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I have recently received this Palaeoniscus freieslebenensis from @Strepsodus, and it has some kind of coating around the fish, the matrix is slate and I would prefer to have it without this coating but I don't know if I can remove it, and even if can should I do so or would that risk the integrity of the fossil?

I am quite new to preparing and preserving fossils and am not very knowledgeable on resin coatings. I have been told that Poly Methyl Methacrylate has some similar properties to Paraloid and can be dissolved and used to coat fossils. Is there a reason it is not used for this purpose? Thank you very much for the info.

I only prep with hand tools at the moment so I can rarely get all the matrix off a fossil. However, when wet, the matrix is usually impossible to see and the fossil looks very well prepped. Is there a coating I can use to keep the fossil looking wet? I’m looking to try this on trilobites in particular.

I've heard that shellac is not commonly used to coat fossils and bones anymore because it doesn't hold up well over time. Does anyone know how long it typically takes for shellac to start darkening and cracking? Do you have an alternative you prefer? Thanks!

I got these ammonites a few months ago and I was wondering if I should put any kind of protective coating on them. I have them in storage now. When I display them they will not be near any direct sunlight but I was still worried the color may fade plus the shell is very delicate. I’d prefer to leave them natural but if there is a chance they will fade then I’d prefer to put some kind of protective coating on them. Will they fade over time even if they are not in sunlight? should I coat them or leave them as is? If I so what is the best product to use and how should I apply it? Thanks

I was wondering if there was a common term used for the fossils that remind me of a glob of construction adhesive. Sometimes binding fragments together sometimes just an unrecognized mass sandwiched between pieces of limestone.

I obtained a rather attractive triobite today (my first one) but knowing that these fossils are often tampered with to some degree or another, I decided to put a little acetone on it to see if I could expose any restoration or remove any coatings that may have been applied (I want it for macro photography purposes, and coatings would ruin that). I covered it in acetone, left it for a few minutes, then rinsed it off. Now, instead of being jet black like it was originally, it looks silvery grey - like this: Of all the things I expected, it turning grey wasn't one of them. I thought black or brown were the natural colours. I don't really think the whole trilobite can be a fake, because for one thing it's too flawed, and for another the eyes have the tiny, tiny lenses. Have I just impacted upon a coating without removing it, or what? Any suggestions welcome!

Hello friends, As you may have noticed, I have recently found quite a few nice fossils in soft shale. I clean the shale with a scrub brush and water and they look really good while still wet. When they dry however, they loose much of their luster as the features become quite hard to pick out, especially when trying to pick them up with the camera. Just prior to taking a pic for a post, I wet it with water using a soft paintbrush then blow any surplus water off with compressed air and get the pic right away. This works fairly well for the pic, but it soon dries out again. I experimented with a light brushing of mineral oil which looks very good, but it eventually dries out as well. Only did one light coat. I'm reluctant to try shellac, polyurethane or any clear-coat or sealer for fear of doing irreparable damage to the appearance of the more delicate features. I'd like a very thin gloss / semi-gloss finish that enriches the appearance for a better 3D presentation. Any tips, tricks or links ? Thanks again.

I found this pretty 2.5 Inch Kogiopsis tooth recently. The find basically looked like this in the sieve and when I took photos after arriving home. Already, I am thinking that this will display great next to other teeth of this type. When I went back to measure it, the tooth looked like this. Hmmm. I liked the 1st version better. I know I can add baby oil and make it pretty again, but I am looking for knowledge on 1) what is the covering material? Comparing the bottom teeth in the photos means there is LOTS of detail under a very thin covering. 2) Has anyone successfully removed the covering ? If so, what techniques did you use. I am still deciding and looking for any experienced based knowledge. Thanks for all comments, assistance, knowledge provided. Jack