Bone Valley Under the Microscope

[hokietech96]

I purchase some matrix and it came a little different than I am use to.  It was labeld "Gardner Lacality Peace River FL" and came in unprepped.  This was an experience trying to break up the matrix.  Not knowing exactly what I was doing, I soaked it in warm water and broke it down the best I could into different size matrix.  I need something a little stronger for the other half of the clumps to break down.  Everything is a unidentifiable and not complete, but I wanted to post pictures because the colors are so amazing to me.  Everything is 1-3MM.

As I find more items I will add to this post.....

 

Shark Teeth:

 

Fish Teeth:

Ray Teeth:

Gastropod:

 

[Fossildude19]

Nice colors and variation of items!

Thanks for showing these to us!  

[sharkdoctor]

Great colors! Did you try dry/wet and freeze/thaw? It can be a lot gentler than breaking things up manually. Especially with leach material.

 

[Praefectus]

The little details at that size are amazing. 

[hokietech96]

1 hour ago, sharkdoctor said:

Great colors! Did you try dry/wet and freeze/thaw? It can be a lot gentler than breaking things up manually. Especially with leach material.

 

Did not think of that nor have I ever tried that.  Great idea.  I will give it a go with the other half.

[sharkdoctor]

If you've not tried it with sediments in the past you may want to try the following:

Dry/wet

1. Get the matrix super dry, all the way through the chunks. For most matrix, you can put it into the oven on 170F and dry it out pretty quickly. 

2. Soak the matrix in hot water. For many forms of sediment, being profoundly and completely dry will break a lot of the bonds once wetted. 

3. If one wet/dry cycle breaks it down significantly, you may want to try a couple of cycles.

 

Freeze Thaw

4. If the material is very saturated, but there is still significant clumping, drop it into a gallon ziplock bag with extra water. Then drop the bag in a freezer.

5. Thaw. 

6. Repeat 4 or 5 times. You should be able to get several cycles in a day. 

7. Thaw and sift to see how it is working.

8. Repeat as needed

 

[hokietech96]

7 minutes ago, sharkdoctor said:

If you've not tried it with sediments in the past you may want to try the following:

Dry/wet

1. Get the matrix super dry, all the way through the chunks. For most matrix, you can put it into the oven on 170F and dry it out pretty quickly. 

2. Soak the matrix in hot water. For many forms of sediment, being profoundly and completely dry will break a lot of the bonds once wetted. 

3. If one wet/dry cycle breaks it down significantly, you may want to try a couple of cycles.

 

Freeze Thaw

4. If the material is very saturated, but there is still significant clumping, drop it into a gallon ziplock bag with extra water. Then drop the bag in a freezer.

5. Thaw. 

6. Repeat 4 or 5 times. You should be able to get several cycles in a day. 

7. Thaw and sift to see how it is working.

8. Repeat as needed

 

Thanks so much for the idea.  I am definately going to do this.  I know there is way more stuff to be found!