Opened this up... little bones ?

[Crann]

Hi, was out a few weeks back and opened this up, looked different so brought it home, put it on nhm who thought was a crushed bivalve or something but I think looks a lil boney to me, has a fish like shape but I'm not jumping to conclusions, any ideas folks ? Thanks.

[Crann]

[Crann]

[Crann]

[LordTrilobite]

Looks like creepy legs to me. Either that or plants maybe?

[Crann]

Frustrating finding these little strange jigsaw puzzles and not being able to put them back together. But yea creepy legs possibly... ha

[Yvie]

Are they claws in the last picture by the 5p? One on each side?

[Crann]

Yea looks like it, first time I've noticed, well spotted.

[FossilDAWG]

Not sure what "creepy legs" are, but this looks crabby (as in, lobster or crab).

 

Don

[Ramon]

4 minutes ago, FossilDAWG said:

Not sure what "creepy legs" are, but this looks crabby (as in, lobster or crab).

 

Don

 

I agree, this fossil is a crab. The carapace must be still inside the rock.

 

Do you know the age, or the formation?

Edited January 26, 2017 by Ramon

[Crann]

How the hell can I expose this ? Acid ? 

[Ramon]

2 minutes ago, Crann said:

How the hell can I expose this ? Acid ? 

 

I have heard that vinager works on chalk. But the rock your fossil is in does not look like chalk. Also you can prepare it. But I don't have much experience preparing fossils.

Someone else might know how.

[Crann]

Looks a very delicate job 

[Ramon]

It is!!! Once you mess up, You have to use superglue!!!

[Crann]

16 minutes ago, Ramon said:

 

I agree, this fossil is a crab. The carapace must be still inside the rock.

 

Do you know the age, or the formation?

Jurrasic coast in UK, from Alum shale, about 180 million years old around there.

[Ramon]

So the setting is in the ocean so insect or plant material is out!!!

[Crann]

Very much ocean

[Yvie]

I've changed the curves on the picture at the top,you can see the claw in better definition.

[Crann]

Thanks, Looks pretty cool, just thinking how to expose it better...

[EMP]

If it's chalk or limestone/limey shale maybe try using diluted vinegar (vinegar with some water mixed in) on a sample piece of junk fossil and see what happens. If the fossil stays intact then you should be good, but I'd still say exercise extreme caution.

[jpc]

oooohhh... nice find. It looks like a lobster or shrimp to me.  Crabs had not evolved yet in the Jurassic, and I know there are lobsters known from the British Jurassic.  Do NOT use acid on this... I am afriad the chitin (shell) will be the first thing to go away.  This takes serious expert prep work under a powerful binocular microscope.  Might be best left as is.  

[Crann]

2 hours ago, jpc said:

oooohhh... nice find. It looks like a lobster or shrimp to me.  Crabs had not evolved yet in the Jurassic, and I know there are lobsters known from the British Jurassic.  Do NOT use acid on this... I am afriad the chitin (shell) will be the first thing to go away.  This takes serious expert prep work under a powerful binocular microscope.  Might be best left as is.  

Wonder if it's a rare find in those parts, think would be worth finding someone to have a go at revealing it ? I have two other strange finds I will post up later for ID that nhm advised was crushed bivalve. Thanks.

[Crann]

Little claws look similar to this ...

[TqB]

Definitely lobster/shrimp bits - disaggregated bits are not rare around there. Careful prepping with a pen is the best way. Air abrading destroys them.

[Crann]

I need a good pen for sure, any recommendations ?