Trilobites...as I Get Them Clean

[lmacfadden]

It depends on whether or not I choose to clean a lot of the matrix off or not while I am at the quarry. If I don't I can have a back truckload full of rocks. If I do clean it, I could have just one flat box full. I still come home with on average around 20 complete trilobites per trip. Somedays though I just focus on looking for brachiopods, etc. so I may not come home with many trilobites.

On the flip side, the extra matrix I have to remove once I get home makes for good hole filing material .

Here is one that I am still working on cleaning, but he's mostly clean. 378339_647997431882422_99096731_n.jpg

WOW nice one!!

[gwestbrook]

It depends on whether or not I choose to clean a lot of the matrix off or not while I am at the quarry. If I don't I can have a back truckload full of rocks. If I do clean it, I could have just one flat box full. I still come home with on average around 20 complete trilobites per trip. Somedays though I just focus on looking for brachiopods, etc. so I may not come home with many trilobites.

On the flip side, the extra matrix I have to remove once I get home makes for good hole filing material .

Here is one that I am still working on cleaning, but he's mostly clean. 378339_647997431882422_99096731_n.jpg

Very nice!

[Jesta384]

^{This thread blows my mind. Wow.}

[larry739]

Very cool thanks for sharing your techniques for matrix removal. where can I get old dental tools like yours?

[Fossildude19]

Very cool thanks for sharing your techniques for matrix removal. where can I get old dental tools like yours?

Hey Larry739,

You can ask your dentist for old ones, or look around at flea markets or yard sales.

Also check ebay, and since you have a few nearby Harbor Freight Tools.

Search for scribes, probes, or dental picks.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Edited May 2, 2013 by Fossildude19

[fossiladdict]

Very cool thanks for sharing your techniques for matrix removal. where can I get old dental tools like yours?

I order brand new ones from Amazon and the cost is little to nothing. I order big packs of them. It gives me a great variety of tools to use.

[fossiladdict]

Guess what I worked on tonight?? By the way- thanks to my hubbie bringing me a surprise the other night, I can now cut the rock around the bugs! Good hubbie...

This one has a Ceratonurus below it that I have not cleaned yet

Edited May 4, 2013 by fossiladdict

[Wrangellian]

Looking nice as ever! What kind of saw are you using? I'm still looking for such a thing for my specimens though it would have to be just the right type of machine due to the unforgiving nature of my shale.

[fossiladdict]

Looking nice as ever! What kind of saw are you using? I'm still looking for such a thing for my specimens though it would have to be just the right type of machine due to the unforgiving nature of my shale.

Sent you a message

[Foshunter]

Saw yeah!!!!!, now a media blaster is next. You do a fantastic bug prep., mine still have a lot to be desired but getting there, very time consuming------Tom

[gwestbrook]

Looking great as always! Keep the pics coming.

[crinoid1]

That is quite a haul! I see many hours of work on that table.... Good luck! Those are some beautiful bugs

Gabe

[fossiladdict]

That is quite a haul! I see many hours of work on that table.... Good luck! Those are some beautiful bugs

Gabe

That was just one trip. I go about 2+ times a month. Am going to learn how to use the air abrasive this year so maybe I can catch up!

[fossiladdict]

While cleaning my house up last night...I managed to also get this bug cleaned up .

The saw has worked wonders in condensing the matrix down to where I can handle the amount of it that I have. Bob is about to teach me how to use his equipment so I'm geared up and ready to learn. I'm excited!

For those of you who don't know...Bob is officially considered part of my family now- or maybe I should reverse that and say I feel like I'm part of his

(that's my parents, husband, daughter, friend, Bob and me).

[mikecable]

While cleaning my house up last night...I managed to also get this bug cleaned up . IMG_5221-1-2.jpg

The saw has worked wonders in condensing the matrix down to where I can handle the amount of it that I have. Bob is about to teach me how to use his equipment so I'm geared up and ready to learn. I'm excited!

For those of you who don't know...Bob is officially considered part of my family now- or maybe I should reverse that and say I feel like I'm part of his

IMG_4132-1.jpg (that's my parents, husband, daughter, friend, Bob and me).

Having met both you and Bob on the last two DPS trips to Black Cat, I'll say with all honesty that looks like a fine extended family.

[lmacfadden]

Guess what I worked on tonight?? By the way- thanks to my hubbie bringing me a surprise the other night, I can now cut the rock around the bugs! Good hubbie...

IMG_5033-1.jpg IMG_5034-2.jpg IMG_5035-3.jpg

IMG_5036-4.jpg IMG_5037-5.jpg This one has a Ceratonurus below it that I have not cleaned yet

IMG_5038-6.jpg IMG_5039-7.jpg

OH MY!! Those are absolutely fantastic!! I've got goosebumps... I love trilobites!!

[gwestbrook]

Guess what I worked on tonight?? By the way- thanks to my hubbie bringing me a surprise the other night, I can now cut the rock around the bugs! Good hubbie...

IMG_5033-1.jpg IMG_5034-2.jpg IMG_5035-3.jpg

IMG_5036-4.jpg IMG_5037-5.jpg This one has a Ceratonurus below it that I have not cleaned yet

IMG_5038-6.jpg IMG_5039-7.jpg

I always love the rocks with more than one fossil in them! That's always exciting!

Edited May 22, 2013 by gwestbrook

[fossiladdict]

Here are a few in the matrix as I found them from a few trips this past weekend. Thought some of you might like to see them before they get cleaned up.

[hrguy54]

Beautiful pieces. Very nice workmanship.

[Wrangellian]

They dont look like much yet, but I believe the prep results will be quite different. That first one looks long and narrow, or is that just the perspective or was it squashed laterally during preservation?

[Foshunter]

Looks like they are going to be interesting preps----Tom

[fossiladdict]

They dont look like much yet, but I believe the prep results will be quite different. That first one looks long and narrow, or is that just the perspective or was it squashed laterally during preservation?

It's not squished- it's just laying flat.

[Wrangellian]

So it's just the angle we're seeing it at?

[fossiladdict]

Here's one that I prepped this week.

I've been spending most of my time at the quarry rather than cleaning (I like to clean in the winter) lately, so few are getting prepped. It's been hot, but we use shelter and take quite a few drink breaks. I love every bit of it.

[squalicorax]

Very Nice!