Fossil finder 100 Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 While on vacation with my family we stopped by the Florissant Fossil Quarry in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Out of all the little leafs and branches we got this was probably the best one. I was wondering if it was possible to identify what kind of plant this leaf belongs to and what would be the best way to preserve it. Thanks ahead of time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsaacTheFossilMan Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 @Jeffrey P @Top Trilo @Crusty_Crab ~ Isaac; www.isaactfm.com "Don't move! He can't see us if we don't move!" - Alan Grant Come to the spring that is The Fossil Forum, where the stream of warmth and knowledge never runs dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Trilo Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 1 hour ago, IsaacTheFossilMan said: @Jeffrey P @Top Trilo @Crusty_Crab I'm not sure what it is, I looked through Herb Meyer's book but couldn't find an exact match. I'm also not very good at leaves, and have a hard enough time identifying most of my finds. 2 “If fossils are not "boggling" your mind then you are simply not doing it right” -Ken (digit) "No fossil is garbage, it´s just not completely preserved” -Franz (FranzBernhard) "With hammer in hand, the open horizon of time, and dear friends by my side, what can we not accomplish together?" -Kane (Kane) "We are in a way conquering time, reuniting members of a long lost family" -Quincy (Opabinia Blues) "I loved reading the trip reports, I loved the sharing, I loved the educational aspect, I loved the humor. It felt like home. It still does" -Mike (Pagurus) “The best deal I ever got was getting accepted as a member on The Fossil Forum. Not only got an invaluable pool of knowledge, but gained a loving family as well.” -Doren (caldigger) "it really is nice, to visit the oasis that is TFF" -Tim (fossildude19) "Life's Good! -Adam (Tidgy's Dad) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty_Crab Posted August 6, 2022 Share Posted August 6, 2022 I'm a horrible botanist (plant fossils are by-catch in my quest for insect fossils). However, the general shape and prominent secondary vein near the base leads me to speculate something in the Salicaceae. If you can take a higher resolution and higher magnification of the edge, that might be helpful. We're looking for a serrated type of edge. I believe botanists call that serrate or dentate leaf margins. If you see that and you see glands at the end, its a cinch it is the Salicaceae. This is an example of what I mean, although it does not come from the Florissant Formation: Notice how the vein as it approaches the serrated leaf edge, becomes enlarged like a gland. Regarding preservation, keep it protected from the elements in a dry location. You may try physical consolidation: take a block of foam and trace the outline of your specimen on it. Use a hobby knife to cut out that shape. You can then put your specimen in, and the foam should hold it in place. Avoid using any chemical consolidants unless absolutely necessary. Paraloid B-72 is popular with museum conservators, but avoid using too much acetone in your solution since it is too volatile for the paper shale and is liable to cause the rock to delaminate and shatter. A mix of acetone and ethanol to dissolve the B-72 might be better. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil finder 100 Posted August 6, 2022 Author Share Posted August 6, 2022 Thanks for the feedback! I’m taking these photos on my iPhone so they are kind of bad. These photos might not help much but that’s about as good as I can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty_Crab Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 On 8/5/2022 at 6:39 PM, Fossil finder 100 said: Thanks for the feedback! I’m taking these photos on my iPhone so they are kind of bad. These photos might not help much but that’s about as good as I can do. I'm afraid I can't tell you anything new. If you're looking to give your cell phone photography a boost, you may want to invest in a clip-on macro lens for your cell phone. They are affordable and work surprisingly well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil finder 100 Posted August 8, 2022 Author Share Posted August 8, 2022 5 minutes ago, Crusty_Crab said: I'm afraid I can't tell you anything new. If you're looking to give your cell phone photography a boost, you may want to invest in a clip-on macro lens for your cell phone. They are affordable and work surprisingly well. Ok I’ll look into that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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