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Showing results for tags 'advice'.
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Hello All, I came across this fossil at a local rock and gem store and I'm having a go at preparing it. Apparently it is from Indonesia and I believe is a Thalassina, although with the spindle like legs I haven't seen anything that looks like an exact match. Here's my question; the fossil is covered with a sticky coarse sandstone, and I'm wondering how much of the matrix I should leave between joints in the tail and between the legs on the main body. I'm not sure if removing too much matrix will just cause the fossil to fall apart, but I suspect it might. Has anyone had experience with these fossils before and be able to lend a rookie some advice? Cheers, Ryan
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I just recently came across a very helpful website: https://www.microbehunter.com/microscopy-forum It is a friendly site, and I’ve gotten quick replies to some very specific questions about a vintage microscope I recently acquired. There are a number of forums, including one for people looking to buy/sell parts. Some of the folks there have some pretty obscure old microscope parts if you ever find yourself in need of some. They’re also good for advice on how to setup and optimize your microscope.
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I have a rock with a lot of fossils in it - What should I do?
BillRigg posted a topic in Fossil Preparation
Hey all! So I found what appeared to be a large geode, but upon further investigation turned out to have 5 or 6 fossils imprints! They seem to be seashells, scallop-like so possibly bivalves or brachiopods. I'll attach the pre-cleaning pictures below, then some more later after I rinse it and dry it off. My big question is: since this thing definitely has fossils (I can see at least two are half buried in the stone matrix) and is very likely a geode (it's heavy, has dimples, and I can see shiny facets in a few of the dimples), what should be next step be? I wanted to crack it open along the big crack down the side of it, thinking it would expose a crystal core. But I see these fossil imprints and I don't want to risk breaking them in cracking open the rock. So then, since I've only found some amateur fossil finds (mostly in riverbeds and on beaches), what should I do next? Seems to me the likely responses are crack it open and hope for the best (immediate gut-reaction of anxiety for fear of smashing the imprints too), or try to securely remove or break off the fossil fragments for a bigger cracking later, or to airblast portions of it, or to send it to a museum? I'm not certain and I definitely don't want to damage the thing in the meantime as the sheer age of it has made me quite fond of it. Any advice or recommendations would be welcome!!
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Hi, I'm new here. My name is Leo and I'm from Italy. I'm looking for interesting books about paleontology and, in particular, about the transition from water to land. Since I've already read basically everything in Italian (there isn't too much choice actually), I'm looking for something in English. Any advice is welcome
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I got two unprepared GRF fossil fish, a Knightia and a Priscacara as presents for my birthday, in a kit that also contained a small handheld needle-like tool. I would like to get some advice from the experienced members of this forum on how to proceed. For tools, I have a sewing needle, x-acto knife (with parental permission,) and the tool that came with the kit. I have a slides microscope that can focus well enough for a prep in order to have some magnification. I have Lance Grande's book on the GRF for anatomy, and have read all of the prep threads I could find on this forum. I have decided to start on the most exposed part of the backbone, and move up from there, saving the delicate fins for last. I have already tried out the tools on a few coprolites and vertebra on the rock. What advice do you have for this prep to be as successful as possible? @RJB @Ptychodus04 ? Thanks!
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Hi. I'm looking to buy a Keichousaurus as a present for a collector. I've seen some other threads, but I'm no expert, and so I thought I'd ask here about the specimen I'm interested in. As a complete novice, this looks "too good to be true" to me, in particular for the price that it's offered. But other threads had similarly looking specimen that were considered genuine. Thanks for the help! A.
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Hi fellow fossil enthusiasts! My family is taking a trip to West Virginia in early August and I was hoping to get some advice on fossil hunting in the area (I promise I'm not trying to get anyone's specific spots, just some general areas or tips). We will be near Snowshoe, WV (Pocahontas county) but are willing to drive around for fossils. We all love fossils but are total amateurs and have never visited this area before so any and all advice is appreciated! Thanks so much!
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Hello, I've been planning a trip to DSR for a while now however it would be my first time going so I'm still a newbie when it comes to digs. I would really appreciate any advice on really anything like equipment to bring or how to dig into the formation. Thanks!
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Good Places to Fossil Hunt While in North Carolina?
Megalodoodle posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
Anybody know any spots in North Carolina to fossil hunt? If no one is willing to share their secrets can you at least tell me what to look for? -
Advice on trip to central North Carolina (GMR and other areas)
SallyB posted a topic in Fossil Hunting Trips
Hi all! I am a newbie here and I've recently become really enchanted by the casual fossil hunting I've been doing in the VA/MD area. And I've really enjoyed reading the forums and posts on here (thanks to everyone for their awesome help/advice/knowledge....it has been really inspiring for this amateur yet eager fossil hunter). I am about to take a trip down to central NC (Raleigh/Durham area) and my friend and I are hoping to pop over to the Greenville area to hunt on the Greens Mill Run and/or other areas (we are both field biologists so are well prepared for cold weather, nasty conditions, or long treks). Does anyone have any advice on other places in the region to do some fossil hunting? Also, for GMR, can anyone suggest areas of the creek to check out (aka closer to the river or further upstream, areas with access)? Thanks so much for any and all help! Cheers. -
Hello, Occasionally, when I am out prospecting for gemstones or minerals I stumble on some unique fossils that I include in my personal collection. Recently, I stumbled on a very large unique find that I believe is a fossil and am requesting assistance/advice on how to handle, if that is the case, for proper recovery if applicable. Location: Glacier WA USA, very close to the Canadian border, in a dried portion of a creek bed - up against the sides walls-banks. located under a tree stump. Approx size: Uncovered Specimen in photographs resembles the size, approx, of a large human torso Materials surrounding the specimens: Many small fossil bones Please note that I only removed enough material (all mixed - nothing attached) to see if it will help with ID and so on. Thank you!
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So... This specimen is currently in ID- section here, but since it doesnt have any suggestions, I figured out that I should try to get some more features to help IDing. This is from northern Germany. I found this little stone and after a while, I decided to smash this into another rock. It kinda worked and this is what was in there. The fossil itself is quite fragile, and I accidentally managed to swipe lots of the material away from the other half. That was poor handling from my part.. :S I must say that Im quite inexperienced (only "re-prepped" one Otodus tooth which had some features under rock. Turned out to be quite fine fore first "prep" IMO). I have magnifiers, dental tools, glues etc for basic working but no powertools bc I live in an apartment building. Not saying that I would use any powertools for this. How would you guys deal with this, or is this something I shouldnt try to tackle?
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Hey guys, Ive found these while out on a walk with my dog. I was wondering if they could possibly be teeth or maybe my imagination is seeing things and they are just rocks. Any advice would be great! Thanks in advance. Foxx
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So im very new to this and since winter is here, I thought it'd be a good time to ask for any advice for a novice (ie tools, where to look, anything that would be useful). I don't know anything about how to actually go about looking for fossils. So far I've learned a bit from people here, but just to get a basic gist overall would be a good start.
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Hi! I'm planning a trip to Briggs road earlville soon. As a result, I would really appreciate advice on where and how to dig at the site. Am I allowed to take off slabs of material or do I have to go through the material on the ground? If so, is there a specific spot I should dig? Thank you for your time.
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I will soon be visiting Holzmaden in Germany. Does anyone have any advice on how to find fossils there? (Which quarry to go to, where to look for fossils inside off the quarry, etc.) @belemniten @Ludwigia
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I am hoping to get some advice on how to handle preservation prep on a recently found section of mammoth tooth. I have soaked the tooth, removed debris/algae with vinegar, rinsed thoroughly and have the tooth soaking in the toilet tank. I plan on following Harry Pristis' advise on consolidation found in previous posts. I am leaving on a 2 week trip and will not have time to dry the specimen and complete the consolidation before the trip. So the question is, should I leave the tooth soaking until I return or remove the tooth from the water and allow it to dry for the 2 weeks in a controlled manner (In a ventilated aquarium resting on sand)?
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Hi! So I found a shell one of my old friends gave me when I was a child and I remember he told me this was a very old shell, I'm curious if this is a modern shell thats just really worn or if it's a fossil. I don't know enough to be able to tell myself sadly. Thank you!
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Hello all! Soooo I’m taking my family to Disney World for Christmas this year. My wife is being very cool about it and she’s letting me spend most of my time looking for fossils. I’d like to make the most of my trip being that Florida is quite far Texas. I know about Peace River, Shell Creek and Venice Beach. I’ve been reading that Peace River isn’t productive anymore....is this true? I’d really like any advice on where to go, what to do, what not to do etc. If you have any secret spots and would like to pm me that would be much appreciated. I promise to keep it to myself. Oh, I do understand that I need a permit to collect in Florida btw. Any advice helps. Thank you!
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Does anyone know where I can find Trilobites in the UK (preferably south east) and how best to collect them?
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Hello all. New to the forum, but have been reading a lot here(and everywhere). In the process of building a house and have a long tall fireplace wall to fill. We had looked at everything from wood to stone to art, and then I shot down the slippery slope of fossil collecting! I have a couple questions. The space we need to fill is the upper part of a 17' fireplace, so we have more than 10' open, but of course don't have to fill that space. I have seen some really amazing palm fronds and flowers, crinoids or groups of fish that would work(but would cost a fortune). Do you have any other suggestions for something that might fill that space? My wife is more keen on plants than fish. I'd love to investigate other options. Second question--we have friends in Tucson who invited us to come visit them this winter. Would I have good luck finding something at that show? When is the best time to go? I have read that there are shows before the "big show" that might be better for what I am after. I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!
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Hi all, I'm Dave Johnson and I'm and amateur fossil hunter from Staffordshire England. I'm here because I'm hoping to find the answers to some questions I have about some of my finds from members who know a whole lot more than me. I hunt fossils down England's Jurassic Coast whenever I am able and I have a collection of ammonites, crinoid, bivalves, (what I believe to be sponges,) and ichthyosaur vertebrae and a few other things I can't identify. If anyone out there is willing to give me any information on my finds it would be very gratefully appreciated.
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Hello Fellow Fossiliers!! So whilst on a field trip with the OUGS in Lyme Regis the other day I stumbled upon this rock which has a bivalve and a partial (what would have been huge) ammonite in it. As you can see the ammonite has undergone mineral replacement and has crystallised, seen as its not really structural intact from the outside and seems to only be 1/16th of a complete fossil would this look good if I sliced it in half to open up the inside? And, if so, seen as I have no real prepping/cutting tools to speak of how would you recommend I go about it? I have asked a local mason to run it through their machines, they quoted £30 max depending on how hard the stone ends up being, I would prefer to do it myself and have the tools and ability to do it again should i need to. It stands roughly 18cm high on its end as picture. Thank you all in advance for your opinions and advice!
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Hi, stopping at in Greenville for a night on our way to Charleston for vacation. Looking for advice on where to park, stream access, if any part of the stream has more Cretaceous vs. Miocene etc... any tips would be much appreciated. Will be me, my two boys and our dog. Thank you.
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Hi guys, So I've been interested in and have been studying dinosaurs for quite some time not to mention all of the documentaries. But I'm new and it seems resources on the internet are very few when it comes to starting something like this. Anyway I'm from southeast ky and I am dying to start fossil hunting but am lost at where to start or even what area may be a good place. So I guess my question is what do I do now and are there any good resources for learning
