Preservation of Miocene Plant Fossils

[Teen Traveler]

Sorry if this post is in the wrong place or porly laid out, this is my first post.  I was at the fossil beds in Clarkia recently and was wondering if anyone here had any tips on how to preserve them.  The guy there said just wrap them in newspaper and let them sit for 6 weeks in a cool dry place.  Is that right?  I had also heared that there was a way to remove the leaf from the matrix.  Can anyone provide any info on that?

Thanks for all your responses.

[izak_]

Welcome! 

This may help:

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/76644-youtube-video-clarkia-idaho-middle-miocene-fossil-leaves/&tab=comments#comment-808233 

[Miocene_Mason]

First off, Welcome to the forum from Central Maryland!

Haven't visited the site but using a consolidant will keep carbon films (what leaf fossils are often preserved in) intact. I believe you can make a type with white glue and water, but I'm not sure about that, using a vinac, paraloid, or butvar is best. If you do use one of those, the fossil must be dry.