Displaying Micro Fossils

[Ironhead42]

I really enjoy micro fossils and consider them an important part of my recently begun collection. However, I find that I am disappointed with the options for displaying these fossils.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for displaying these fossils that make them visible to the naked eye for others to enjoy this part of my collection? I have tried a few gem jar type things that supposedly have magnification 3-5x. The results are less than impressive.

 

I appreciate any tips anyone is able to provide.

[Al Dente]

I photograph my smaller fossils and place the pictures next to the actual fossils so people can see what they look like.

Here’s one of my displays with small fossils on the right side.

 

 

[Misha]

How micro are we talking?

 

With some fossils it will be hard to see them no matter what you do, unless they're under a microscope.

 

I enjoy micros too specifically conodonts and fish microfossils and have been thinking about this a bit as well, I haven't found any great options for displaying the fossils themselves. Currently my best idea has been 3d printing a small stackable holder for the slides I keep them in which can be labeled and perhaps just printing out some good quality photos of the fossils to have alongside them

Edited June 3, 2022 by Misha

[Pagurus]

I've also taken photographs to make the fossils more visible, and attached them to cards (inside gem jars). It's a fun way to collect them but I don't think it makes as nice a public display as those by @Al Dente.

 

[jpc]

We havethe same as pagarus at the museum and havde about 20 of them on  a big piece of cardboard that we bring out for show and tells.

[Ironhead42]

6 hours ago, Al Dente said:

I photograph my smaller fossils and place the pictures next to the actual fossils so people can see what they look like.

Here’s one of my displays with small fossils on the right side.

 

 

I think I may steal this idea! Maybe modify so that the pictures fit inside the display that my gem jars fit into.

[Ironhead42]

5 hours ago, Pagurus said:

I've also taken photographs to make the fossils more visible, and attached them to cards (inside gem jars). It's a fun way to collect them but I don't think it makes as nice a public display as those by @Al Dente.

 

I love this idea too!!

[Norki]

I don't have a photo example from my collection on hand right now, but I find that cardboard coin holders work well for storing, cataloguing and displaying micro fossils. They hold the specimens in suspension so they're visible from both sides, and they slot nicely into vinyl sleeves which you can store in a three ring binder. Another bonus is that you can write all the specimen information on the card itself.

 

The only real limitations I've encountered are that the specimens need to be fairly flat, and that particularly brittle pieces sometimes can't handle the enclosing pressure without breaking. Also, the holders need to be stapled shut, so specimens will need to be set into a new holder any time they're removed.

 

 

Here is how they look when set in the sleeves and binder:

 

Edited June 10, 2022 by Norki

[siteseer]

Al Dente,

 

I like your east coast Mobula.  I can't get enough Mobula.

 

Yeah, years ago, the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History solved the problem of how to display the smaller shark and ray teeth/denticles which can get down to 1mm or less.  It might have been Isurus90064 who took some photos and gave them to the museum to use.   You can also provide an artwork of the animal as it might have looked, or if possible, an illustration of a living relative.

 

Jess

[siteseer]

On 6/10/2022 at 1:12 PM, Norki said:

I don't have a photo example from my collection on hand right now, but I find that cardboard coin holders work well for storing, cataloguing and displaying micro fossils. They hold the specimens in suspension so they're visible from both sides, and they slot nicely into vinyl sleeves which you can store in a three ring binder. Another bonus is that you can write all the specimen information on the card itself.

 

The only real limitations I've encountered are that the specimens need to be fairly flat, and that particularly brittle pieces sometimes can't handle the enclosing pressure without breaking. Also, the holders need to be stapled shut, so specimens will need to be set into a new holder any time they're removed.

 

 

Here is how they look when set in the sleeves and binder:

 

 

Yes, I've used coin holders too - good for rather flat 1-3mm specimens and sometimes larger ones too, the key being that they are rather sturdy.  I tend to store them upright like file folders in little open-top fold-up boxes that mineral/fossil dealers use at shows - perfect fit.

[Ironhead42]

On 6/10/2022 at 3:12 PM, Norki said:

I don't have a photo example from my collection on hand right now, but I find that cardboard coin holders work well for storing, cataloguing and displaying micro fossils. They hold the specimens in suspension so they're visible from both sides, and they slot nicely into vinyl sleeves which you can store in a three ring binder. Another bonus is that you can write all the specimen information on the card itself.

 

The only real limitations I've encountered are that the specimens need to be fairly flat, and that particularly brittle pieces sometimes can't handle the enclosing pressure without breaking. Also, the holders need to be stapled shut, so specimens will need to be set into a new holder any time they're removed.

 

 

Here is how they look when set in the sleeves and binder:

 

 

I like this idea too!

 

[Jurassicz1]

Well, it depends how small the fossils are. I use small display cases, not sure what the boxes are called. 

 

Here is one of my displays. Two Ptychotrygon teeth from Cretaceous of Kazakhstan.

 

Cheers. - Adriano.

 

[MarcoSr]

On 6/3/2022 at 6:16 PM, Al Dente said:

I photograph my smaller fossils and place the pictures next to the actual fossils so people can see what they look like.

Here’s one of my displays with small fossils on the right side.

 

 

 

Eric

 

I remember how really nice all of your displays looked at the Aurora Fossil Festivals.  I really like this method for displaying.  What is your background material?  Thickness?  Is it cut to insert the gem jars? Labels and pictures are glued?  Specimens held in place by cover pressure?

 

Marco Sr.

 

[Al Dente]

7 hours ago, MarcoSr said:

I remember how really nice all of your displays looked at the Aurora Fossil Festivals.  I really like this method for displaying.  What is your background material?  Thickness?  Is it cut to insert the gem jars? Labels and pictures are glued?  Specimens held in place by cover pressure?

 

I use the material that comes with the Riker mount and glue felt to it. I use different color felt for different displays. Then I will cut holes that are slightly smaller than the diameter of the gem jars through the combined felt and riker material. This helps hold the gem jars in place. I will use a small dab of glue to hold the teeth in place. 

[PaleoPastels]

On 6/3/2022 at 5:16 PM, Al Dente said:

I photograph my smaller fossils and place the pictures next to the actual fossils so people can see what they look like.

Here’s one of my displays with small fossils on the right side.

 

 

Sorry to bump an old post, but thanks soooo much for sharing this! I just got a microscope and Im a kid in a candy store finding “micro” teeth and other Cretaceous goodies. I wanted to find a way to make microfossils visible and the photos next to the samples are an AMAZING idea. I actually have some teeth in acrylic gem/coin cases already. Your teeth look stunning by the way! 

[Al Dente]

3 hours ago, AmmoniteDelight said:

Your teeth look stunning by the way! 

Thank you.

[JBkansas]

I've seen museums use a magnifying case. Amazon has a large variety of similar boxes (though I'd imagine the museum magnifier lens has better optics).

[Packy]

Herb taught me that these 2x2 coin holders work very well. You can type up any format on excell, print on cardstock with a real good printer ( for the fine lines or dark background) and it allows for any future photography.  There is also a larger coin size for more specimens.  Also allows for id numbers and the display is always a set size for scale.  There are also those snap open hobby cases that are deeper for larger specimens. 

Consider setting up a photo grouping that could be set to run on an ipad or old Iphone to use for a display, would be better than sacrificing your microscope for viewers and protect the specimens from damage.  Thanks, Herb for sharing.

[MarcoSr]

On 6/10/2022 at 4:12 PM, Norki said:

I don't have a photo example from my collection on hand right now, but I find that cardboard coin holders work well for storing, cataloguing and displaying micro fossils. They hold the specimens in suspension so they're visible from both sides, and they slot nicely into vinyl sleeves which you can store in a three ring binder. Another bonus is that you can write all the specimen information on the card itself.

 

The only real limitations I've encountered are that the specimens need to be fairly flat, and that particularly brittle pieces sometimes can't handle the enclosing pressure without breaking. Also, the holders need to be stapled shut, so specimens will need to be set into a new holder any time they're removed.

 

 

Here is how they look when set in the sleeves and binder:

 

 

I have some pictures from my collection that I can show.  These are specimens from Morocco that I received in trade from Pierre Zennaro, who spent many years working and collecting fossils in the phosphate mines in Morocco.  Pierre collected a lot of the micro specimens that H. Cappetta described from Morocco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.

[MarcoSr]

I use a lot of gem jar displays for my micro teeth.  I use either white (vast majority) or black foam depending on the tooth color.  I use both 1.25 inch-50 cup displays and 1.75 inch-24 cup displays.  I then store my gem jar displays in map chests.  I have over 200 gem jar displays and 6 map chests holding the gem jar displays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.