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The concretions I've collected recently are like a jigsaw puzzle. When struck many pieces come apart, mostly along the lines of the fossils. So would it be better to try the freeze thaw method for safer opening of the concretions? The one in particular has a possible large Ammonite in it but is trapped by matrix and shells. Hitting it is out of the question and only a stronger air scribe would be considered, which I don't possess, ATM. Ideas are welcome. Steve

I am doing the freeze thaw method of opening concretions and they are shedding rock (outside layers are flaking). How do I get them to split down the middle? When they are freezing should they be completely covered in water and frozen into a giant block of ice or just wet from soaking? Thanks, Adam

Hi all, A couple of months ago, I acquired a small box of unopened Mazon Creek nodules via the forum. After reading whatever I could find on the freeze-thaw method (too many TFF topics to cite here), I started doing the following. First, I submerged the nodules in water (in 6 cm deep trays, fully submerging the nodules, which were placed next to each other, not stacking them) for one week (I was on vacation). Subsequently, I put the trays in freezer until frozen solid (1 day). I repeated these steps (duration 1 day each) until nodules popped open/could be opened by hand. Most of my nodules have opened by now (two to go still) and this is what I found: Some of the nodules seem to contain bits (e.g. the ones on lower right - any ID suggestions?), but most are empty, at least to my untrained eye (have zero previous experience with Mazon Creek material). I've read the "content" of the nodules varies from site to site, and general estimates range from 1/4 to 1/10 nodules yielding something fossiliferous. However, most others who obtained nodules from the same source reported nice finds in their batches. Given this, I was wondering whether I did something wrong method-wise. Also, is it worthwhile to re-split nodules, i.e. put them back in the freezer and try splitting them along a parallel plane? P.S. During the freeze-thaw cycling, many of the nodules started to "peel"; the outer parts started to disintegrate in somewhat onion-like fashion. Is this normal? Thanks for your input, Tim

Hi everyone! SO... I placed my concretions in water for 3 days, and then froze them. I left them in the freezer for 1 week. I then proceeded to pull them out and give them like 5 or six taps each (W/ a metal hammer and the other part of the rock on concrete). But the fossils seemed 'soft' when I hit them, just rubbing material off on the ground.... I so far, haven't even been able to open one of my concretions am I doing something wrong?? -Pecopteris