Golden leg fossil prep - Makers' Challenge 2023

I was really hoping to be done with the fossil turtle skull for the Maker's Challenge but this crab will do nicely! It was a really fun prep and the air abrasion unit did such a good job on those sticky bits!
Thanks Theo for organising this, check out his channel: • What's Inside!? Slabbi...
My patreon channel: / mamlambo
Mamlambo Rocks rockhounding channel: / @mamlamborocks
Linktree for all my other links: linktr.ee/maml...
Postal address:
Morne Mamlambo
PO Box 78018
7648
New Zealand
Music by: Bensound
License code: URHIGU5FRDVCF432
#makerschallenge4 #fossil #science

[@MamlamboFossils]

Check out the other videos in the Maker's Challenge by following this link: kzbin.info?search_query=%23makerschallenge4 My LinkTree has some answers about how I knew there was a crab in there and how it came to be in the rock: linktr.ee/mamlambofossils

[@TheoKellison]

Wow! That might be my favorite crab ive seen you prep! The spikes in the carapace are phenomenally preserved! And thats before taking the pyritized leg into account! What an incredible specimen! Fantastic work as always, and i can not wait to see that turtle skull when its done!😁 thank you so much for being a part of the challenge!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much for organising the event Theo! It's always so much fun, wish I could have had the turtle skull done in time!

[@RockhoundingLife]

I am always amazed at your skill in not only in prepping these specimens but with your ability to find them on the beach! Love seeing the connection from the beach to your bench! Great job!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much!! Yeah, it's awesome seeing what's hiding inside these little rocks

[@betojdesigns]

Wow, the detail of those tiny spikes and pointed edges surviving all these years is just amazing. Great job Mamlambo 👍👏😊

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's crazy that they can survive so long!

[@flagpies2023]

@@MamlamboFossils Where do you get the thing that cuts the rock to reveal the fossil and what are they called

[@bfarm44]

And “Shiney” starts playing in my head. Nicely done

[@michellestenton6430]

This is fantastic! Well done Morne. This little guy looks like he is going to get up and skuddle away. Cannot wait to see the turtle head. Thanks for sharing and being a part of the Maker’s Challenge.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks! I can't wait to get that turtle skull out of the rock!

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

The detail preserved on this one is so remarkable and it's cool that it's pyrite and glittery 😍. It's always a pleasure to watch you prep a lovely specimen like this one. Can't wait to see the turtle as well. Thanks for sharing this awesome Maker's Challenge! Cheers!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much! I saw you did a sand casting video - going to go check it out now!

[@johnsaucerhunter]

Well Done. Really enjoyed watching your process to expose the inner beauty hiding away.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much!

[@kzookid2051]

Fossils have always been fascinating to me, but watching the crab being revealed was amazing. I will definitely be exploring your channel for a long time.

[@QuestForDetails]

Every concretion is a exciting find now since I first started watching you. This was another fun one ! Golden leg , just awesome!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks! Yeah, you never know what's going to be hiding inside!

[@joang.cavanna2046]

I'm so impressed everytime you prep a fossil. How you recognize that the rocks have fossils in them, how long it takes to uncover the fossils, how beautiful and wondrous it is after it's uncovered. Thanks for sharing. You're awesome!

[@josephcormier5974]

The turtle skull is looking awesome and the little crab was outstanding thank you for sharing this six stars brother

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure Joseph!!

[@largent45]

That was a cool golden crab! The pyrite on that one was so beautiful! It turned out really good and I'm glad you didn't rush the turtles head; it's to valuable to rush! I still can't believe how huge that thing is! It's amazing. Thank you for today's entry into the makers challenge! It was beautiful! Thanks Morne!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure Lisa! That turtle skull is soooo big!

[@leslyeschoenhuth1107]

* Love watching you Prep fossils.. Thanks for entering it in the Challenge..

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure! I love taking part!

[@jaynehorn151]

I just love watching the prepping of a specimen.

[@DOSHIELD]

The pyrite incorporated into the fossil is amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure!!

[@delfic1108]

Awesome as usual. Love the close up with the Pyrite legs. So beautiful. Thanks.

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@sandrahealey6385]

Yayyyy! A maker from the southern hemisphere ❤️ The sparkles 😮

[@MamlamboFossils]

So shiny!!

[@hazelsegnitz3254]

Love these small crabs ! especially with shiny legs !!!🦀✨🤣

[@MamlamboFossils]

Same!! They are really pretty!

[@daz6372]

The micro air abrasion just takes it to a whole new level. Great video as always

[@MamlamboFossils]

It definitely adds another dimension to it!

[@allegg8804]

Holy Cow! the detail on the legs- claws. so cool. Thank you

[@MamlamboFossils]

I love the way the air abrasion keeps all those details!

[@helgavoorneveld1530]

You truly are an artist with your skills at delicately extracting those details! My favourite video is the penguin 💕 and the ear bone

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Helga! those are really kind words, I love the penguin as well and this turtle skull might even be my new favourite!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

This was really cool. I had a dream last night that I found a crab concretion while on the coast. But then I woke up. You're going to have a little collection of golden fossils before too long!

[@linuskorff4074]

Such a beautiful fossil crab. It has a lot of detail. Hope you find more.😁👍🍀

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Linus!

[@sandmaker]

Super coooooool! Thanks for sharing your talent with us.

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure!

[@Robin-rn7ip]

You are one of the reasons I want to study paleontology, keep up the good work ❤ absolutely love your videos & can't wait for the turtle skull!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Ahhh that's so cool! I'm actually back at University studying as well! Geology and Biology!

[@juliemckenna514]

That was just amazing to watch that glittery spikey crab be uncovered, so cool. That turtle skull is Huge 🤩❤️

[@pamelasplace7429]

That was fantastic! Absolutely beautiful and fun to watch!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MichiganRocks]

That's so darn cool. It must be really difficult to know when to stop, but I suppose that comes from making a few mistakes along the way. What fun to wonder what you're going to find revealed inside.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yeah, when it starts getting a bit sketchy I stop - otherwise it tends to break

[@MichiganRocks]

@@MamlamboFossils That's what I figured. I have never prepped a fossil so I'm sure I'd mess up the first one trying to go too far. I have tumbled plenty of rocks away to nothing trying to get them perfect.

[@LiSa.N.J]

Wow. Amazing detail on this crab fossil. Very cool. Thanks for sharing. Love the pyrite, it's beautiful on this crab.

[@rebeccaday7076]

This was VERY interesting to watch and learn. Thanks for sharing!

[@quietone748]

Beautifully done!

[@cindyheimdahl227]

So cool! I love how it looks completed. AND the pyrite legs!

[@MamlamboFossils]

shiny legs!

[@annettehalliday8892]

Bugger I missed the live …..gee the pyrite looks amazing 🤩 great job as always 👏👏👏🇦🇺

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Annette! So shiny!!

[@donnabeaudin9114]

That is awesome! Talk about your hidden treasures!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Donna!

[@leezardo9324]

WOW. That is precision work. Nicely done.

[@sandraanderson217]

That’s really cool! A crab with bling😁

[@MamlamboFossils]

So shiny!!

[@keithcunningham7925]

I love how delicate you are a when you prep very nice

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's good to go slow and gentle with these fossils!

[@tedkellison2598]

Beautiful detail!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure!

[@BenjaminKoops]

Thank you for your video's! It is really great to follow youradventures/journey. One of those childhood dreams I can not fullfill, but luckily you're sharing the experience! All the best from the Netherlands.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Benjamin! I'm definitely making 12 year old me proud 😂

[@BenjaminKoops]

@@MamlamboFossils 😄

[@beckieg8479]

Wow that crab is amazing! Love the golden legs can't wait to see what you do with the skull ❤❤

[@justjulee9135]

So totally awesome! I love to see the things you uncover!

[@mattg6333]

Very nice work. I stopped a bit to look all your videos but I'll always comeback to it! Keep-up!

[@dinamorrison9516]

That is incredible!

[@13Odrade]

Beautiful !

[@tanyatonks7335]

Still amazes me when a critter emerges from the matrix ❤

[@MamlamboFossils]

I love seeing it as well!

[@javierhillier4252]

the way the matrix came away was so satisfying

[@MamlamboFossils]

it's nice when it breaks apart so cleanly

[@joesmith-es1zy]

A 007 themed crab, The Crab with the Golden Arm. Seriously though, the pyrite is beautiful but I imagine it made the work a bit more challenging as it was probably a lot more fragile then the usual stone.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Love that! They can be a bit tricky to prep :)

[@hansschmidt3459]

very nice, not easy - Greatings from Baltic Sea Germany

[@Heather-tz5gi]

Thank you for another amazing video.

[@Katya_Lastochka]

Amazing ! The turtle is incredible. Never saw a fossil like that. I thought you made it

[@MamlamboFossils]

I can't wait to get it done!!

[@shaunquist]

It's Tomatoa!! Great video my friend!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Shiny!!

[@susanjane4784]

Wow! This is so cool. I've gotten into paleontology from the Eons KZbin channel. And *smack* I'm here from the Michigan Rocks channel. I'm going to check out the rest of your videos! It's one thing to see the graphics about fossils and another to see this one "unwrapped".

[@kittygreenleaf427]

Awesome!

[@kirsiselei8703]

Wow,so beautiful💕

[@brownfulla202]

Wonderful video! Thank you :)

[@BabyBoomersDoomer]

The turtle is one heck of a featt

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's a big boi that's for sure!

[@tashacano3324]

That's just so freaking cool!!

[@dylanmonstrum1538]

Honestly the most fancy crab of ALL time.

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's definitely got the shinyness going on!

[@frostpaixao]

Cannot wait to seethe pokemon that your are getting from this XD looks awesome dude, great work

[@MamlamboFossils]

😁 thanks!!

[@itellyouwhy6957]

All the gold-like colorings around the crab remind me of the crab in Moana the kid's animated cartoon. Who sings an interesting song.

[@Muxoll-Rocks]

That's awesome dude, I got one here in Denmark, 7 cm wide (our crabs are much smaller than your behemoths) with pyrite just like that. on its claws, total bling bling fossil :) its my favorite

[@ArtisticEndeavors]

Love it! ✌🏻🎨☕️

[@darkwood777]

That turned out great! I know from experience that the pyrite coating can be hard to photograph and looks even better in person.

[@mikef.1000]

The thing with these crab fossils you prep. is that it's not that difficult to imagine them crawling out of their rocky matrix and giving you a nip!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Nightmare fuel 😀

[@marcingromek9685]

In this copy, the amazing details of the construction of this species of crab were revealed!!!

[@nitawynn9538]

Amazing! ❤

[@ccccarriemchardy9216]

Wow I adore the pyrite, its such a pretty colored crab.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Carrie! I'm really enjoying the micro air abrasion as well, very therapeutic!

[@patriciamckean4186]

Whoa! NICE!

[@asmxh]

I love your show Mamlambo👍 I wish we had in NY fossils like what you have. Nice work😎

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Andy!

[@marymacdonald805]

That is so cool

[@MamlamboFossils]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@STEVE_BRO_]

Amazing 🤩

[@tatwo_]

Fool's gold under the microscope looks amazing.

[@MamlamboFossils]

It really does!! so pretty :)

[@nyloaf]

Can't wait to see the turtle skull fully prepped!

[@MamlamboFossils]

me neither!!

[@dylanmonstrum1538]

God damn, it's seriously SO amazing! Day after day nature just out does herself, blowing my mind. Awesome work man, genuinely awe inspiring, as always!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Dylan!

[@a3skywarrior929]

The prep was another great one... just was thinking how rare the circumstances are for a crab to be fossilized. Sure some bury themselves but the dead crabs, I have seen, were picked apart. 🍻

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yeah, I wonder if they were buried in an avalanche or turbidity current

[@a3skywarrior929]

@Mamlambo Fossils makes you wonder but glad you're finding them 👍🍻

[@janvafa9959]

Nice!

[@NotTooStraight]

Wow I wish that I could turn into pyrite when I’m dead and gone

[@bluedragonwolf00]

No longer a drab little crab he's SHINY.

[@Rinehart9]

I have many and I mean many hugh fossils that need prepped but no tools I have a archelon marine leatherback turtle beak and all.. it's probably 6 mteres long but I have the head and back flipper here at home .. several Crocs and many snakeheads with turtles in their mouths...

[@krapfenhugable]

very nice! the golden legs remind me of the shiny crab from moana (voiced by fellow kiwi jemaine clement :))

[@MamlamboFossils]

it does! Tamatoa I think it was!

[@hiddentruth1982]

That was one big turtle based on the size of the head.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yeah it was a huge one!

[@dr1609]

So mooi!

[@anthonymeco]

That's a cracker 👍

[@verycarla67]

what is the matrix in this case? kind of looked like greywacke, but i'm not sure it'd hold fossils of this nature. what a lovely little crab you've found, and brought to light! hello, little crab!

[@judymarkel8029]

Cool

[@gregderksen1996]

Pyritized!? Wow! Does that make it a little trickier than the usual preps Morne?

[@MamlamboFossils]

yeah it can be a bit trickier, the pyrite breaks apart very easily

[@lonl123]

Fantastic little fossil and great prep! I know it's a silly question and it might be impossible, but have you ever tried to expose the mouth parts? I would love to see if those preserve or not...I know we are talking very fine features, but it would be cool if you could expose them to some degree. Have you tried that? Or will it damage the specimen too much to do that?

[@pamlabarr7043]

I've never watched the reveling process before Thank you it was extremely fascinating to watch. And about how long did this process take on this crab fossil?

[@RichardHartness]

So, these pyrite crabs. Are the shells converted to pyrite by the chemistry from these millions of years, or is it that the compounds and elements that slowly leech from the carapace chemically react with the dirt and create a layer on top of the carapace to create a pyrite crust?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I am unsure of the chemistry involved here.

[@helgavoorneveld1530]

Hhmmm but aren't you supposed to make something??🤔 Still always cool to see the crabbies coming out of the matrix after being hidden for so long 🧡🧡🧡

[@MamlamboFossils]

I had a think about what I could make but couldn't really come up with anything good - I should have left the moa print for this!

[@mojolycan2148]

🤘

[@willr322gt]

That's pretty cool to see! How could you tell the top from the bottom of the crab while it's inside of the rock for prepping?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I often get it wrong, but this time I could see a bit of the top of the legs

[@willr322gt]

@@MamlamboFossils I see! Thank you for the reply and keep up the great work and vids!

[@charmingpea]

You mention the Mohs rating of the Dolomite powder. Do you have a figure for the matrix and more interestingly for the fossil?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I'm starting at the softest media and seeing what works. It's a combination of Mohs and air pressure you have to play around with

[@savagesquirrel9828]

An excellent job, as always. Was the painted on stuff a glue of sorts? Did the dolomite powder act like sand-blasting? And, I don’t mean to horrify you, but do you ever crack open a rock with your hammer, like Theo, to see if it contains treasures? Thank you whether or not you have time to answer.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yeah, the dolomite powder is like millions of tiny hammers knocking the matrix away. I painted B72 paraloid on to keep the carapace from flaking as the air from the air scribe can sometimes cause that. I don't usually crack rocks open, if it is already cracked I might open it up but I tend to look for clues on the outside of the rocks.

[@savagesquirrel9828]

@@MamlamboFossils thanks!

[@Milla_Hanielle_Van-Dam]

Really nice! What would happen if you removed all of the matrix (or rock) ?

[@MamlamboFossils]

It would be really fragile and probably break quite easily

[@Milla_Hanielle_Van-Dam]

@@MamlamboFossils Thanks for your answer! :)

[@mariasunbury4788]

✨🤩👍🏼

[@Stephan_D]

Great job! Will the pyrite remain stable over time?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I hope so!

[@theboreditamar2108]

have you ever found a crab with all of its legs still attached?

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yip, you do find them from time to time

[@SilentKaliSmoker]

You may have answered this before, but why do you only do half of the fossil? Is it just to prove what's in it? Then ship it off to a museum that does the finally half?