Kane Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 A first attempt at prepping a Greenops widderensis. Not having the fancy tools, I used a Dremel (VERY carefully) to remove some of the surrounding matrix, and then a sewing needle to suss out some of the more delicate parts. The Widder shale is notoriously flaky, making these Greenops even more treacherously heartbreaking to work with than their cousins at Penn Dixie. There's a bit more to be done for touch-up with the needle, of course, but I'm fairly proud of the fact that I didn't butcher this one! The left side of the cephalon looks like it is covered or missing, but it is actually slightly tucked in. It is complete (a bit of a rarity in the Widder), and probably could use a quick, light abrasion to get out some of the more stubborn matrix-gunk in the cracks and on the glabella. This one has a real chance of coming out even more spectacular. If my continued needlework is a success with my clumsy gorilla paws, the last step is stabilize it. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Very good job with the tools available. If you want it finished off your more than welcome to bring it with you this weekend.... This specimen is right up there with the best that come out of there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Great Job, Kane! A lot Better than I would have thought could be done, with those tools. Well Done, Sir! 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...
RJB Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Nice bug Kane. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerogrower Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Nice job on the prep, and an awesome find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramon Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Awesome trilobite!!! "Without fossils, no one would have ever dreamed that there were successive epochs in the formation of the earth" - Georges Cuvier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Beautiful specimen! I wonder if you could use an inexpensive "air eraser" to give it a final treatment by sandblasting with baking soda. Don C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 @Kane wow that is one nice trilobite! Congratulations and good work on the preparation. Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Good job Sir! I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Nice one Kane! John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted June 8, 2017 Author Share Posted June 8, 2017 Thanks, everyone! It was as good as could be done with the tools at hand. And my limited skills (though I was once a fairly skilled illustrator, but those skills aren't as transferable as I thought). Malcolm: I will bring it along, but there are a few other interesting pieces that might need your expertise. I'll try to keep it at the very most interesting. Your talents are far above run-of-the-mill stuff. Don: We just spent the weekend purging the basement with a few trips to the dump. We now have a larger space for our exercises, but also a newly appointed desk for prep. I lack even a space to put in a suspended heavy bag for our boxing. Before I go the tools route, I have to inspect both the space for vacuum and finances. Living in a condo has its pluses and minuses, but it is a connected row house. Will have to look more into ventilation issues. I assume even a simple air eraser would require a compressor. It's a route I will have to consider alongside my own plans in the next few years. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 59 minutes ago, Kane said: Thanks, everyone! It was as good as could be done with the tools at hand. And my limited skills (though I was once a fairly skilled illustrator, but those skills aren't as transferable as I thought). Malcolm: I will bring it along, but there are a few other interesting pieces that might need your expertise. I'll try to keep it at the very least interesting. Your talents are far above run-of-the-mill stuff. Don: We just spent the weekend purging the basement with a few trips to the dump. We now have a larger space for our exercises, but also a newly appointed desk for prep. I lack even a space to put in a suspended heavy bag for our boxing. Before I go the tools route, I have to inspect both the space for vacuum and finances. Living in a condo has its pluses and minuses, but it is a connected row house. Will have to look more into ventilation issues. I assume even a simple air eraser would require a compressor. It's a route I will have to consider alongside my own plans in the next few years. I believe what you meant was: "at the most interesting level." "least interesting" doesn't sound like fun. Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted June 8, 2017 Author Share Posted June 8, 2017 Thanks, Jason. I edited my initial post to reflect my intention. It is not as though I would want to press MT to prep out a lot of horn coral! Thanks for the catch on this one ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archaeopteris Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 That looks amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Let's start off by saying that Kane did a remarkable job on this greenops with minimal tools. Anyway I met up with him and Debbie this past weekend and he entrusted me with his little gem. Was working in the garden all day and it was way too hot so went down and spent an hour in the cool of the basement prep lab. Here is Kane's little baby after an additional hour of prep on a Comco abrasion unit at 7 PSI with previously used dolomite that goes through a 320 mesh screen. Used a .015 nozzle which is the second smallest I own. Prepped under a Nikon scope at about 14x. I might go back and clean out a few crevices with a .010 nozzle . There is no restoration or repairs or consolidation on this bug. Slight damage to one of the pleura on the left side. This is about as good as they get from Arkona. Definitely wish it was in my collection A few more pics A few more pictures 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Final Pictures 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 This is incredible work! Just showed this to Deb and she is also over the moon. 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 I did not over abrade as I like the look of the pits on these greenops. If you abrade too long or at too high a PSI you loose the detail of those pits completely. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 I defintely like the pits...Real texture. This is museum quality, for sure! What did you use to give that bug that nice colour and sheen? 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Beeyootifull!! Congratulations, Kane! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 The last picture is just moisture from breathing on it to give it a sheen for the picture. There were no consolidants of any type used in the final prep. Under the scope this bug showed no area that would benefit from gluing. I did fix up your dremel tool marks though on the matrix. It looks much better with a relatively smooth matrix surrounding the bug. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 I certainly am in awe of your work on this one. I did notice you smoothed out all the Dremel scuffs and scratches, as you said. Deb is even thinking of getting a special case for this one, it is so darn good! I haven't seen such a fantastically prepared Greenops since maybe in Crinus' collection. But if I find a complete and intact Greenops next week with no damage, I will send it your way for you to keep since this one you've done will be nigh impossible to beat. This is just... wow. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Masterful work @Malcolmt This is one of the nicest trilobites I have seen that has come out of Arkona. Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Excellent prep, Malcolm! Well done, indeed! 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...
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