I Can't Get Enough of These Fossils! Prepping our Fish Fossils from Kemmerer Wyoming!

In this one, we prep our fish fossils from our trip to kemmerer, WY! We had quite the pile of fossils to get through, so we rapid fire through a bunch of them for this video. I used primarily a metal engraver for all of the prepping, but did use a few other tools occasionally including a dental pick and a scalpel. I absolutely cannot believe the quality of preservation on these amazing specimens! Soft tissue, delicate bones, scales, and even teeth remain perfectly intact! I am absolutely in love with these things and will be going back to get more before the end of the season! I hope you enjoy this one, and I will have another one out very soon!
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Looking for some other fantastic rockhounding and fossil hunting channels to watch? Well check out any of these phenomenal channels for more treasure hunting content!
Wild Kyle: Wild Kyle: / @wildkyle
Paleocris: / @paleocris
Pulitzer Opal: / @pulitzeropal
Ozone Fine Art-Ventures: / @ozonefineartventures
406 Findings: / @406findings
The Rogue Rockhound: / @theroguerockhound
Du5tin Finds Rocks: / @dustinfindsrocks
Michael Van Dyke: / @michaelvandyke
Rockhounding Adventures: / @rockhoundingadventures
Agate Angler: / @agateangler
World of Rockhounds: / @worldofrockhounds
Montana Rock Mom: / @montanarockmom
Gravel Bar Hopper: / @gravelbarhopper
Marlaina Atkins: / jmrlsatkins
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Katydid Rocks!: / bigskyartworks
Agate Dad: / @agatedad
Quest for Details: / @questfordetails
Rookie Rockhounding: / crazycrazysillyfresh
Mamlambo: / @mamlambofossils
Michigan Rocks: / jugglerguy1
#fossil #wyoming #fossils

[@candacepeterson8932]

I was never too excited about fossilized fish, but now watching you prep them, I think that would be fun! Thanks Theo!!

[@danacataldi5119]

When you were getting these fossils, I wondered how you would liberate them. Really nice work.

[@vickygoodwin9771]

The have saws available thus the neat rectangles.

[@justjulee9135]

I can't believe the detail in those fossils! Really beautiful!

[@dustinfindsrocks]

The preservation on some of these is amazing! Seeing the soft tissues preserved is wild!

[@tashacano3324]

One of those ear wax removers the bulb ones would probably work instead of the fan & you won't get light headed squishing that😂

[@soul_adventurist]

Those are outstanding fossils, just phenomenal! As far as the dust, go to a medical supply store and get a suction machine. I’ll look up what they are called and make a second comment with the name.

[@Panicagq2]

Wow, somehow this exceeded my expectations - skin and teeth preserved? Such a great spot, can't wait for the next field trip lol I also just had a thought: maybe try an aquarium pump and connectors for a low speed and volume air supply?

[@bhutjolokia6990]

Awesome, fun to watch!!👍😎👻🌶️

[@janehelbert7551]

You saved the best for the last!

[@largent45]

OMG Theo! You definitely have to go back! Those are so cool! And amazing! My favorite one is the one that although its not a complete fish, you have the front and back of that fish! ❤ I absolutely love it! The prepping was so satifying to watch. Without the loud noise of the tools and instead the soft music that you choose for all your videos. So satisfying. And that engraver eeally was the right tool. It seemed to work faster than by hand like others were doing, but without damaging these delicate fossils! They were all really cool and its amazing that something as thin and delicate as fish bones or their skin or scales, could preserve so well and so completely, that this many ywars later, you can prep it out of their limestone prisons, and you xan see thier delicate bones and even teeth! So incredible! And you do such nice work! But yes, you have to go back, and sooner, than later! Lol! Thanks Theo!

[@1sec2midnight]

Dang nice fish fossils! I'm not a big fossil person, but those are outstanding. I'm impressed with all of them, but my favorite is the first one, so well preserved. Thanks for showing us how it is done.

[@SistaJaine]

I love your passion Theo.

[@patriciamckean4186]

That looks like delicate work. Very nice. I've found leaves but never fish.

[@audraacklin9826]

Those are so cool. I would love to have a couple. The detail is way awesome! ❤❤😃

[@dollybelfiore7628]

I love this! ...the music is perfect too!

[@sandmaker]

Good job! Thanks for sharing. I like the tilted one.

[@fossilroe]

I found that the electric engravers get really hot to handle very quickly. I love my air scribe because it stays cool and the exhaust at the tip keeping fragments blown out of the way. Unfortunately they are just as noisy and require a compressor to operate. You can get different tips for finer detail work as well. For your bigger pieces you need to turn a lot you might try a heavy duty Lazy Susan under the slab. Great work! Loved the Mioplosus the best.

[@melindakeith4103]

Nice fish!

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

What you need is a potters old fashioned kick wheel. They aren’t that hard to make from wood, and then everything would be where you could turn it to work on it. Much easier. I’m sure there are instructions for a wooden kick wheel here on UTube.🤗 Love the fish! I sometimes buy those as gifts🤗❤️🐝

[@Doxymeister]

Hmmm, I think my favorite is the one with the preserved teeth, followed closely by the one you like so much, the very well-preserved one. I totally get the obsession with uncovering these gorgeous babies!

[@kirsiselei8703]

Wow,so cool💕

[@michaelbearss371]

Those are cool!

[@rhondatimberlake300]

Love me some Dremel work!

[@wyomingadventures]

The Kemmerer fish quarry is amazing. First time I was there in the last 80s. We found a lot of fish. And it's crazy there's still fossil fish coming out of there. I want to make another trip next summer. Theo do you have a shop vac? A small one works the best. Just put the hose by the fish you are working on. It sucks up the sandstone right up.

[@utahrockhoundingcouple]

Nice job! We have Instone Fossils in Kemmerer prep all of ours!

[@janehelbert7551]

Love these Theo. Amazing!

[@cynergy4]

Good job!

[@codyihler9881]

I have so many questions ❓ awesome work as always. Love your passion. Keep it up 👍😊

[@nickcaruso]

loved this video.

[@marybickford]

I love this video. I do a lot of prepping. I’ve been to Kemmerer also. I also purchase a lot of the larger fish for prepping on EBay. I don’t want to be a smart ass but in this video you mis-named several knightias as diplomystus. Maybe you’ve been corrected by now since this is an older video.

[@fredwilson3525]

I bought a rechargeable mini blower on line (also reversible to mini vac). Perfect for getting dust off mineral specimens and what you are doing.

[@stoogeslap]

Theo, aren't there combo squeeze bottles/soft brushes that'll be great to keep the dizzy levels at bey and help minimize the dust? Put a string/beaded chain on it and dangle it around your neck so it's hands free, then grab it for a squeeze or a quick brush when it's needed. Should be light enough that it won't weigh you down like a pendant.

[@michaelvandyke6715]

Awesome fish and prepping... Have a few in my collection... Thanks for sharing your video... PS: You all did very good at the pit... Theo, if you haven't, you need to visit Black Hills Institute Museum in South Dakota and the Dickinson Museum Center & Badlands Dinosaur Museum in North Dakota..

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

For blowing you can get some of the infant booger getters to blow it off. of a spray bottle without water in it. or they make little bottles for that job as well.

[@nancygaxiola5412]

You have the patience of Job. Those are some VERY cool fossils!

[@lisamills-wv6nc]

Those are so cool! You did an excellent job prepping them! The one with the teeth is my favorite! 😊

[@Amanda-yf7vj]

Sooo awesome!!!

[@ZiggityPow]

I need to get to American Fossil! I bought a beautiful Knightia from you. My first real experience doing fossil prep was at Dino Lab in Victoria BC. It's tedious, but the repetition and air scribe hum is relaxing. The reveal is like opening birthday presents.

[@judymarkel8029]

Right after your video when you got these fossils I went to a yard sale and they had some of these for $1.50

[@nhrockaholic6038]

They are all amazing. Love the one with the teeth!!

[@jennifershipp2599]

You are the whisperer of fossil fish.

[@soul_adventurist]

NestEcho Handheld Manual Suction Pump Portable Hand Help Suction Pump White 3.63.6 out of 5 stars 200+ bought in past month $32.99

[@sherrylbaxter4851]

The fish looks like it is laying on top another fish

[@merridee1091]

I love the prepping videos. But I would like to see a few more moments of real time prepping, I think it's interesting to see how delicate and slow you are actually going.

[@vickygoodwin9771]

My son and his little family went early this summer and they left me some.. but the flake away and just become the shape and dust.

[@kidcurry4107]

I love when you let your Cartman flag fly!

[@leslyeschoenhuth1107]

* When I watch Mamalambo prep fossils, he uses glue to conserve his specimens. Did you try that to preserve your fossils?? Love the Death Plate".. You found great sizes of fish..

Lindo

[@audraacklin9826]

How often can you find both side of the fossil?

[@andrewwong3825]

👍👍👍

[@maciejoe]

This is the first video I’ve seen from this channel, cool vid! Question for you: since I have not seen your other videos I don’t know how you usually do it, but are you not wearing vibration dampening gloves because you are using the metal engraver rather than a scribe? Are the vibrations just transferred that much less? Thanks

[@Jaybehr604]

I'm sure you could find a plastic bottle maybe the size use for sewing machine oil or something similar sized and use the empty bottle to squeeze air on to your work instead or blowing all the time. Save your breath plus if you wear a mask.... 😉

[@Jaybehr604]

Ohh and WOW nice work. Keep it up buddy

[@mikebloodsworth140]

Hard for me to say for sure because of the "exploded" condition but that appears to be Knightia alta instead of the more common Knightia eoceana

[@bryanolsen5764]

What about a hairdryer no heat set your fan settings what works best

[@smokedskull5821]

instead of blowing have you tried using a vacuum to suck up the debris?

[@billymack8619]

Try using a turkey baster(spelling?) to blow off the dust

[@mikebloodsworth140]

I am referring to the fish at 14:07 .....sorry.

[@RM-vw3ov]

How crazy would it be to pour clear resin onto the exposed side, then flip it over and expose the other side of the fish, then encase the specimen in 360’ of clear resin?

[@paulwells782]

Do you have to treat those with a fixative when you’re done prepping?

[@vickygoodwin9771]

Now how will you preserve? II read this on one channel that the found a helmsman sealer?.. I am gonna try superglue on one.

[@jinesta]

What is that tool you are using? I can't find it in amazon

[@aprilkurtz1589]

Is the matrix softer than the fossil? Or do you have to have a super light touch with the tool you're using? I was wondering how you go about removing the matrix on top of the fossil w/o going through the fossil.

[@kimberlyhinson4252]

What is the material those fish are in?

[@shieldofthebear1784]

How much did they charge for the dig.

[@nancygaxiola5412]

I found myself trying to blow on it too 🤪

[@lynnscott8286]

What kind of fish are they?

[@rachelwilliams4423]

sand blast them fishies with baking soda

[@savagesquirrel9828]

You could do brain surgery!

[@kastah]

Beutiful, I envy you those, wish I had one at least