% dissolved salts.
- Chloride and sulfate are the most abundant anions in seawater.
- Artefact: A human-produced object, especially one of cultural or archaeological significance.
- The pores of artefacts from long submerged wrecks become impregnated with seawater containing chlorides and sulfates.
- Porous materials, such as leather and wood, become very saturated with chlorides and sulfates.