RJB Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I found this concretion also from my last hunting trip to Washington, Oregon and california. This crab has problems galore! This dang thing is nothing but a problem! The top finger on the right claw goes out to the edge of the concretion and the very tip is simply gone! Dang! The leges seem to have problems, I do believe they have become disarticulated from where they were originaly attached and like most crabs, im sure they dont go to the tippy tips! But the biggest problem is how it is covered in a layer of calcite! Uuuuuuugh!!! Arrrrrrrrgh!!! Just disgusting stuff! I had to go slow and watch very very carefully for the color of this calcite and try to follow that in order to prep this dang thing! Just very slow and very time consuming! Ive never had a crab quite like this making for such a painfull experience. The shell material of this crab is underneath this layer of calcite. Im not even sure if i can clean up this calcite? But on the good side, look how the crab is reaching? That leaves lots of room to prep out the face and if Im lucky I will find eyestalks and be able to prep them and not have the claws in the way like most crabs. Plus If I can clean up this calcite snarge, and rebuild the missing tip, find more leg, then this crab will be a very nice crab indeed! I can wish... RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefootgirl Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Your a wonderful craftsman and keep it up, I love seeing your crabs appear. In formal logic, a contradiction is the signal of defeat: but in the evolution of real knowledge, it marks the first step in progress toward victory. Alfred North Whithead 'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Your a wonderful craftsman and keep it up, I love seeing your crabs appear. Thank you barefootgirl. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenixflood Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Hoping you find tippy-tips (fingers crossed) The soul of a Fossil Hunter is one that is seeking, always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 rb - at which point do you switch to air abrasion in dealing with issues like the calcite on the shell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundancer73 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 (edited) Wonderful fossil. I wonder if he was reaching out to pinch just one more toe before the inevitable.. ~Mike Edited January 18, 2010 by Sundancer73 All your fossils are belong to us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 hey ron, an air abrasive unit might be able to take care of the calcite; have you tried that yet (or do you have a microblaster?)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebrocklds Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 if it is indeed calcite a little lime-away will go along way, just make sure it won't eat the fossil as well. Brock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Very cool fossil, good luck with the rest of the prep. -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 rb - at which point do you switch to air abrasion in dealing with issues like the calcite on the shell? Hi tracer. I wanted to get this fossil 'ruffed' out before i waisted any time or media. I will ruff out some more and get close to the finished product before i start to clean up the calcite. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 hey ron, an air abrasive unit might be able to take care of the calcite; have you tried that yet (or do you have a microblaster?)? Hey Boesse dude. I do have an air abrasive unit, just not sure what media to start with? I will try from the soft and work my way to the harder media's and see how that goes? I have acid too, but that almost scares me to try. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Hey Ron, Have you ever tried a microblaster on crabs before, or just bone and mollusks? It might really help. Acid might eat away at the crab shell - I've used acetic acid (vinegar) quite a bit with success for softening up concretions from Capitola. Bobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crinoid Queen Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Thank you barefootgirl. RB Yes you are you will get it out be patient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Besides getting up early and going on the crab attack by getting others ready for prep for the first 2 hours or so, I then picked up this critter again and got to work on it. This has got to be one of the tuffest Pulali's ive prepped and im not even done! The rock is literally GLUED to the shell material making for a real nightmare of a job! Some nice leg material on the lefthand side, but the righthand side really sucks for legs!!! The left claw is complete, thats good. The right claw top finger has to be rebuilt for the tippy tip but the bottom finger is complete. It broke off but I simply glued it back on which is why I didnt finish ruffing out that area. Im waited for the glue to set. But if only I can clean this crab up it should be better than most? RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 RJB...... very nice.....Im glad your getting prepping again.... keep posting, you might stimulate me to start lol..... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Wait? if it isn't a perfect specimen wouldn't keeping the layer of calcite over the crab make it look "pretty"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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