Search the Community

Looking for guidelines, information, steps, the process....anything really concerning how to get provenance/the origin for a fossil. This fossil was found on my family's estate by my husband. He's a dedicated and passionate rock hound but not certified in the field. I can tell you everything about the location, the find, and the excavation. I can tell you lots of different information and even some research BUT just my word isn't cutting the mustard so to speak . Any guidance on how to do this is VERY much appreciated.

Bone to pick: Is the dinosaur fossil investment craze over? Timothy Rooks, Deutsche Welle (DW), April 18, 2023 Yours, Paul

I'm not sure which category this would fit best in, so I'll put it here. @Bobby Rico in another thread got me thinking about labels directly on specimens, what with the appeal of old labels on specimens from historic collections and other considerations. I figured it couldn't hurt to attach labels directly onto some specimens (with more than the catalogue number that I put on all of my specimens) so that whoever ends up with them after I part with them, whether museum or private collector, would actually have to put some effort into scraping off the label to lose the provenance info! I have included the usual information: the name (if I know it), the geologic age, formation, location, date found, my initials, and the cat# even though it is duplicated elsewhere on the rock. More detailed info for each specimen can be found in my notebook, though that mainly consists of a more exact location. I had already done one label a few years back for another large specimen similar to this one which was displayed publicly at a fossil event. I decided to do a few more. So I dug out my old typewriter and made some labels for my largest self-found local pieces. Here is one result. This specimen has a handy flat fracture face to put the label on, as did the earlier one. I did find the old typewriter difficult to use. I've been spoiled by the easy-touch computer keyboard, and the ease of hitting 'backspace' to correct mistakes! But maybe my typewriter could use a new ribbon too, as it requires a heavy punch or a double punch to get more than a faint letter. The number of times I had to start over again was enough to send ya. (I don't really want to use whiteout on the labels.) The only other thing I don't like is the size of the type/spacing is a bit big. Maybe other typewriters have smaller fonts which would enable smaller labels. Or maybe I should just give in and use the computer printer to make my labels... Not sure if the printer ink will run when the label gets wet, though. Also I tried a couple different types of glue and find that the old white glue seems to work better than the Acryloid, though I haven't yet determined how much water is best to dilute it with. The water helps to soften the paper somewhat so that it conforms to the unevenness of the rock surface. But it's a bit messy, and it can be difficult to hold the heavy rock in such a position as to keep the label horizontal so the glue doesn't run off in one direction, while dabbing it off with TP, until it dries enough to put it down and let it continue drying. Anyway I like the results for the most part. Does anyone else do this with any of their pieces, and what method do they use, or do they think it marrs the look of the specimen? I guess it would depend on the piece. (I would generally put the label on the back/bottom so that it is not seen when displayed. It is more about keeping the info with the specimen. A loose label or notebook can easily be separated from the specimen or lost altogether.) But it is a bit of work which may not really be worth it in the end. I dunno. Of course not all specimens will accommodate a label easily or at all. I will only do this with the larger ones that aren't earmarked for immediate donation to science/museum but maybe it wouldn't hurt to attach labels on some of those also? I think the labels will be removable with acetone, if necessary, whether attached with white glue or Paraloid/Acryloid.

On a recent trip to the Wutach Valley I discovered a pile of fossils on a slope by the side of the road which had obviously been disposed by somebody who didn't want them any more. Among other things was a small piece of matrix chock-a-block full of various gastropod species. They all look somehow familiar to me, but I can't for the life of me figure out where they are from, what stratigraphical formation they belong to or what their names are. Does any one have any suggestions?

Hello, I bought this leaf from the internet from someone who told be it might be from Canada. I googled is it but I could nt find a great simularity in Cananda. So I showed it a friend and he said it could be a leaf from the Green River Formation. Can anyone confirm this? Or tell me where it could come from? Thanks in advance!

I was wondering if anyone can recommend reports/websites/guides etc, that explain in more detail how the fossil trade works, from excavation through to a dealer? This is assuming new pieces (not a prior sold piece, returning to market), they have not excavated it themselves and that it is legal- but especially when covering foreign sourced material. And how that might vary from country to country, say Morocco vs Germany. Likewise, this is most applicable to somewhat valuable pieces, worth of enough steps in the value chain! For example, how many links are there often in the chain, from the site where it is found, to a dealer's website or exhibition stand? Likewise, any info on how very roughly how pricing evolves (and this clearly varies!) would be interesting! I am a starting off studying (with a view to beginning collecting later!) and keen to understand how the trade eco-system works so to speak and the different potential steps! E.g. is there an on site local who finds the fossils, from whom it gets acquired by a wholesale type dealer in that country, who lacks the end customers (often overseas), but is respected by foreign dealers, with the latter then purchasing it from them- before it ends up on a website/show for sale! And maybe one step is skipped out by those especially knowledgeable or experienced dealers. I appreciate everything will depend, and there are no hard or fast rules, but just want to general "educate" myself about the industry! Thanks for all your help! AZ