thefossilkid Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Hello, I just bought 33 un-opened mazon creek fossil nodules, and the seller said its best to use the "freeze and thaw" method. What is the "freeze and thaw method? how does it work?Thanks Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Hello, I just bought 33 un-opened mazon creek fossil nodules, and the seller said its best to use the "freeze and thaw" method. What is the "freeze and thaw method? how does it work?Thanks Put your nodules in shallow tubs of water....put in your freezer until frozen....thaw....repeat. The water will soak into the weakest part of the nodule - the fossil - and expand when frozen. The nodule will neatly split at the fossil. Be patient. It takes many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 or for the impatient try a microwave (if you have a spare one)! Oh and be careful lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampa dino Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Put it in the oven at 450% for two hours or more Take it out and throw in it a snow bank wait until spring to pick up the piece's NOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathological Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Put your nodules in shallow tubs of water....put in your freezer until frozen....thaw....repeat. The water will soak into the weakest part of the nodule - the fossil - and expand when frozen. The nodule will neatly split at the fossil. Be patient. It takes many times. I'd never heard of that method either but it makes sense... really cool! (no pun intended) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefossilkid Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 ok, so i put the fossils into water for how long? and then put them in the freezer for how long? then thaw them for how long? then do u put them back into the water again and start the procces over? or just keep putting them into the freezer?Thanks Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 ok, so i put the fossils into water for how long? and then put them in the freezer for how long? then thaw them for how long? then do u put them back into the water again and start the procces over? or just keep putting them into the freezer?Thanks put them in the freezer until the water freezes solid....will depend on how deep the water is. Thaw until completely melted - again, will be determined by the depth of the water. A shallow tray will allow more freeze/thaw cycles per day. I don't recommend running under hot water to thaw them - you can crack them in places where the fossil isn't. The freezing opens the nodule, not the thawing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefossilkid Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 put them in the freezer until the water freezes solid....will depend on how deep the water is. Thaw until completely melted - again, will be determined by the depth of the water. A shallow tray will allow more freeze/thaw cycles per day. I don't recommend running under hot water to thaw them - you can crack them in places where the fossil isn't. The freezing opens the nodule, not the thawing. OOOO ok I got it now, Thanks!!! Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 thefossilskid Please post on what happens. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefossilkid Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 thefossilskid Please post on what happens. [/quote OK, no problem BTW, how long does it usually take for them to "pop" open? Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 BTW, how long does it usually take for them to "pop" open? "A watched nodule never cracks"; just keep doing it until they do "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefossilkid Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 "A watched nodule never cracks"; just keep doing it until they do but if there is no fossil inside, ther will be no airpocket for the water to get into, resulting in a nodule that wont crack. right?? Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 but if there is no fossil inside, ther will be no airpocket for the water to get into, resulting in a nodule that wont crack. right?? At some point, there was an organic mass. That's what the nodule formed around. There are "empty" nodules where the organic material did not preserve. It will however make a weak point in the nodule, and that's where it will split. You may have to freeze/thaw 50+ times for a stubborn one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micropterus101 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 If you heat them first before putting in water. as they cool in the water the air inside will condense and draw in more water speedin g up the whole process. fossil crabs website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefossilkid Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 If you heat them first before putting in water. as they cool in the water the air inside will condense and draw in more water speedin g up the whole process. How would i heat them? can i freeze them , then put them by my fire placr to speed the thawing out? Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 How would i heat them? can i freeze them , then put them by my fire placr to speed the thawing out? Don't speed the thawing!!! (Think throwing hot water on a piece of glass....) CRACK (and not where you want it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefossilkid Posted February 25, 2009 Author Share Posted February 25, 2009 If you heat them first before putting in water. as they cool in the water the air inside will condense and draw in more water speedin g up the whole process. how would i heat the fossils? Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micropterus101 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 how would i heat the fossils? Boiling or hot water. fossil crabs website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regainfreedom Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Put your nodules in shallow tubs of water....put in your freezer until frozen....thaw....repeat. The water will soak into the weakest part of the nodule - the fossil - and expand when frozen. The nodule will neatly split at the fossil. Be patient. It takes many times. Hi, does the water needs to be changed after every freeze and thaw cycle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Hi, does the water needs to be changed after every freeze and thaw cycle? Nope! Any water is fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefossilkid Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Nope! Any water is fine... they opened!! I got ferns, cyperite, and i think a little clam. Jake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommabetts Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 they opened!! I got ferns, cyperite, and i think a little clam. Lets see pictures, good job!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 they opened!! I got ferns, cyperite, and i think a little clam. Great!!! How many freeze/thaw cycles did they take? "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn835 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Where did you get 33 of them? With rocks in my head, and fossils in my heart.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 they opened!! I got ferns, cyperite, and i think a little clam. Woo hoo! Christmas in March! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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