Doctor Mud Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Well I started my next project tonight, and compared to the last one, this one is so much fun (so far ). The rock is softer and it also peels off the shell beautifully. Things are going to get a bit more complicated I can see already as there is a thick layer of powdery calcite around the edges. I originally thought it was shell and I’d stripped off the shell the whole time But I checked with the scope and it’s calcite. Some before pictures. The concretion is 24 cm (9.5 inches) wide. The claws were already exposed like this, I found it wedged in between 2 rocks facing me like this! The big claw exposed section is 8 cm (3 inches) long, so the big claw will be at least 16 cm (6 inches long)! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 The moment I hit carapace. It gave me a heck of a fright as I wasn’t expecting it for about 5 mm. But fossils always suprised you! And I did minimal damage with the superjack scribe. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 Progress after a few hours. So much easier than the last one. Cm plus pieces of matrix happily peel away from the shell. I didn’t want to stop!! Stay tuned! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 Close up of the calcite layer. For the most part it peels off the shell, but now it’s getting thicker and almost fibrous and traces are left behind. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokietech96 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Very cool. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nautiloid Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Thats a great find! Im looking forward to seeing it complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pterygotus Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Looking good sir! Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossilis Willis Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 You gotta love cooperative crabs, especially big ones. Some day I'll get one of those tumidos for my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 16 minutes ago, Fossilis Willis said: You gotta love cooperative crabs, especially big ones. Some day I'll get one of those tumidos for my collection. Yes! I could imagine the pain of prepping something this big if it was sticky as well! Ouch. Might finish it before I become a fossil myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyw Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Looks like a fun prep! I’m jealous! Can’t wait to see the rest of your prep, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Wow -thats mad bro - I hadnt seen this thread but I just started a crab tonight - I thought would be nothing more than an "experience-learning" crab because its in super hard rock but is separating nicely (so far). LOL And I know that isnt the biggest crab you have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Hi Dr Mud. To help put you in perspective, be very glad you dont have this much calcite!!! The crab was a true nightmare!!! RB 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 @RJB that crab looks like a Greek mosaic!!! 1 Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 22, 2020 Author Share Posted August 22, 2020 On 21/08/2020 at 6:32 AM, Ptychodus04 said: Looking good sir! Thanks! I’m actually enjoying this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 22, 2020 Author Share Posted August 22, 2020 17 hours ago, 6ix said: Wow -thats mad bro - I hadnt seen this thread but I just started a crab tonight - I thought would be nothing more than an "experience-learning" crab because its in super hard rock but is separating nicely (so far). LOL And I know that isnt the biggest crab you have Great to hear! Loving the results you are getting with the new scribe! He he. Yes my biggest is in a 50 cm wide concretion. Still in NZ. Can’t wait to start that sucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 22, 2020 Author Share Posted August 22, 2020 14 hours ago, RJB said: Hi Dr Mud. To help put you in perspective, be very glad you dont have this much calcite!!! The crab was a true nightmare!!! RB Oh boy, that sure does put it in perspective Cool looking crab though. Amazing how they vary from concretion to concretion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 41 minutes ago, Doctor Mud said: Yes my biggest is in a 50 cm wide concretion. Still in NZ. Can’t wait to start that sucker. Wait, I thought you were mailing that one to me? We had a verbal contract. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 23, 2020 Author Share Posted August 23, 2020 On 22/08/2020 at 12:43 PM, Ptychodus04 said: Wait, I thought you were mailing that one to me? We had a verbal contract. Imagine the shipping costs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 23, 2020 Author Share Posted August 23, 2020 Some progress! First picture is where I was at last time I posted, second picture is where I am now. As you can see progress is a bit faster on this one. I need to slow down a bit though as I made a few mistakes. Nothing major, but it’s annoying when you accidentally hit shell with the scribe. The rock is soft, with some fractures and it will come away in a big chunk all of a sudden and you have to be careful not to “follow through” with the scribe. There was a really sticky patch on top of the carapace that I’ve almost finished removing with the microjack. The rock is actually quite soft and looks like a lot of the calcite has been leached out. There is a layer of calcite all over the crab that is several mm thick in places. Most of the shell is robust and the calcite comes away with the matrix. I got brave enough to remove some matrix from the carapace with the superjack. The legs on the left are the exception. Soft, covered in calcite and sticky. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted August 23, 2020 Share Posted August 23, 2020 Almost done My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 11 hours ago, Doctor Mud said: Imagine the shipping costs I’m sure you can handle it. It is looking great! Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted August 24, 2020 Author Share Posted August 24, 2020 54 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said: I’m sure you can handle it. It is looking great! Be cheaper to ship myself........hang on there’s an idea. Package arrives from me, opens it suprise! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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