Should I Put Glue Over This Thorax?

[JUAN EMMANUEL]

I found this Isotelus thorax fragment when I went down to a local creek last week when there was a one-week thaw in Toronto. Apparently all the ice in the creek thawed and this caused some new fossils to surface up ( Hooray!!! ). I was wondering if it's better if I should coat the thorax with a glue to make it shiny, or should I leave it be?? The fossil is set on a harder rock than shale (doesn't crumble to pieces). One last thing, is it possible that maybe this thing could possibly be an enrolled Isotelus inside the matrix??

Photos:

Without glue on thorax:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95127691@N03/12059894113/

With glue:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95127691@N03/12059774385/

Thanx everyone!!!

Edited January 21, 2014 by JUAN EMMANUEL

[TyrannosaurusRex]

I wouldn't. Unless it does NEED it it can damage the beauty of a fossil. By the way that's a neat find!

[Caleb]

It's personal preference, but unless it's unstable I personally wouldn't coat it with anything.

Asaphids/Isotelus had 8 thoracic segments between the cephalon and pygidium. I can count 7 in the photo that is available, if you could take a photo from the other sides it may reveal whether this is a complete bug or just a thorax. It's a pretty sweet find regardless!

Edited January 22, 2014 by Caleb

[Taogan]

I never coat anything unless it is unstable, it can lead to problems later on, the coating can decay and ruin a fossil that would otherwise be in good condition.

[TMNH]

Very nice find! I wouldn't be surprised if more of the trilo does turn out to be in there. I agree with the others, if no glue is necessary then I wouldn't coat the fossil.