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Hi all I found a fossilized bovine tooth while creek walking several months back. While it seemed stable at first, it now has begun to develop some fine cracks in the mineralized enamel, and one small flake has already come off. I was hoping to learn the optimal way to stabilize a fossil like this. What would you all treat it with? I attached a photo if it helps. Thanks!

Have 2 pieces of pyritized wood (maybe marcasite) from the coal areas of central Illinois-Farmington. One is a slab and the other a branch. Have included photos. I believe the branch may have been coated with clear lacquer. The slab has not been coated but it is deteriorating on the surface. I had some pyritized snails from the same area from 40 years ago. I had lost them for many years and recently found them and they had disintegrated. Would ike to poish if possible and stabilize the finish. Would appreciate any guidance. Thanks Gerry

Hi! I recently found some large nacreous bivalves, which are embedded in concretion-like cobbles. The matrix is very easy to remove, but the nacre starts flaking as soon as it is exposed to air. Is there a product to stabilize these without future discoloration? Thanks! (Also if anyone can identify, that would be cool--they come from near Scenic, SD)

I found this beautiful whale vertebra this weekend. It fell out of the cliff face just a few days ago and tumbled into the Potomac River (brackish?) just far enough for the waves at the tide line to gently lapped it clean. Gotta love it! It is currently soaking in clean water to get the salt and anything else out as much as I can, but I've never done anything this big before. I'm used to stabilizing little stuff and blocks of matrix that really just need a thick, hard outer shell. The little bones air dry quickly enough that I don't have to worry about moisture at the center, but this thing is 4 1/2 inches in diameter! I have both Paleobond and Paraloid on hand. Anyone have any practice at this?

Can I use nail polish remover made of acetone as a solvent for PVA to stabilize a fossil? If not, what is the safest way to dispose of a can of partially used acetone? thanks!

I have a big batch of thin, cracked, sometimes punky fossil shells I am trying to stabilize. Normally, I use watered-down Elmer's Glue, but this batch is so fragile that the wet brush was tearing them apart. I got a sample bottle of Paleobond and it worked great! It stabilized the shells and made a solid block of the wet, packed-sand matrix I wanted to leave in. Only problem is that it sticks to more than just the intended targets. I wear gloves to keep from bonding my fingers to the fossils, but that still leaves me to glue the gloves to the fossils instead, or whatever surface I rest the fossils on to dry. The day before yesterday, I came up with the idea to make a bed of pins on some Styrofoam to rest my projects while the stuff set. Kinda works, but the drips eat the Styrofoam! What do you all do to keep from gluing your fossils to the table, tweezers, and fingers? Part of the problem is that some of the shells are fragile, but barely porous the stuff runs off. I only use a little bit, but because it isn't porous, I get a shiny, wet looking shell. I suppose wet is a good look for something that was under the sea, but not always what one wants with fossil prep. Any suggestions?