Jane12345 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 I have tried to search the forum for this topic but haven't found the newbie information that I'm seeking. Please bear with me if this has been covered elsewhere here. I know absolutely nothing about fossils, but my young son is very into them. He received a big box of Mazon Creek rocks/fossils for Christmas, and is going through them one by one. We don't have any specialized equipment, so he is simply brushing them off and inspecting them. Can he clean them off in water (or another solution), or is that a bad idea? They are covered in an orange-ish powder/dirt. He of course doesn't mind the dirt, but we're just wondering if it's a good idea for him to be cleaning them in some way as he goes along. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Welcome to the Forum! I think some water and a soft toothbrush would not be detrimental to these fossils. I've used this on the few Mazon creek fossils I have, with no adverse reactions. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane12345 Posted January 1, 2012 Author Share Posted January 1, 2012 Thank you. We'll give that a shot and see how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh7942003 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 The best way I have found is to put them in a small tupperware dish with 1/4 cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of water. Let it sit overnight and then scrub with a coarse sponge. I only do that for the jellyfish and shrimp though, for the plants, soak for a shorter period of time, and only scrub the area around the plant. The vinegar thing is definitely the way to go though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgrilusHunter Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 I've found a toothbrush and water works well on similar nodules from Indiana. "They ... savoured the strange warm glow of being much more ignorant than ordinary people, who were only ignorant of ordinary things." -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opie63376 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 For jellyfish and shrimp using the vinegar, can you brush the imprint, or only the area around it. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) Just so I'm clear, are we talking about nodules that were found already split open and have been accumulating dirt on the exposed fossil? Edited January 18, 2012 by Wrangellian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgrilusHunter Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Just so I'm clear, are we talking about nodules that were found already split open and have been accumulating dirt on the exposed fossil? Good point Wrangellian. I can't speak for the vinegar method but for the toothbrush method, yes, I'm talking about nodules that were found split open and need to be cleaned of dirt, moss, etc. If something splits in the freezer it should not be dirty and any little bit of dust will rinse off by just dipping the nodules in water, I do not brush these. "They ... savoured the strange warm glow of being much more ignorant than ordinary people, who were only ignorant of ordinary things." -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 OK that's what I thought. I guess the toothbrush would be necessary if no lighter form of cleaning will get the dirt off, but I'd wonder if there was any fossil detail under there that is unnoticed by the naked eye that might be adversely affected by the toothbrush or vinegar if not applied carefully. I know that matrix is pretty strong but the detail, if it exists, can be pretty delicate no matter what kind of matrix, and the Mazon fossils aren't generally heavy on detail in the first place.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kehbe Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 It's been my limited experience that nodule fossils are very delicate and can be wiped out sometimes just by accidently touching them carelessly. I cannot speak for the Mazon Creek fossils though, I only have a couple of small ferns that my wife gave me for Xmas and they needed no cleaning. My experience is only with local, Kansas City, shale nodules. It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. Charles Darwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmazon Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I use vinegar and water with a soft toothbrush if the matrix is clouded with a grey cast (common on already split and weathered Mazon Creek fossils), but I was told to rinse after in COLD water for 2-3 minutes to neutralize the vinegar-if you skip this step- the acid in the vinegar will continue to disintegrate the fossil - over time. A Mazon creek fossil with a lot of mineral cast looks like an Alka-Seltzer tablet in a vinegar bath The results are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paleozoicfish Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 The best way I have found is to put them in a small tupperware dish with 1/4 cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of water. Let it sit overnight and then scrub with a coarse sponge. I only do that for the jellyfish and shrimp though, for the plants, soak for a shorter period of time, and only scrub the area around the plant. The vinegar thing is definitely the way to go though. Not sure a coarse brush is a great idea though. You do not want to remove any detail from the fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Is that stuff actually a later deposit that is not integral to the fossil? In that case, vinegar for sure. I'm not sure a brush would even be necessary with this, either (maybe just a soft one like a small paintbrush?), though as I say I haven't a lot of experience cleaning Mazon fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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