Genuine or Fake Keichousaurus Fossil Plate

[alaister]

Hi all

 

I’ve just started my journey into fossils and have been looking at a Keichousaurus fossil plate. I’ve read threads on this forum about it and have tried to educate myself as best as I can.  I know it is widely faked so wanted to get your opinions on this one. 
 

thank you in advance 

[Pemphix]

Most parts of the fossil seem to be painted. Maybe bad prep job which should be hided by colouring the missing parts. I would stay away.

Some words for the legal stuff: Keep in mind that there's an export ban for china fossils....

 

[alaister]

7 minutes ago, Pemphix said:

Most parts of the fossil seem to be painted. Maybe bad prep job which should be hided by colouring the missing parts. I would stay away.

Some words for the legal stuff: Keep in mind that there's an export ban for china fossils....

 

Thanks very much. What should it look like?

(sorry still learning)
The fossil is already in my country so I guess the legal stuff is ok.

 

here are some more closer pics 

[Fossildude19]

As Pemphix stated, it looks real, but very poorly prepared and that bad prep hidden by paint. 

 

Check out the color differences on the tail - 

 

[Fossildude19]

Here are some real ones from online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[alaister]

36 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

As Pemphix stated, it looks real, but very poorly prepared and that bad prep hidden by paint. 

 

Check out the color differences on the tail - 

 

Thanks for that. If you don’t mind me asking - What did you do to the photos to analyse them like that? 
Trying to learn as much as I can.

 

[Fossildude19]

@alaister 

 

I use a free program for my PC called Photoscape X. It has all kinds of editing tools, and is very intuitive to use. 

There is a "Reverse black and white" function that allows me to create reverse images. 

[alaister]

5 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

@alaister 

 

I use a free program for my PC called Photoscape X. It has all kinds of editing tools, and is very intuitive to use. 

There is a "Reverse black and white" function that allows me to create reverse images. 

Thanks for the info. That’s very useful. 

it sounds like it’s best to stay away from this fossil.

[Fossildude19]

If it was super inexpensive, I might consider it, but there are definitely better options available. 

[LabRatKing]

46 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

If it was super inexpensive, I might consider it, but there are definitely better options available. 

Agreed. this one was done with a heavy handed wire wheel prep. Lots of fossil bits polished too smooth and then counter-stained.

[alaister]

Thanks for everyone’s input. I really appreciate it.

 

what do you guys think of this one? It’s cool how there are two on the same plate.

 

[Huntonia]

These look much better in my opinion, though these aren't my expertise. Probably genuine or at least mostly genuine, the close ups on the larger one look a touch off to me but it might be nothing. The smaller one appears to have some bone material between it's ribs, could it possibly be a gravid female? @Fossildude19 @Pemphix

[alaister]

9 minutes ago, Huntonia said:

These look much better in my opinion, though these aren't my expertise. Probably genuine or at least mostly genuine, the close ups on the larger one look a touch off to me but it might be nothing. The smaller one appears to have some bone material between it's ribs, could it possibly be a gravid female? @Fossildude19 @Pemphix

Wow if the smaller one is a gravid female that would be very cool. 

[Huntonia]

16 minutes ago, alaister said:

Wow if the smaller one is a gravid female that would be very cool. 

I'm not sure what the chances are, it's probably unlikely. The bone seems so fragmented if it is one it definitely experienced some rough acid treatment. We'll see how the experts weigh in. Here's a link to a thread that includes some pictures of a couple nice gravid Keichousaurus

 

[alaister]

Yeh maybe not. The ones on the thread look different. We’ll see.

 

thanks

[Huntonia]

Well, you never know 'till you dare to ask. In any case an association piece of two is quite impressive on it's own. I don't believe I've ever actually seen an associated pair of Keichs before.

[Pemphix]

Nothing obviously is pointing towards gravidity judging by the photos provided imho. 

[alaister]

12 minutes ago, Huntonia said:

Well, you never know 'till you dare to ask. In any case an association piece of two is quite impressive on it's own. I don't believe I've ever actually seen an associated pair of Keichs before.

Check this out. 
 

def our of mine budget though lol

[alaister]

27 minutes ago, Pemphix said:

Nothing obviously is pointing towards gravidity judging by the photos provided imho. 

Yeh it doesn’t look like the other ones in the other thread. 
 

any feedback on the piece itself?

Edited October 28, 2020 by alaister

[Ludwigia]

1 hour ago, alaister said:

 any feedback on the piece itself?

It certainly is better than the first one, but there appears to be paint involved here as well.

[Fossildude19]

Yes, I see paint as well. 

The hands and feet look like almost entirely paint, but better pictures would be needed. 

 

[Crazyhen]

For the pair of Keichousaurus, it's acid prepped.  I don't think the one with some bone fragments in the abdomen is gravid.  A real pair of Keichousaurus is like the one shown below.

 

For the plate with many individuals, it is very likely that they are "transplanted".  Individuals from different plates are put together in one big plate.  Also acid prepped.

[Pemphix]

6 hours ago, Crazyhen said:

For the pair of Keichousaurus, it's acid prepped.  I don't think the one with some bone fragments in the abdomen is gravid.  A real pair of Keichousaurus is like the one shown below.

 

For the plate with many individuals, it is very likely that they are "transplanted".  Individuals from different plates are put together in one big plate.  Also acid prepped.

[alaister]

Being acid prepped is a good thing right?

apologies for my ignorance. 

[Crazyhen]

4 minutes ago, alaister said:

Being acid prepped is a good thing right?

apologies for my ignorance. 

It's bad, in particular most of the acid prepped ones are overly done and bones are damaged. Acid prepping is common in the sources as it is the easier way to prep out the fossils from hard slabs.  In my view, the best ones are the "natural form" in which the specimens are seen clearly after splitting the slabs without any preparation.    See the attached natural form, one adult and two hatchlings (one positive, one negative).