Would you leave this as is or remove the casts?

[OregonFossil]

I was lucky the last time out and found a 36" piece of a near shore sea floor. Most of it looks like this, a mixture of shells, shell fragments, and casts. Would you remove the good stuff or leave it as is?

[Fossildude19]

I would leave it as is.

I'm not sure you could remove the casts without ruining the entire thing. 

 

[OregonFossil]

2 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

I would leave it as is.

I'm not sure you could remove the casts without ruining the entire thing. 

 

Thank you. Perhaps I should just coat the larger piece and the sediment is fairly lose and mount it. It weighs just a bit over 25 pounds (which I carried for about 1/4 mile):)

[Tidgy's Dad]

Yes, preserve it if necessary, but I also would leave it alone. 

I love hash plates and, as they say :

"A tortoise in hand is worth two in the burrow." 

[Mark Kmiecik]

Definitely leave it as is. Why take a chance on messing it up? Maybe some judicious prep work and then leave it alone.

[FranzBernhard]

Good specimen, please leave it as is, except for stabilization, if necessary, etc.

You can always find smaller specimens, but such a large one - ??
Franz Bernhard

[jpc]

I agree with the others