Cleaning Mineral Deposits from Mazon Creek Fossils

[Patrick K.]

Hello all, my name is Patrick - nice to meet you! 

 

 I recently went back to the Mazon Creek area to hunt with my daughter, it has been about 40 years since I went with my dad as a kid, so it had been a while! We did ok, found a few that had already popped open, but are covered in white mineral deposits. I tried the method that our local club ESCONI has on its website (Soaked in 25% Vinegar and water solution for 15 minutes and gently rub with a cotton ball), and only saw minimal improvement on the ones that were really bad. I only tried this once on each one - just wondering if my expectations are a bit high for these and I should just accept the condition or if anyone had any suggestions or recommendations? 

 

 

 

 

[Fossildude19]

@Nimravis  @Mark Kmiecik  @RCFossils  @stats

[Nimravis]

These all look like Essexella asherae.

 

My process and this is just me, others may do it differently, but if they were mine, I would place those into pure vinegar for a little bit and brush them with a toothbrush and rinse in water. If they were anything other than those E. asherae , I would go about it differently.

[Mark Kmiecik]

I agree with Ralph. Essexella asherae most probably. Soak in water for a day or two and then soak in vinegar.

[Patrick K.]

Thanks! I did the full vinegar soak for 10 minutes, removed some deposit w a soft toothbrush then back in for 10 minutes, repeated until it all came off - and they came out very clean and identifiable - one is definitely the common Essexella asherae - but now with visible detail. The large one I can't quite make anything of, it doesn't have the shape of the other smaller essexella's I have, still pretty cool though.  I had a few plants that were severely coated in deposits that I used the full soak/brush on also - the veins are still visible after - they are surprisingly tough for 300 million years! Do you have a different method for more delicate/rare ones that have the coatings?