Fossil Preparation - Acetic acid fossil prep of a Jurassic Ichthyosaur jaw from Lyme Regis

Here is a very basic introduction of the use of diluted acetic acid (5% diluted in water) in the preparation of a limestone-based Ichthyosaur fossil. This is a difficult method and I certainly wouldn't claim to be an expert but hopefully this gives you a flavour for it. This doesn't work with every type of fossil that's for sure so it's important to only try this technique if you know your fossil could respond well to it. Perhaps start with a test sample first before dunking the whole this in!
IMPORTANT - When working with any types of acid (even weak ones like acetic acid), please make sure you read the label and follow all of the correct health and safety guidance. No fossil is worth risking your health!
Equipment used in this video:
Diluted Acetic acid to 5% (diluted with water) - to dissolve the limestone
Paraloid B72 diluted in acetone to 4%-5% - to protect the fossil bone
Candle wax - to further protect the fossil bone
Haridryer at low temp - To remove excess candle wax
Gloves - Important when handling any type of acid
#fossilprep #fossilpreparation #ichthyosaur

[@vandelftcrafts2958]

I think this is the best ever example of an Ichthy jaw I have ever seen. Spectacular fossil

[@kcotfour]

This video was super informative. I've always been curious about acid prep but didn't really understand how it worked until now.

[@PalaeoArt]

Glad it was useful. I'm no expert on this, but thought a basic summary might be useful.

[@Max-pj4ok]

I’m going to the Yorkshire coast tomorrow and hopefully I can be blessed in finding such a nice ichthyosaur jaw, great video!

[@PalaeoArt]

Good luck Max. I’ve not been able to get out since lockdown. I just live too far way.

[@TheFossilFiend]

Great video, thanks for posting. I've been wanting to add acid prep to my list of tools / skills for prepping but I havent taken that step yet.

[@TheYorkshireFossilHunter]

Great video mate, im moving into acid preperation this year, nearly all set up and can't wait to get practicing

[@MeteorTesh]

Give my grandma her dentures back!

[@arnaudt3935]

Very Interesting, and great result !

[@kareno8634]

AWESOME Piece of Ichthyosaur! Wax after B72 - didn't know that. *Thanks*

[@IndigoSpades]

Thank you, I learned something

[@alansdorsetfossils4028]

Brilliant thankyou so much.

[@Raegg3]

Thank you so much for this video, will try this myself on a small piece of rostrum.

[@PalaeoArt]

No problem at all. Good luck and take your time on it. Small bursts of submersion are best to see how it responds.

[@fossil-freak_tom]

thank you,very helpfull

[@PalaeoArt]

Pleasure. Glad you like it.

[@nemenvoltam2023]

This is a very cool video! I have a question maybe sounds silly: how to do remove candle wax after each round in acetic acid?

[@alexandermelchers1497]

Great video! It's super-informative, as finding information on doing acid-prep is hard to come by. Also, the result is just stunning. One thing I'm wondering about though is how you'd get from a 20% solution to a 5% solution. Is that just a mixture of a 3 to 1 water versus acid solution? Or is the calculation more complex than that? Also, why use a hair dryer rather than hot water to remove the candle wax? Wouldn't using hot water simultaneously increase the time that acid can be leached out of the fossil as well?

[@annaksfrog]

Interesting! Funny thing, I could literally smell acetic acid while watching this because of long hours in the darkroom decades ago!

[@user-ik9zf3eg2n]

Круто! Автор красавчег!

[@tomworrallo]

Can I ask who prepped the Ichthyosaur jaw? I have one that needs prepping and I'd love to know who's work this is

[@alejandro-uk4cd]

How do you clean the wax off the fossil?

[@PalaeoArt]

Sorry. I forgot to add that bit in the video so thanks for asking. I tend to use a hairdryer with a very low temperature to slightly melt the wax and then wipe it off. The Paraloid base that protects the bone makes it very easy to wipe off once it’s melted a little.

[@alejandro-uk4cd]

@@PalaeoArt Thanks. I really like your videos 🤟

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks very much. Greatly appreciated

[@PatandSponge]

Where do you get all these fossils from?

[@gabewrsewell]

very informative, thank you! i’m curious, do people ever just use straight white vinegar? that’s exactly just 5% acetic acid in water with maybe some other minor stuff added in. I for whatever reason would find it really funny that people can just use regular vinegar for fossil prep

[@PalaeoArt]

Great question Gabe. Firstly, yes, you could use white vinegar but I wouldn't advise it for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you might want to vary the strength of the acetic acid depending on the matrix. Although you could dilute the vinegar, you can't increase the strength. Secondly, whatever they add to the acetic acid to make the white vinegar seems to give it a much stronger smell which tends to linger in the fossil longer than you want. Hope that helps.

[@hamishstewart5324]

Out of curiosity, how common are the bones of ichthyosaurs and other aquatic reptiles in places like the Lyme Regis?

[@PalaeoArt]

Good question. The most common fossils in Lyme tend to be ammonites but it’s not uncommon to find a single vertebrae or paddle bone of an Ichthyosaur. What is much less common is finding large sections of Ichthyosaur jaw or articulated bones. Plesiosaur are even rarer than Ichthyosaur material however. Hope this helps.

[@khengvuy3597]

Very good Nature is wierd

[@Chris.Davies]

FYI: wax doesn't dry, it hardens. There's no water in it.

[@Van.2.Y.Se.Cae.El.De.Enmedio]

This acid can be used for all the fossil bones?

[@PalaeoArt]

No, not all fossils would respond well to it so be careful. Generally this technique only works well on fossils in a limestone (Calcium carbonate) matrix and where the fossil itself is preserved in Calcium phosphate (for example). If the fossil is calcite or calcium carbonate, then the acid will eat straight through that!

[@SuperFarinelli]

rybojaszczur