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Does anyone know of any good resources on and/or off the forum to learn proper techniques regarding sudden field excavation? More specifically, in the event of a significant/highly fragile find, how to properly consolidate, collect, and transport it from the field, especially in limited circumstances where proper tools, glue, paper towel/tinfoil may not be available? I’ve got the documentation/field notes bit down, but I wanted guidance on the extraction part. Photos, articles, videos, books, etc. appreciated! (Note: if this is too specific or narrow of a search request, that’s ok, any even mildly relevant material is appreciated regardless)

I'm trying to stabilize a mammoth molar with some really bad flaking. It's currently on a large piece of cardboard and I was hoping to stabilize one side, turn it over and do the other. I've tried dribbling on cyanoacrylate on a similar piece and it didn't come out well as I couldn't get an even coat. I figure something I can spray and let sit would be my best bet to get an even coat. Does anyone know a good spray on super glue for stabilizing fossils?

Hi, I have an Indonesian Meg on matrix. I didn't expect the matrix to be so soft. It's chipping. Is there any way to stabilize it? I was thinking coating it in an Elmers and water mix.

After reading many of the relevant posts about various methods, processes and constituents in preservative stabilizers I can't help but wonder why commercial OTS (off the shelf) wood preservatives aren't recommended. They contain polymers such as ABS and styrene dissolved in organic solvents i.e. acetone, MEK, toluene and others to apply to deteriorated rotted soft wood to harden and bond fibers just as we want to do with fossils and bone. I believe Formby's is one manufacturer and maybe Minwax. Search the web and purchase at the local hardware store, Home Depot or Lowe's. Readily available and inexpensive. Please comment. I'd be interested in your thoughts and experiences with these products.

Hello everybody, So, a friend of mine gifted me a mammoth molar he's had for sometime now (he's not into fossils, got it himself from somebody else). The molar was found a long time ago, is as it was found (not stabilized), and in 3 pieces. 2 of them fit nicely together, one seems to be missing some smaller bits but could still go glued together. The molar itself is pretty stable, while there are occasional exterior pieces falling it is not a very fast degradation, but still, i would like to stabilize it. Somebody gave me a quick hint that i could use epoxy to glue the pieces together and then soak the mammoth molar into a solution of watered PVA glue, so that i can get into every hole and stop the degradation process. I was hoping some of you guys might give me a bit of a more detailed approach to this. Mostly, i am interested what is the ratio between the PVA glue and the water in the watered PVA glue solution and how much should i leave it soaked in it. Also, in case you guys know of an alternative stabilization method i am open to suggestions. I also attached some pictures of the tooth in question. Thank you very much!

My Butvar 76 arrived yesterday. I need to know what concentrations of it to make for my bison prep. Most of the bison was in pretty decent shape and not terribly fragile, but the skull is a different story. It had a few tree roots growing through it and was split in a few places. I do not know what concentrations to make of butvar 76 to stabilize the very fragile parts and also to glue back some broken pieces. 1. What concentrations do I need to make for the project? Ideally I would like to know the grams B76 to milliliters of acetone ratio for each use. I’m a complete novice at this sort of prep. My prep up to this point has been on invertebrates in matrix. This is a vertebrate in dirt. I don’t even know where to begin. I’d categorize myself as next to clueless. I’m trying to educate myself with lecture videos and articles, but I haven’t found anything on concentrations or dilutions for different use or applications of bone prep and stabilization. I have some very novice questions. Please humor me in my utter ignorance. Parts of the skull are very fragile and thin. I’ve left the mud and dirt in place where it is most fragile. So I need to stabilize it before I attempt to remove the dirt, which then stabilizes the dirt in place too. This seems like it’s going to be insanely tedious. 2. How do I remove the dirt while it is essential stabilized in place with the bone? I assume I will add a little acetone to the dirt to weaken the b76 and try not to add too much so the I destabilize the bone. Is that the gist of how it works? If that’s the case I can work with that and figure things out as I go. I’m good with my hands and problem solving. I do understand that I need to have ventilation while doing this. I haven’t worked that component out yet. I do not have a hood or cabinet of any kind. I’m considering building a small make shift cabinet of sorts. I can wear a ventilator type mask. The N95, but I don’t know if those work for fumes like acetone. 3. Do N95 masks work for fumes like acetone? 4. Any suggestions on ventilation? Any helpful tips, guidance, reference articles or materials would be appreciated. I’m currently trying to read through some of Amy Davidson’s stuff on adhesive and consolidants. I haven’t gotten very far though.