Bulbie Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Hey. So today on a whim I decided to give fossil hunting a go. Took my family to the beach at Glenafrik farm, about an hour north of Christchurch, New Zealand. About 30 minutes in I stumbled across this beauty (beginners luck huh). Now I’m wondering, what am I supposed to do to clean/preserve it? Also, my wife found what we think could potentially be a fossilised log? It is very heavy and to our untrained eyes, looks like a log with bark around it. It was quite different from all the other rocks in the area. What do you more knowledgeable guys and girls think? Again, any tips or thoughts on cleaning/identifying it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Great luck on your first go! I think your first find is almost certainly a crab. Let me tag @Doctor Mud. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyw Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 I agree it’s a crab body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulbie Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 From my understanding the area we went to is famous for Tumidocarcinus giganteus crab fossils from the Miocene period- so assuming that’s what I have. Couldn’t quite believe it when I saw it lying there so early in the day- didn’t even need to break the rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Tahan Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Very nice crab find! I imagine they don’t usually come ready for display like that! Hah. This and dr muds post got me wanting a crab now lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Very nice crab, great find. Hello, and a very warm welcome to TFF from Morocco. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Thanks @Kane for the tag. @Bulbie well done! Better than my first crab. Definitely a T. Giganteus crab looks like the concretion (nodule) came split for you by nature. I probably wouldn’t do much to this one. You have the other half but it looks like the big claw has weathered out. You could expose more of the shell with an air tool or engraver, but I think it looks nice like this. Can you post a clearer shot of the half without the shell in to see if it is worth gluing and prepping? That “log” rock would gave caught my eye too. It is a weirdly shaped concretion (nodule) and the “bark” is a weathering rind. I have found fossil wood here but it looks quite different, almost like coal and full of fossil worm borings. Glad you got out and enjoyed the wonders of the Canterbury coast! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 That is a beautiful crab, Bulbie! Congratulations! How big is it, by the way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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