Crinoid Preparation

[Lucid_Bot]

Hello, forgive me if this question has already been answered. I found dozens of crinoids this last fall. They look great when wet, but when they dry they're dull and dirty looking. I've tried soaking them in soapy water and scrubbing with a toothbrush, but nothing spruces them up. I've also tried using vinegar given that the limestone doesn't fizzle, but it destroys the crinoid. Is there anything I can do to brighten or clean these things? The last two pictures are the crinoids when wet and the first is dry. Thanks for the help.

Edited February 4, 2023 by Lucid_Bot
It reversed the pic order, so I had to modify the text

[Kane]

Sometimes, the only tool for the job is air abrasion if you are looking to achieve aesthetic results where the fossils are better distinguished from the matrix. Alternatively, you can lend them a more permanent wet appearance with a coat of paraloid or other similar plastic.

[Lucid_Bot]

11 minutes ago, Kane said:

Sometimes, the only tool for the job is air abrasion if you are looking to achieve aesthetic results where the fossils are better distinguished from the matrix. Alternatively, you can lend them a more permanent wet appearance with a coat of paraloid or other similar plastic.

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately an air scribe is not in my foreseeable future. I typically like to avoid using plastic, but on the larger piece I posted the crinoids are very difficult to even see. They just blend right into the matrix, so perhaps I'll try the plastic on a lesser piece first.