Jonesing Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 We found a couple of sand dollar fossils in a hard matrix. From what I have read today I can’t get the hard matrix off without some special air tools. What should I do to preserve the specimens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 I have several sand dollars from near Daly City. They are quite stable and need no preservation. They also can be further prepped by grinding and polishing the cemented sand and outer layer of the echinoid. 1 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesing Posted November 13, 2017 Author Share Posted November 13, 2017 How would you polish it? I have a rock tumbler but I feel like that would destroy it. I’m new to fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Heavens no! Do not put it in a tumbler, that would destroy it. It should be possible to sand it down with wet/dry sandpaper. Start with a coarse grit (120) and work down to a fine grit (600+). The finer grit You use the better it will look. You can polish it after sanding. PS Welcome to TFF! and nice piece. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 I was going to guess that that is Dendraster excentricus, but I think its Scuttilaster major? I would buy an n exspensive dremel and grind down the rock parts using some type of grinding wheel and then some sanding barrels of different grits and then polish it. I use a white ruge stick for metal to polish mine. RB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 The species is: Scutellaster interlineatum. 1 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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