Prep for London clay fossil crabs

[ETV27]

What is the best way to prep crabs from the London clay? Would an ultrasonic cleaner work?

[Ptychodus04]

If you have enough to do a test run, ultrasonic can work for loose matrix. It can also remove matrix holding fossils together, resulting in a pile of crab bits.

 

A wet toothbrush can also remove softer matrices. If you have harder nodules, you'll need to employ picks, needles, and X-Acto knives. Or, bump it up to a pneumatic scribe or abrasive.

[caterpillar]

Ultrasonic doesn't work. The best way is pneumatic scribe under binocular

[fossils-uk]

Air abrasive with a medium of dolomite is needed. And a lot of patience. 

[ETV27]

Thanks everyone!

[jpc]

I agree… air abrasive with dolomite and deginitely a binocular microscope.  These things are not easy and the deeper into the nodule you get, the color of the crab and nodule become very similar