What Is The Best Way To Clean These Brachiopods?

[BLT]

Hello Everyone,

 

I found this fabulous rock which is chock full of brachiopods on the bank of the Tennessee River today. When I first broke it open, the brachiopods were all relatively intact. Unfortunately, several split and/or started crumbling off while I was trying to gently clean off some of the river grime.

I’m hoping someone can tell me the simplest way to go about cleaning/preserving these brachiopods with the least damage?
 

Thanks!

Edited December 24, 2021 by BLT
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[Ptychodus04]

Is the matrix soft or hard? Let it dry and pick away what you can with a dental pick. This works for loose bits. Depending on how involved you want to get, there are many ways to attack it. You can chip away bits of matrix with a small hammer and a long drywall screw. 
 

the cracking may just be from getting the existing cracks wet. You can apply some Paraloid to hold the cracks together.

[BLT]

The matrix is soft and crumbly.

 I’d prefer to keep it simple, so I will try the hammer and drywall screw method with Paraloid.

 

Thanks so much!