Plesiosaur fossil prep - my first adventure with acid prepping reveals something amazing

I found this plesiosaur vertebra earlier this year on private land, it was almost fully hidden inside rock and thought this would be a great candidate to try out some acid prepping using acetic acid (vinegar). I use normal strength acid prep and I would remove the rock to within 1mm of the bone and then put it in acid to remove the rest.
It's very important to only put the fossil in the vinegar for 1 hour and then for 12 hours in fresh water (refreshed every 3 hours) to make sure all the vinegar is leached away before applying a layer of B72 paraloid on any exposed bone for the next acid cycle.
I use the angle grinder sparingly and only when I am 100% sure there is no bone nearby, you don't want to cut through a surprise bone!
This bone is an estimated 80 million years old so the elasmosaurus was swimming around while there were dinosaurs roaming around on the land.
I've gotten in touch with my local museum and will donate it should they want it for their collection.
It's always such a privilege to be the first human to ever see something like this and it's so awesome that I can share it with you!
I used a combinations of manual prepping and acid prepping to uncover this dorsal vertebra.
Patreon for 20+ extra videos: / mamlambo
Instagram: / mamlambofossils
TikTok: / mamlambofossils
Website: mamlambofossils.com/
Postal address:
Morne Mamlambo
PO Box 78018
7648
New Zealand
#newzealand #fossil #dinosaur

[@Ontario_Rockhound]

What a killer piece, I love that you show the prepping processes. You make it enjoyable to watch!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much!! It is quite a long process but worth seeing something like this emerge!

[@Ontario_Rockhound]

@@MamlamboFossils it is always a great feeling when something you have spent a long time on has worked out, I get that feeling when a batch of tumbling works out well.

[@billrobbins5874]

Didn't think finding a bone fragment to be so interesting. Then you showed the animal and where the location of that specific bone came from. Really amazing! Those creatures were HUGE!

[@hollyjensen2371]

I am so in awe of your patience for prepping these. thank you for sharing, and cant wait to see you do more.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks for watching! I really enjoy the prepping - it takes a while to edit the video but I enjoy the result!

[@hollyjensen2371]

@@MamlamboFossils always look forward to your videos. the only hard part for me is watching you pass by some fossils, because they are in bad shape or something. my brain screams "its a fossil!!!! you have to keep it!" but my brain is strange sometimes...lol

[@aserta]

This episode was the best thing since sliced bread!!! Meticulous work, that proves, once and for all that you're more than ready to play with the big ones out there. :)

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much aserta! I'm excited to try another prep using the same technique 😀 I have quite backlog!

[@aserta]

@@MamlamboFossils That's awesome to hear. Excited to see what's next. :)

[@tonyjefferies9029]

In What region of nz do you fossick

[@Brontosaurus_productions]

I’d say it’s better than sliced bread 😂

[@doctorofart]

“I’m very happy with that” when you said this the smile on your face said everything. I was thinking early on in the video how much work that must be, then you discussed the daily refining. I’m impressed and inspired. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Oh yeah and I was also thinking how great it would be to leave some rock on for future admirers of the fossil to know what it is. You used it to your advantage. Artistically speaking it would be too cool if on your next one you made a base for it to be presented on like a pedestal. You could carve your moniker on it like a placard.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Great idea John! Thanks so much for the awesome comment, I'm really stoked that you enjoyed the video!!

[@sandraanderson217]

That is SO awesome!!! Thank you for the diagrams showing us where exactly they are from! Stay safe!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you! Will do! I'm glad you enjoyed the diagrams, that's some feedback I've received from previous prep videos :)

[@y4udodis]

My jaw literally just dropped seeing what you've uncovered this time mamlambo. I haven't been on KZbin for a bit, but I like checking in and seeing what cool stuff you're up to. This was so epic!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@taraingalls3440]

I’m in love with the big hand jackhammer!! Thank you for continuing to teach us all how to get better at our prepping. 🙌💗

[@MamlamboFossils]

We're both learning! I learn from every prep I do!

[@darinmbicknell]

It be nice to see some microscope detail of the surface of the fossil. The detailed preservation is best part of fossils.

[@MamlamboFossils]

I thought if doing that and then promptly forgot! I'll see if I can pop it in a future video!

[@lindalewis5066]

When you said Plesiosaur Vertebrae I sat up tall! I can't believe how calm you were when you found it. Just another plesiosaur vertebrae. 🤷😂 That prep was a lot of hard work! Great job as usual! Really enjoyed the video. 👍❤️

[@oldandtired1434]

Your happiness is infectious, makes my day. I seldom comment, but I must tell you how much I love your work, hunts and videos. Amazing! ty

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it!

[@zacrintoul]

Great prep video! Appreciate all the hard work you put in... And the crazy amount of video footage that amounts to. Turned out beautiful.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Soooooo much footage! I had to buy a new hard drive for it 😆

[@jimv.661]

Great eye discovering it and realizing what it was. Your patience is extraordinary.

[@lsitnik]

Congratulations, mate! Incredible find! Love the content and overall positive vibes from each of your video. Keep the good work and stay safe!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much!!

[@parapluie6228]

Interesting video. Do you plan to go back to the same area to find the rest of that plesiosaur? What a find that would be!

[@MamlamboFossils]

It was washed down a river so it's probably not close to it, but I will have a look!

[@billrobbins5874]

Fantastic job! Quite a remarkable find. Uncovering a piece of history. 🦕

[@mutt3162]

Lovely video. I loved to watch your process, and hear about your system. Thanks so much for sharing

[@davidthomas6859]

Wow Mamlambo fantastic find and fantastic prep.👌💪⚒

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks David!

[@ofelsewhere13]

What a absolutely amazing find and fantastic prep!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks!!

[@thedmvhistorian8964]

Wow. How you have the patience to prep for that amount of time and that amount of rock is astonishing. I had a shark tooth that still has some matrix on the root that I’m way to scared to remove. I don’t want to break it!

[@tomgarzaiii7111]

I love your prep videos. This was one of the best ones.

[@steves3734]

Great video! You have a lot of patients, that is a lot of slow meticulous work. Thanks for taking us along!

[@skoitch]

That turned out so much cooler than I expected!

[@technonarg5978]

Fantastic video,and fossil. Your patience,skills,and effort are very satisfying watch and the reveal at the end is always worth it. Happy hunting and good luck.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks mate!

[@johnfloydman7735]

Fantastic prep 👍 looks amazing 🙏✌️

[@impunitythebagpuss]

Wow! Technology makes everything so simple! Talk about! Great work! One done...now on to next couple of hundred vertebrae and you'll have a complete set!

[@markharris4421]

30 hours work! Worth every one too. To be honest I didn't think it would be as good as one of your crabs but it is, that is one cool fossil!

[@supernaturewee5442]

Beautiful job! Lovely large vertebrae! 👏👏👏💚💚

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@sherryporsch9349]

Wow!! Those things were huge!!! Amazing find an prep 😀

[@sherryporsch9349]

PS I hope you find some more of it!

[@ianstewartbrown5308]

Fantastic find and a brilliant watch, one of the best yet!!

[@user-ne9im2xo8u]

Enjoyed this video very much. Unbelievably wonderful. When I watch your videos I often think if your hands hurt at the end of the day when you prep your fossils so much.

[@MamlamboFossils]

I take breaks quite often and those vibration reducing gloves really help! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@marciatofanelli6473]

Beautiful collection!

[@GrandTreasureBay]

Great prep! Love the photo op with some of your previous work. Can't wait for you to find that Penguin!!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Ah me neither bro! It has to be out there somewhere

[@GrandTreasureBay]

@@MamlamboFossils I know you'll find it!

[@gabem6362]

Your patience is outstanding and your work is museum quality

[@jonpatterson5668]

That's probably the coolest one yet , great video

[@bigdm9349]

Closest we can get to time traveling. Thank you for your hard work

[@MrGlennJohnsen]

That is F'ing cool!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks bro!

[@LiSa.N.J]

Wow. That turned out to be such a great find. I love watching your prepping of fossils. I bet it helps time pass when on lock down. Thanks for sharing and Hello from New Jersey USA

[@cptnkaos5994]

This is going to be, a great video

[@MamlamboFossils]

I hope so! So much editing work on this one!

[@adams3019]

@@MamlamboFossils not to mention all the labour. thanks for all your effort

[@13Odrade]

AMAZING ! You can be proud of your patience. And thank you for sharing. What a treasure !

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheWonderwy]

Great results for all your labor! Beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing.

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

Another incredible prep! Thanks for adding all of the details of time spent with the scribe and what kind of time in the acid and water. These are such an inspiration, thanks again for sharing.

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@bolichocastaneda7179]

Excelente trabajo, se ve preciosa!!

[@juliemckenna514]

Just amazing!❤️

[@willbejamming1532]

Amazing preservation. Amazing preparation. Just amazing.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks maaaaate! I appreciate it!

[@captaincapucain312]

Very nice found and prep!!! So rare to found this kind of cretaceous bones in my country you are a lucky guy 😂

[@rickross2709]

Beautiful prep and an amazing specimen!!!

[@poppyburridge4601]

Wow thanks so much for all your hard work with that. More inspiration for us to examine every rock just for any fragment of bone showing. You’d never imagine that there would be that gem lying hidden underneath!

[@liltink8869]

I am so glad I get to live vicariously thru you. I would love to fossil hunt but am physically incapable. So I love that I get to see it here. Oh and I can't wait to see the penguin. You will find it.

[@sarejen6868]

That was an interesting and cool fossil reveal prep! Got to see you use the "big'un" to remove a bunch of rock. Great video!

[@ArrowXskyReborn]

Great find! The prep is always interesting.

[@riverAmazonNZ]

Wow, so much detail! That is extremely cool.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you very much! I love the detail in the fossil - it's so clear!!

[@glenntolle4544]

Such a cool find/prep!! 👏👏👏

[@marilyn7288]

Excellent find and what excellent prep job you have done too. Happy Hunting from here in the U.K.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Marilyn!

[@respectanimals2]

Totally awesome prep work , the fossil is incredible and worth all the effort, really enjoyed watching , peace 😎🌴✌️

[@stephanieyee9784]

That's a pretty fantastic find. Well spotted. I love that Huge crab fossil you have too.

[@RCBuildaholic001]

Whale skull next? Awesome prep job my friend, can’t wait to see more :)

[@peopleddiagram2920]

Just fabulous to watch such amazing work.

[@markshellenbarger9986]

Great find and awesome prep!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Mark!

[@LouellaLikes]

Fantastic ,now that's what you call a MonsterJob!!!

[@beach7694]

Amazing fossil, That turned out great.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks!

[@Fred-zn5xh]

Very cool prep! Very well preserved as well

[@mahalalel7771]

This is my second time here and I think your work is outstanding. It's actually fascinating because I watched another video where you freed a crab fossil for all to admire... Good stuff.

[@bonesstones6584]

I thouroughly enjoyed this video, congrats on a really great find!

[@rockersfromaz3001]

Wow! That is incredible! You are brilliant! Love your hobby! It is fascinating!!!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@mackie_p]

That's truly incredible, great find and great prep job!!

[@nitawynn9538]

Wow, that was an enormous animal. I enjoy watching you prep fossils. You’re so meticulous

[@MamlamboFossils]

Ah thanks so much! I appreciate your kind comments!

[@user-rb7rd1zu6q]

Amazing, we've found à Plesiosaure almost complete in south of France at Tournemire village !! on the other side of the world same species. Beautiful work Mamlambo, long a lot !

[@jorrit.f]

What an incredible find from such an iconic creature!

[@MamlamboFossils]

I love it as well!

[@zennbeejones9526]

Beautiful work recovering an amazing find, well done.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Which is your favourite prep, this plesiosaurus vertebrae or the giant crab?

[@hochigaming14yearsago90]

This, although the crabs were cool

[@timbergel8147]

The giant crab, I think, but it was close...

[@DinoCat259]

The fish fossil .

[@Chris-re3lv]

The giant crab, so far. I just walked into your videos not long ago, but they are both beautiful and thought-provoking.

[@darthvinci4831]

Definitely the crab - watching that monster emerge was epic! 🦀

[@EmbraceTheJourney]

Once again, another outstanding video. Nice work

[@mariemoss2475]

What a fantastic job you did on that.... You must have the patients of a Saint ? 👍💕💕💕💕💕

[@MamlamboFossils]

It's not too bad, I listen to podcasts when I do this :)

[@zatoth13]

That is a gorgeous vertebra!

[@v0r5t47]

saw it on 9gag and come here to watch the full vid , turn out it was GOOD cant stop watch other old vid LOL

[@Wildflower-xe8sn]

Wow, what a cool find. Thanks for showing the beast it came from. Your dedication to the restoration is impressive. Thanks for sharing ✌

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks 👍 It's so cool how many people are interested in this!

[@exzendar2523]

Amazing!! Exelent Work!!! Thank you for showing🥰🥰🥰

[@alexandermelchers1497]

That's been a very laborious prep, but the result is spectacular! What a wonderful elasmosaur vertebra! And, yes, these subcentral foramina are supposed to be there and serve to improve blood circulation and provision of nutrients. Astonishing find! And I'm not just impressed by the prep, but also by how you spotted it, based on just these thin edges in the rock. I still have to master that skill! :D

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much Alexander! I was really hoping I was right when I said it was a very complete vert. Another clue was one of the processes sticking out the other side of the rock at roughly the right position 😀 thanks for the confirmation of the foramina ( I always forget that term! ) chat soon!

[@margaretpeabody2584]

I heard about you from "AgateDad" Love this! Excellent time lapses if you treasury of work & I really appreciate the information you deliver. Thank you "Rock Bottom"

[@MamlamboFossils]

My pleasure! I love Agate Dad's videos as well 😀

[@AaronChristensen]

So friggen cool bro. Keep up the good work!!

[@cynthiadugan858]

That was awesome to watch. Lovely result❣️

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks so much 😊

[@carpii]

Amazing specimen, you did a great job prepping it. You've got an awesome collection building up, this must be up there with your favourites surely

[@juadonna]

A long and tedious process, for certain. but well worth the time and effort! That is one sexy vertebra, Sir! Beautiful job!

[@1337pino]

Your collection is so amazing. I love seeing all the processed fossil pieces after watching so many unprocessed ones that you've been slowly accruing.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you so much! Lockdown has given me the opportunity to focus on prep a bit more :)

[@joludgate4984]

Wow you are so skilled, and informative. Thankyou

[@M31292]

These preparation videos are really interesting. I would appreciate more of those. What do you use as a neutralizer for the acid? Just pure water?

[@MamlamboFossils]

Yeah just water, lots and lots of water!!

[@lizzymoore54]

@@MamlamboFossils , fantastic detailed clean up of this exciting find, my friend! Try adding just a small amount of baking soda to the water you do your final soak to help neutralize the vinegar, ( so it doesn’t continue to eat away at the bone ). I just love watching you prep your finds and this one is a whopping find, as all your finds are ! 😉☺️

[@grosventre7760]

That is so cool! Great job, I love your videos.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Melinda!

[@ThomasRonnberg]

Seeing this video made me realize for the first time how much work goes into a dino museum exhibition.

[@MamlamboFossils]

That's why they are worth so much, just the labor. Not really the rock itself.

[@LarryTC2000]

Beautiful vertebrae, wish we had fossil deposits closer to me.

[@TheOldladyB]

Wow. I was trying to picture what it looked like before. Fantastic job.

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thank you very much!

[@liamcarey335]

awesome work! So enjoyable to watch!

[@zoeyarmstrong2698]

Awesome stuff!

[@cynthiarowley719]

Amazing to watch! Impressive 🤯🎇🎇🎇 thank you and good wishes

[@richardtravis546]

Fantastic find, so exciting

[@feffe4036]

The big crab is a favorite. :)

[@MamlamboFossils]

Love that big boi!

[@josephcormier5974]

Very nice awesome fossil two thumbs

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks Joseph!!

[@jasontusmc]

Dude that is just cool as hell. I had been looking forward to this reveal -but to find out it’s from a plesiosaur?!!!? Awesome!!! I dunno, I’m just some guy but that’s a lottery winner right there to me!

[@MamlamboFossils]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm really stoked with that fossil! Now to find the skull!

[@jasontusmc]

@@MamlamboFossils I’ll help you drag that chunk up the beach when you find it lol.

[@marthafenimore4279]

You should be so proud of that. Beautiful.

[@johnjudd7737]

Brilliant work beautiful fossil

[@MamlamboFossils]

Thanks John!

[@jeremygush3342]

My ou that's SO AWESOME it came out so nice. I'm soooooo happy for you

[@cindyheimdahl227]

Wow!! I was guessing a whale. Couldn't have been farther off. TY for sharing. It is incredible to see the end result!

[@99goat99]

Absolutely beautiful job you did on this fossil. Any professional would be proud of that one.