My Process for Searching through Micro Matrix from Bakersfield, California and the Large Amount of Fossils Found.

[NCSTer]

Thanks for sharing your micro-matrix process! Really enjoy learning how others are doing it, and picking up some "new tricks" along the way.  Looking forward to future installments!

I do however, have a question about your process. What do you find is the benefit of searching the matrix before you wash/rinse/dry it and then searching it again after? Wouldn't just one search of the matrix after your wash yield almost identical results as the two searches combined?  I wonder if I might be missing some good finds by not searching before my wash cycle?

[Nimravis]

On 2/25/2020 at 10:42 AM, NCSTer said:

Thanks for sharing your micro-matrix process! Really enjoy learning how others are doing it, and picking up some "new tricks" along the way.  Looking forward to future installments!

I do however, have a question about your process. What do you find is the benefit of searching the matrix before you wash/rinse/dry it and then searching it again after? Wouldn't just one search of the matrix after your wash yield almost identical results as the two searches combined?  I wonder if I might be missing some good finds by not searching before my wash cycle?

The reason I search first is because it allows me to begin the process. If I just sorted and then washed, it takes a few days for the 3 tray of matrix to dry and I don’t want to wait. If it was in the summertime and I could dry it in the sun, I would do that first, but I always search this stuff in the Winter. In addition, I usually end up searching each tray full at least 3 times, especially the very small pieces, it is so easy to miss a lot of fossils.

[Al Dente]

10 minutes ago, Nimravis said:

The reason I search first is because it allows me to begin the process. If I just sorted and then washed, it takes a few days for the 3 tray of matrix to dry and I don’t want to wait. If it was in the summertime and I could dry it in the sun, I would do that first, but I always search this stuff in the Winter. In addition, I usually end up searching each tray full at least 3 times, especially the very small pieces, it is so easy to miss a lot of fossils.

I dry mine in the oven. Much faster. I would recommend scattering a very small amount on a white paper plate to search. That way you can see every fossil and you won't need to search your tray 3 times. I think if you did this, you will be amazed at how much more you will find and you will be confident that you aren't missing any.

[Nimravis]

4 hours ago, Al Dente said:

I dry mine in the oven. Much faster. I would recommend scattering a very small amount on a white paper plate to search. That way you can see every fossil and you won't need to search your tray 3 times. I think if you did this, you will be amazed at how much more you will find and you will be confident that you aren't missing any.

To be honest with you, I like searching them multiple times, it is very relaxing for the mind.

[Nimravis]

I had to leave town for a bit, but wanted to get back to this post. I finished my first round of searching tray 4 (Screen size 1/20" / .050") and here are the fossils and counts of same. Again I will state that some of the fossils in the pics may be different than described, but from the small size I did my best and I am more concerned with the numbers found.

 

Dasyatis-  (Total number found- 323)

 

 

Heterodontus / Triakis or Dasyatis- (Total number found 85)

 

 

Shark Teeth and possible Fish Teeth- (Total number found 71)

 

 

Mustelus- (Total number found 103)

 

 

Dermal Skutes- (Total number found 57)

 

 

Verts- (Total number found 31)

 

 

Cetorhinus- (Total number found 28)

 

 

Fish Teeth- (Total number found 36)

 

 

Squatina- (Total number found 4)

 

 

Myliobatis- (Total number found 8)

 

 

 

Total pieces found id tray 4 after first search is 715.

 

For a running TOTAL, I am at 2,104 fossils found so far.

 

Next up will be the re-count from Tray 2 after it has been washed several times, dried and re-searched.

 

 

[Nimravis]

Here are the results of my re-searching of the washed matrix from tray 2.

 

Dasyatis- (Total number found 78)

 

 

Dasyatis- (Total number found 6)

 

 

 

Squalus- (Total number found 37)

 

 

Cetorhinus- (Total number found 7)

 

 

Verts- (Total number found *)

 

 

 

Squatina- (Total number found 28)

 

 

Dermal Skutes- (Total number found 7)

 

 

 

Myliobatis- (Total number found 45)

 

 

 

Broken Shark Teeth- (Total number found 48)

 

 

Complete / near complete Shark Teeth- (Total number found 18)

 

 

Inarticulate Brachiopod- (Total number found 1)

 

 

 

 

For a running TOTAL, I am at 2,444 fossils found so far.

 

 

 

[Monica]

Nice stuff, Ralph!

 

Is this a partial Hexanchus (cow shark) tooth that I see???

Great find! 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Thousands of things! 

Give Ralph three kilos of this stuff and he'll be happy for the rest of eternity.

[Nimravis]

On 3/12/2020 at 4:37 AM, Tidgy's Dad said:

Thousands of things! 

Give Ralph three kilos of this stuff and he'll be happy for the rest of eternity.

So true Adam- I am now searching through Tray 3 after washing it- can’t believe how many pieces I missed fro my initial search.

[Nimravis]

After working 96 hours over the last 6 days I was able to take a day off today. I decided that I needed to count the fossils that I found after I washed tray 3 for the first time after I did my initial search, here are my results. 

 

Dasyatis- (Total number found 444) 

 

My initial search of this tray yielded 507 pieces, it is unbelievable that after I washed and dried this matrix after the initial search, i found another 444 pieces.

 

 

Verts- (Total number found 54)

 

 

Dermal Skutes-  (Total number found 40)

 

 

Heterodontus, Triakis or Dasyatis- (Total number found 75)

 

 

Mustelus- (Total number found 12)

 

 

Myliobatis- (Total number found 53)

 

 

Myliobatis- (Total number found 14)

 

 

Cetorhinus- (Total number found 29)

 

 

Squatina- (Total number found 23)

 

 

Fish Teeth- (Total number found 4)

 

 

Complete Shark Teeth- (Total number found 11)

 

 

Broken Shark Teeth- (Total number found 51)

 

 

Total pieces found in tray 3 after washing and re-searching 798.

 

For a running TOTAL, I am at 3,242 fossils found so far.

 

I have to re-search tray 4 now that it has been washed, these are the smallest fossils and will take a while to search, check back in a week or so.

 

Thanks again Doren @caldigger for sending me this small Priority box of un-searched matrix.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Good grief! 

That's absolutely bananas. 

You've got Myliobatis listed twice? 

Just love all those tiny teeth and scutes. 

[Darbi]

Fascinating! I never really thought about microfossils. I always search and collect fossils that my eyes can readily notice, but after seeing these pictures of microfossils, I am very intrigued and would like to search for it!

[Nimravis]

1 hour ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Good grief! 

That's absolutely bananas. 

You've got Myliobatis listed twice? 

Just love all those tiny teeth and scutes. 

I do because they are different- I am 99.9% sure it is correct, but I have been wrong before.

[Tidgy's Dad]

1 hour ago, Nimravis said:

I do because they are different- I am 99.9% sure it is correct, but I have been wrong before.

I don't know these things, you mean two different species? 

[Nimravis]

40 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

I don't know these things, you mean two different species? 

Same species, I believe the smaller ones are lateral teeth and the others are dental plates.

[Tidgy's Dad]

2 hours ago, Nimravis said:

Same species, I believe the smaller ones are lateral teeth and the others are dental plates.

Ah, I see. 

Interesting.

Thanks.