How I acid prep fossils using vinegar (acetic acid) and a bunch of time

I've had quite a few questions about how I do the acid prepping of my fossils using vinegar so I decided to show a video showing my process. Remember, what works for me might not work for you! Please don't acid prep any important fossils and use all the PPE that you can! I forgot to mention that I always wear glasses as well, you don't want vinegar in your eyes!
Patreon for 40+ extra videos: / mamlambo
Instagram: / mamlambofossils
TikTok: / mamlambofossils
Website: mamlambofossils.com/
Shop: mamlambofossils.com/shop
Postal address:
Morne Mamlambo
PO Box 78018
7648
New Zealand
#geology #fossil #science

[@MamlamboFossils]

I've got 40+ other videos on patreon if you run out of things to watch: patreon.com/mamlambo Please make sure you wear glasses / goggles and all the other protective equipment you can when working with even a weak acid like vinegar.

[@Kirsten._._]

Thanks for explaining the process, that’s so interesting. Also helps people understand just how long these preps take!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure! Yeah, they take ages!

[@sandmaker]

Really great tips. The results speak for themselves. I do use acid for a very short time on shells. It really brings out the color. 1/2 a minute at a time in muratic. I don't know how long in dilute acetic. Keep your goodness coming. Be happy, safe and stay healthy 😷⚒

[@MamlamboFossils]

Oooh that is interesting, I didn't know that for the shells 😀

[@onefortheages5983]

Great vid!! These educational vids can make all the difference for someone in need of experience. Well paced and good points. The specimen needing to be free of even the smallest of gaps of applied b-72 was particularly good to know.

[@apocalypticmoth6040]

Very cool! I’m from Wisconsin in the states. I have a lot of good results working with Paleozoic tabulate corals and vinegar. You can get rid of a lot of matrix using that. It works best with agatized corals, of course. I’ve got some chain coral dissolving at the moment and it’s turning out great! I’ve also had a lot of success with assemblages of bryozoans, crinoids, and brachiopods. This will dissolve everything except for the pyritized fossils that you can find sometimes. I have some gorgeous golden fossils from that process!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Oooh thanks for the info! Yeah, it would make sense that agatized corals would not be affected by vinegar, over here the corals are all calcium carbonate so they fully dissolve. Please send me some photos of the golden fossils if you can!

[@apocalypticmoth6040]

@@MamlamboFossils sure thing! How can I best contact you?

[@lindalewis5066]

I miss your videos. I haven't had WiFi for over 2 months. Now I need to binge watch. 😕 This one was really interesting. From hunting to completion you must spend more hours than I thought on the finds. Your skills are admirable. 👍❤️

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's pretty much my second job 😄😄

[@berhart1865]

I've been wanting to do this since I was a kid. I just didn't know it until now. It is amazing to hold something in your hand that was alive millions of years ago. I do believe I have just found a new hobby. Thanks man!

[@lancelessard2491]

I like to watch these videos because I don't have fossils nearby because this area was heavily glaciated during the last glacial maximum and all the rocks around here were ground into gravel and sand. Thanks for posting!

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure Lance! Sounds like you need to go for a roadtrip to some fossil grounds!

[@impunitythebagpuss]

Great advice....interesting to see your techniques...for your local rocks! Takes almost as long to prep as it does to fossilize! Patience is a virtue for sure!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahahah it really does take a bit of time 😀

[@GrandTreasureBay]

Very informative! Unfortunately most of the fossils in my area are coral, brachiopod and similar. Just today I may have found a trilobite fossil!! I'll have to look into prepping it now haha. Also, love the outro theme. It's still 🔥🔥🔥

[@MamlamboFossils]

Ooooh that is awesome that you've found a trilobite! I've never found one!

[@Dani_-ec4is]

@@MamlamboFossils With you, the earth is too "young" to have trilobites 😂😂😂.

[@andyralph5525]

Where are you searching? Sounds like the area I hunt in ny

[@GrandTreasureBay]

@@andyralph5525 it's most definitely similar, in that It's mostly glacial till. I'm in Northwestern Lower Michigan. :) I'm not 100% on the ID yet. I have a short video on my IG.

[@GrandTreasureBay]

@@MamlamboFossils thank you! I'm not 100% on the ID yet, but hope to get more input on it soon!

[@ofelsewhere13]

A new video?! I don't wanna go to bed anyway! :D

[@MamlamboFossils]

🤣 sorry for the lack of sleep!

[@mcmenace4847]

Cheers mate! Great info.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Any time!!

[@gaylescovel7308]

Well that was onteresting as heck! Im going to rewatch. Lots of times i have watched you n wondered or rather wished there was a way to dissolve the rock, lol.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it Gayle! It's a slow process but gives great results

[@josephcormier5974]

Excellent you have answered questions that I didn't know thank you five stars my friend

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure Joseph!

[@kieranmccullough7385]

Learnt the hard way not to acid prep a crab fossil lol, ended up removing all the colour from the carapace 😅

[@MamlamboFossils]

A lesson we all learn 😃

[@alexandermelchers1497]

Great instructional video!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Alexander! Still learning more about acid prepping every week!

[@alexandermelchers1497]

@@MamlamboFossils That makes me look forward to what's still to come, because you've gotten some awesome results already! :D

[@JimmysGarden]

I'm educated now 👍👍 nicely informative thank you.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@americanrebel413]

This was very interesting, Thank you.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@billrobbins5874]

Stick to pulverizing rocks to find the fossils. Just have to find the right rocks to pulverize. 😳🙄🤭👍

[@timothysiler5722]

Wow! I didn't realize that it took that long for you to prep some of your fossils.

[@MamlamboFossils]

It takes ages with the acid!

[@micktepolt6276]

good idea's ! thanks

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure 😀

[@valiantwarrior4517]

Thank you for the humbly informative video, sir. I’ve watched other videos where various acids or even just water soaks were used to remove sediment. None really explained the process. I have seen a very informative video where a variety of different acids were used on ore samples to see which worked best at removing calcite and other things. As you have done, they stressed the importance of the water soaks to remove the acids from the samples. If any was left, it could cause a lot of damage and/or discoloration, not to mention the potential hazard of handling. Can you tell me the mol/L concentration you typically use? I guess you would adjust the concentration based on the particular material you are removing. 🤔 Do you ever use stronger acids than vinegar?

[@Panzerkita61]

Job well done. Thank you for this Excellently presented. Have a great week ✌🏻😎

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Steven! Hope you have a great week as well!

[@hicrangencer1547]

Muhteşem 👏👏 paylaşım için teşekkür ederim.

[@honestalamorena8149]

it worked i found a whale vertabrae in denver colorado and a turtle perfect prep

[@MamlamboFossils]

Nice!!!

[@cherylwilson8743]

You're in my area but yeh nah, I'll just stick to watching your video's ha. Great video.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Cheryl! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@xiuhcoatlfire4448]

Great video. I've been meaning to play around with this sort of prep, just need to get some more species that I'm willing to test on haha. By any chance, do you know of any good fossil locations around Aukland?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I'm not sure of the sites around Auckland for fossils, Taranaki has some though.

[@robbybobby6483]

I thought it was the penguin rock. Looks similar. Cool method.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Not yet! But I will use a same method on it!

[@robbybobby6483]

@@MamlamboFossils That would scare me? Do a test spot first, just for kicks and giggles. Can't wait for the penguins prep.

[@janicescragg2388]

Thanks for the info. I saved this one to refer to at a later date. I wonder if this glue can be used to help stabilize a softer stone for making jewelry. Food for thought.🤔

[@MamlamboFossils]

I've never tried that! You'd have to experiment and let us know!

[@doctorofart]

Cool finish Timelapse (:

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks!

[@padego58]

Great video, do you use a neutralizer like baking soda after the acid bath or do you stick with water only?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I only use fresh water that I change out a few times over the period the fossil is in the water.

[@truelytreasured3990]

I use a couple of teaspoons of baking soda in a bucket of water to neutralize the acid after soaking them in vinegar. It keeps eating away at the fossil and it becomes brittle and feels and looks chalky if I don't.

[@robertheuer7670]

is the base of a bluff side the youngest or oldest as it goes up? since the tectonic plates push up i figured the top stuff would oldest...idk....would give me an idea on how old things are i guess..idk..i gotta do some more research

[@herbertboelk7545]

Also: Acetic acid as an organic acid may attack some plastics, like some acrylic plastics. I made the unfortunate experience when removing carbonate crust from an acrylic shower head with vinegar concentrate.

[@andreawashnak630]

I also us white vinegar for coral

[@MamlamboFossils]

Nice! Has the coral agatised?

[@garydargan6]

Instead of B72 I use polyurethane foam dissolved in acetone. Its cheap and recycles waste packing material and old coffee cups. Any cracks in fossils that are exposed during etching I bridge and reinforce by gluing bits of matchstick or wooden toothpicks across the fractures with thick polystyrene and acetone. The acid is still capable of etching bone but it self buffers as it reacts with the limestone and the bone stops etching. To prevent bone etching I mix a small amount of already reacted acid with the fresh acid to buffer it. If you are tempted to use a sodium bicarbonate solution to neutralise acid between etching don't because the Co2 bubbles produced can destroy your specimen. Better to soak and wash in several changes of fresh water. The only time I use sodium bicarbonate is when I want to disaggregate matrix to extract microfossils.

[@micktepolt6276]

i think you can stop the action of most light acids with a mix of water and baking soda, i have done that with a lot of things seems to work good ... oh i see you find a lot of Leverites it's translation is ( Leave it right there ) you all have a good day ..✌

[@EdAtoZ]

Mamiambo, Do you heat the acid bath or just room temp ?

[@MamlamboFossils]

Just room temperature

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

I don't have experience with acid prepping but I am wondering if aeration or movement of the liquid would help? Like having a burbler under the rock while it is is either or both baths or having something that circulates the solution. I feel like it might speed up the prep and obliviously you don't want it to be aggressively moving to splash or anything.

[@MamlamboFossils]

That's actually a great idea! It might also help with loosening the sediment, this is worth trying for sure! Thanks for the comment!!

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

@@MamlamboFossils Glad to help!

[@subliminalvibes]

I have a friend who drinks vinegar and we're always joking that he'll be impossible to fossilise over coming eons. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahahahahha why does he drink vinegar? For health reasons?!

[@subliminalvibes]

@@MamlamboFossils Hahaha. He drinks it to be the centre of attention whenever we get fish and chips. So every few weeks or so. He's a pommy so he likes the brown apple cider vinegar most. We've warned him about acid blood toxicity but he's been doing it since highschool and we're in our forties now! 👍😆

[@robertheuer7670]

also thats really awesome? on the name you chosen for your channel

[@erichaskell]

I used a heated paint product on crystals to remove the calcium carbonate. Worked well. Oxycelic acid?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I've never tried that, but I've heard of some other people using something similar.

[@brucefulcher9217]

Tips or tricks with acid??? Yes. 1) Prior to placing in acid, soak your specimen in water with a touch of dish detergent (I use Dawn Platinum) in matrix for at least 1 day. Bigger specimens - soak longer.The dawn breaks water surface tension and allows better penetration of water into the specimen matrix. If water fills the matrix pore spaces, then the acid does not fill them and then continue to react with the matrix after you think you have completed the final soaking during your specimen prep. This can not only be unsightly, but also harmful to the specimen to have residual acid in the pore space. 2) Especially when working with small specimens and delicate specimens, it is preferrable to use a perforated plastice container which houses the specimen(s) to be treated. This can be lowered into and out of the acid and water baths time and time again without ever having to touch the specimen. This avoids potential damage from handling delicate pieces. This process is particularly useful when the acid bath darkens and you would otherwise need to scronge around for the specimen(s). Furthermore, the container, (I usually use a flat seive), catches and retains small bits that may disolve out of the matrix.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Bruce! Those are handy hints!!

[@rickross2709]

Morne, what do you do with the used acid?

[@MamlamboFossils]

I put baking soda into it till it no longer fizzes and then I put it in a watertight container to take to the dump. I don't put it down the drain as I think it will mess up the pipes over time.

[@zacrintoul]

@@MamlamboFossils If you neutralize it with baking soda there isn't any reason it should harm the drains. 5% vinegar solution (or any other weak acid) shouldn't even harm anything (though giving a quick wash with some water afterwords might be recommended if you have cast iron drain pipes)... If you are in the country and have a septic, going overboard with vinegar might mess with the microbial environment (though I am no septic system expert.) Neutralizing first in that case might make sense.

[@RamblinJer]

I need advice I'm new to this. Found quite a few fossils I think, I'm curious if it's normal they'd look 3D are lightly smashed together with one on top another and some with smaller creatures in their mouths? Idk, but that's what it looks like or maybe I just spent to much time in the sun, lol. Thanks

[@MamlamboFossils]

Post a few pictures on thefossilforum group on Facebook with a ruler for scale and where you found them. I'm sure someone will be able to identify it!

[@donstash4295]

You might try citric acid instead of acetic acid, it doesnt smell as bad.

[@TylerHillis-ox8te]

Does distilled vinegar work too

[@MamlamboFossils]

I use 6 or 8% vinegar, white vinegar

[@jemaltedoradze098]

And You tell Me : it is krabs only here in New Zeland ".Congratelations.

[@lizzymoore54]

👏👏👏☺️👏👏👏

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks!

[@andyralph5525]

If there's one thing I'm good at, it's destroying fossils

[@MamlamboFossils]

Hahahahaha it just takes practice

[@lawrenceanovitz5246]

A little baking soda in your wash water will help to neutralize the acid faster

[@MamlamboFossils]

Great idea! Thanks!