Matrix prep- Sharktooth Hill (First post)

[Vermonster]

Good morning. First post, from SoCal, recently have a son enrolled in U of Utah, so I am excited to visit places like the Green River formation and others to find some fossils, which are not too far from there.

 

Anyway, took my then 12 year old to Sharktooth hill a couple years ago.

Found lots of great teeth did the glue/water mix brushed on, all seem to be good.

But the one piece I'd like help with is a piece of matrix containing a tooth, and a vertebra.

 

The tooth isn't stuck in the vertebra, maybe laying against it, like to think the shark was feeding on a carcass and they fell to the floor together......lol. I already glued the tooth at the base, but wondering how to prep the rest.

 

It's mostly solid, just has a layer of very crumbly fine sediment that sluffs off. 

I'd like to mostly preserve it as is, except for possibly cleaning/exposing the vertebra a bit more.

 

Any advice? I'm a hobbyist, not a professional, so have limited tools.

Thanks in advance, love the site!

 

 

[Vermonster]

Bump. Didn't get any replies to this and was really hoping to be pointed in the right direction to keep this from crumbling. Just looking for advice to clean up/hold the block together.

[Jaybot]

Hey there @Vermonster!  Nice find btw.

 

I saw your post earlier, but I didn’t respond since I only have a year experience on prepping.  However, I can give you some advice.

 

As for removing sand/matrix from the fish vert, I’d suggest slowly and carefully scraping it off the fossil with dental pics/hobby knife/ or anything else that will work similarly.

 

As for preserving the fossil, I’d suggest consolidating it with Paraloid B-72.  It is a small investment, but you will likely find yourself using it on many of your finds.  I personally use B-72, and have no complaints.  Just make sure to wear appropriate PPE.

 

  I’d consolidate the entire block if you are concerned about its structural integrity.

 

 

Have fun!  If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask us on TFF  

 

 

[Vermonster]

On 11/3/2024 at 8:22 AM, Jaybot said:

Hey there @Vermonster!  Nice find btw.

 

I saw your post earlier, but I didn’t respond since I only have a year experience on prepping.  However, I can give you some advice.

 

As for removing sand/matrix from the fish vert, I’d suggest slowly and carefully scraping it off the fossil with dental pics/hobby knife/ or anything else that will work similarly.

 

As for preserving the fossil, I’d suggest consolidating it with Paraloid B-72.  It is a small investment, but you will likely find yourself using it on many of your finds.  I personally use B-72, and have no complaints.  Just make sure to wear appropriate PPE.

 

  I’d consolidate the entire block if you are concerned about its structural integrity.

 

 

Have fun!  If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask us on TFF  

 

 

Perfect, thanks! I think I wanrlt to keep the whole block as is, so I'll look into that!