I have read the bits here and elsewhere about DMSO. I'm not that serious and I'm not sure that's what I'd want anyway. Being new and my first post, I hope it's in the right place.
I have some sandstone which was a big clump. Fairly beat up from being in Lake Michigan. I looked and decided to crack it open and see what's inside.
Now I have a few pieces and I see some interesting fossils, but they look like the same material, nearly, as the surrounding sandstone. I can only guess that if I try to dissolve the sandstone, I'll probably also dissolve the fossils? These look like shells or outer shells of assorted ancient sea life.
With a smaller chunk, I've been putting it into a campfire burner two nights after the fire is going down. I figured heat cracked rocks from archaeology why not try some baked sandstone?
Here's a before which hopefully will show what I have. I have some tools, chisels, and a couple of old dental picks. I'm not sure if that's the right way to go. And I wonder if some solvent, over a period of time, sitting out in the garage, might work on the sandstone?
Again the acid idea doesn't seem like a good one, whether it's Hydrochloric acid or acetic or something else, the fossils seem like the material is too similar and I'll just end up with a bucket of mush?
Anyone with some experience have a starting point to share? Thanks