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Heirloom Fossils Identification Help


Megalodoodle

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These have been passed down from parent to child for generations. Anyway we can no longer remember what these were originally identified as. Possible plants? I see rings and some spots where it looks like a branch would’ve grown.

 

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These are sections of crinoid stems/stalks. 

 

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Image from HERE.

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3 minutes ago, T. nepaeolicus said:

Thoughts on how to open it?

If you mean get it loose, turn it over and dip just the cover in a shallow pot of boiling water for a few seconds. The expansion usually does the trick.

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4 minutes ago, T. nepaeolicus said:

How does one seal it afterward?

I'm not sure it really needs to be sealed. They are usually pretty stable under normal conditions.

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It screws on and off like a jelly or pickle jar. There's no need for an air- or water-tight seal. The fossils won't decompose or fall apart. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get them into individual display boxes, like the plastic ones with a clear top, because when they rub against each other every time you move them the friction wears them a bit and they will eventually lose all detail.

 

 

Mark.

 

Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them!

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21 hours ago, T. nepaeolicus said:

The jar has been sealed for a long time. Thoughts on how to open it?

Another way is to turn it over and give the bottom a few sharp palm strikes, like one would a glass ketchup bottle.

...How to Philosophize with a Hammer

 

 

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4 hours ago, Kane said:

Another way is to turn it over and give the bottom a few sharp palm strikes, like one would a glass ketchup bottle.

Wouldn’t this smash the jar?

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11 minutes ago, T. nepaeolicus said:

Wouldn’t this smash the jar?

Unless you’re the Incredible Hulk, I don’t think so. Don’t hurt yourself though, if it’s a really old brittle jar use your discretion 

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8 minutes ago, T. nepaeolicus said:

We think it has rusted shut.

Try tapping the lid with a butter knife to create grip groves?

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Or gently grab the lid with channel lock pliers to give yourself some torque leverage. Hold the glass jar with gloves just in case.

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9 minutes ago, caldigger said:

Or gently grab the lid with channel lock pliers to give yourself some torque leverage. Hold the glass jar with gloves just in case.

Probably a safer idea

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I would leave it as it is, as you said, its a heirloom and somehow interesting in that way.

All the methods involving shaking will make the fossils chafe. As they will have many times over 60 years, on the other hand .

Just my opinion.

Best Regards.

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should simply unscrew with rubber gloved hands or a rubber sheet made for unscrewing jars. It's a baby food jar I take it. I agree with Mahnut though. Looks nice as is.

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3 hours ago, Plax said:

It's a baby food jar I take it.

In the sixties they probably put more iron in a baby food jar lid than in the wheels of a Chevy today. ;)

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How about this: I will take the best specimens out and put them in a proper case, the rest I will leave in the jar when i’m done cleaning it out.

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8 hours ago, T. nepaeolicus said:

How about this: I will take the best specimens out and put them in a proper case, the rest I will leave in the jar when i’m done cleaning it out.

Sounds like a great idea :-)

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