Fossil Preparation of Trilobites!

[@RCBuildaholic001]

One thing I forgot to mention, straight forward lines with the air scribe works best, circles spreads the vibration and can cause micro cracks that you cannot see which is why your first one split.

[@FossilPrepBlog]

sorry I replied to you like a month ago, guess it did not actually post. I will make sure to use strait line in the future. Thanks for all the tips!

[@almontepaolilli4909]

Great video. Going slow is the correct method. I found a lot of preparation videos featuring fossils from the U.K. Good luck.

[@valiantwarrior4517]

I live in Utah. Great place for all sorts of fossils. Thanks for the informative video! I doubt I’ll ever do something like prepare a fossil(too shaky), but it is fascinating to watch. And I love to learn new things.

[@fearlessroofer8458]

I've gotten some really nice specimens from that formation. Never hunted there,but ordered some shale from Utah rich in trilobites and Brachiopods. Waiting on my CP air scribe to arrive Wednesday to excavate the fossils out. Don't have an air abrasive yet still in market for a nice affordable one.

[@jheadley635]

When it comes to soft shale, I find that using a dremel with a wire brush bit works very well. It's abrasive enough to remove the shale but not hurt the trilobite.

[@FossilPrepBlog]

I do have those. I will give it a try! Thanks

[@bw8015]

I agree with the dremel part, it's what i used on my trilobite fossils from Utah, but be careful of using the dremel on different types of rocks that are not shale. The wire brush ripped the fossil apart..... think the rock was a limestone not for sure though

[@jasonrice8066]

A wire brush dremel will actually damage the fossil. Under a 20x microscope you can see the brush marks and they are very noticeable. Under the naked eye it's hard to see the marks though.

[@ninaru.]

Great video!! At 5:43 beneath the trilobite you're working on looks like another larger one

[@FossilPrepBlog]

I think you are right. I did not see it at the time though. :(

[@brandondean2623]

Definitely was!

[@RCBuildaholic001]

Funny you mention that there isn't much about fossil preparation. I have been recording my adventures in fossil prep as well to create a video like yours. There are a few good videos on KZbin if you look up trilobite prep. I will post some soon as well:) good luck

[@FossilPrepBlog]

oh shoot! that is good advice! I will make sure to try strait lines instead of circles. Thanks for the tip! I have found a few fossil prep videos. Still a little hard. I would not mind checking out your stuff. Send me a link and I will give it a look!

[@cherrycotapie]

i agree! i love watching fossil preparation but there arent many on youtube.

[@lincolnshoemaker7572]

Another recommendation, don't use aluminum oxide: baking soda is much less abrasive and less damaging to the fossil. Dolomite is another option, you can get this from some pottery stores, I get mine from a company called axner.

[@FossilPrepBlog]

Thank you! I have tried to find some before and not had much luck. Any chance you could reply with a URL to their website so I can show my professor and we can order some?

[@lincolnshoemaker7572]

Yep: www.axner.com/raw-materials.aspx The material I use is dolocron, dolowhite is pretty much the exact same, just more coarse. There are other materials such as aluminum trihydrate that work well too.

[@FossilPrepBlog]

sweet thank you so much!! :)

[@lincolnshoemaker7572]

No problem dude. Hope it works well for you. One thing I forgot to mention, aluminum oxide is less prone to clumping than dolomite or baking soda, so you may have to sieve it to get rid of any moisture induced clumps.

[@FossilPrepBlog]

thank you I will keep that in mind! I would not mind more tips in the future. did you subscribe so I can get your help later? lol

[@hubertwillems5096]

Where I live it's easy to find fossiles from the cretatious: shark teeth, zee-egels, shells etc. I would love to spend a day in that wheeler shale though... trilobites. I have to buy them...a bit jealeous I am

[@KayentaRojo]

love collecting trilobites from the wheeler!! one of the most fossiliferous formations there is!

[@turbo95912]

I actually use a dremel tool myself with a carbonized wire brush. It keeps the fossils black and removes the matrix around the fossil nicely… at least that is my experience with it

[@spencerhansen8374]

That's exactly what I used, fossil is nice and shiney and the matrix is softer and removes decently easy. Would've been cool to have the tool that broke up the rock to find them though, I just used a rock hammer to split the layers and find what I could.

[@pinkpuffin187]

I got some trilobites in the Nopah Range near Tecopa Hot Springs and the matrix is more of a mudstone. I wonder if they would be easier to extract.

[@FossilPrepBlog]

I don't know. They very well may be easier. Give it a go and let me know. :)

[@gkess7106]

This fossil is, in fact, mudstone on a shale base.

[@belisauros370]

I have some stone from a quarry and need help identifying it, there are actually many trilobite fossils in them and they are a nice size, one is up to 4 in! What kind of tool is this and where would I get this, the stone is very tough and I dont want to damage the fossil. Thanks!

[@kareno8634]

I treasure things like these, if i only knew One could & How, and that i enjoyed this as much as i do .... {{sigh}} I'm a Sloth when it comes to information; Finding, Learning & Remembering. right about Prep info, but - more cometh. tho i have no equipment nor 'fossils', (maybe) yet, I Will remember this . .. for now. lol *Thanks!*

[@fossil_holic]

9:30 how can i get that pen?

[@lincolnshoemaker7572]

One method for preventing the fossil from flying away would be to put putty over top of it. The only issue is certain fossils, those in poor shape or with delicate form could suffer from the pressure of applying it.

[@FossilPrepBlog]

okay i will try to find something to put on top of it next time. thanks for the tip!

[@SirPano85]

If I had that kind of instruments when I was a 13y old fossil hunter.... One time I found the fossilized shoreline of about 235 millions years old beach full of cracked shells in Cene (italy) along the river bed, that place is full of fossilized little shells and sure much more, the problem is that rock is really really fragile.

[@lukaszbajger9435]

How is such a pneumatic hammer called? Where to look for it?

[@alphageegee]

do you have any fall vidios id love to watch a fule 4-6 houers of this

[@domingotolos3210]

Nice videos. Thanks for sharing. What nozzle diameter to use?

[@RCBuildaholic001]

Does the school have other media available to use in their air abrasive unit? Dolomite, or sodium bicarbonate?

[@FossilPrepBlog]

Not yet. We are looking to buy some. So if you know where to get some please let me know.

[@RCBuildaholic001]

Fossil Prep Blog I buy sodium bicarbonate at the local bulk market. I get 20 lb bag for $6. It's not as hard so you can use a slightly higher pressure and it won't eat away the fossil as fast

[@FossilPrepBlog]

thanks for the tip! I will make sure to suggest we get some. :)

[@26snoopy82]

I have some of these fossils. I have let the rain loosen the rocks. Can you show how to do this with just your left hand? I had a stroke when I was a kid. My right arm is very weak.

[@Billavsfan]

I have seen videos and read of using sand bags to secure the sample being worked on. The idea is to allow both hands to be used on a sample, but this may help in your situation as well.

[@meetmethere456]

may I ask you -how much is the smallest fassel you worked on in the video.am doing research with my kid.

[@markkmiecik9797]

To remove a small area with a fossil from the plate, start with an area of circled that is 10x the diameter of the fossil and at least a 1/4" deep when working with shale or slate because it's so friable.

[@jasonrice8066]

Friable? LOL Like you can fry it in a pan?

[@heidijones580]

I live by Dugway! I just found a lot of fossils closer to Rush Valley.

[@korbendalas1468]

What is this preparation device?

[@spatrk6634]

its called air scribe

[@zahidshah9141]

very informative video

[@abdelkrimlaagad]

verry good

[@gkess7106]

Not shale - mudstone. Water and a toothbrush will melt the wafers back into a fine silt again.

[@publichelper9015]

Yeah, I know. I learnt that the hard way :(

[@lucasogden6545]

At 5:04 at the bottom of the screen there's a smiley face

[@FossilPrepBlog]

lol there totally is!!!

[@violetmurphy5177]

Wow! I don't have anything close to what you have lol

[@Haydy5040]

use dolomite powder dude. the mohs hardness of alumina is harder than any fossils I know.

[@necmettincelik7457]

From Türkiye bravo

[@ThailandAmazing]

Try painting the fossilized area so the blaster won’t break it up. Rinse in thinner

[@abdelkrimlaagad]

gooooooooooooooood

[@drumstick-marblebag]

I too am about to get fossilized in my dirt. I need to get a shower.

[@josh0liva]

"Someone" lol

[@paxpopulusalexpatriotegpi9848]

☝️👓😇🐢 Perfect Democracy

[@markdamico4608]

I kept wanting to tell you to work the removal away from the fossil itself rather than blowing towards it. I enjoyed it though. I have a downright fetish for trilobites and their lunar analogs.