Plant Fossil

[LiamL]

I found this nice plant fossil at the base of the cliff last year. I think it's my best plant so far

I'm sure my usual pen would be way too strong and easily damage this delicate fossil.

 

 

I think removing some of the rock at the right hand side of the fern could make it look better. I'm tempted to try and just split it off but i know it could damage fern.

What are your thoughts?

[marguy]

Hi LiamL

Are you sure it is a fern?

looks like Zamites for me

is it Jurassic?

[Tidgy's Dad]

Nice find! 

It's Zamites, I think, always hoped to find one of those.

I might have a fiddle with the lump of matrix bottom right, but otherwise I wouldn't risk it, I don't think. 

[Tidgy's Dad]

2 minutes ago, marguy said:

Hi LiamL

Are you sure it is a fern?

looks like Zamites for me

is it Jurassic?

Beat me to it.

I think you're right. 

[LiamL]

19 minutes ago, marguy said:

Hi LiamL

Are you sure it is a fern?

looks like Zamites for me

is it Jurassic?

You're probably right! I left my fossil ID book at the place where i hunt! 

There is a plant on the back also, i wonder if it's the same species, looks slightly different. 

[minnbuckeye]

 

39 minutes ago, LiamL said:

I'm tempted to try and just split it off but i know it could damage fern.

What are your thoughts?

 

If this was mine, I would position a dry wall screw at the upper right corner slightly away from the fossil but on the bedding plane the fossil is in and "tap"  it with a hammer, starting light and slowly increasing the force given to the screw. This should not damage the exposed fossil.

 

 Mike

 

Actually you posted the back side of the specimen. Now it looks less likely the screw will do much as the matrix looks not to be shaley.

[Fossildude19]

I would be tempted to take a chisel and hammer, and give it a few taps where indicated.

 

 

[Ptychodus04]

It is tempting but I think you're better off leaving it or scribing it. Can you turn down the power on your scribe? The Paleo Tools ones I use have valves that allow you to back way off from full power. Aggressive moves have detrimental effects quite often. If this is something you have several of, it's not as big of a concern.

[Tidgy's Dad]

1 hour ago, LiamL said:

You're probably right! I left my fossil ID book at the place where i hunt! 

There is a plant on the back also, i wonder if it's the same species, looks slightly different. 

 

Also Zamites but I would have no idea about the different species.

[marguy]

in France, Zamites feneonis is a classic (but rare in good condition) fossil in Jura region

https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/11516.?lang=fr_FR  (Zamites feneonis)

(I wrote 'your fossil look like Zamites' but there are also other kinds of fossil Bennetitales, i'm not a specialist...)

[RJB]

  No garantee's with fossils but 'nothing venture nothing gained' as they say.  But I think Kris has the best idea.  Needs to be scribed away with control.  The best of luck to you though.

 

RB