Advice on Getting Teeth from this Matrix?

[TNCollector]

On my past couple collecting trips I brought back multiple large chunks of what we (being me and JimB88) call the "red crumbly crinoidal matrix" from the Mississippian-aged Bangor Limestone in East Tennessee. The matrix is composed of a reddish base limestone material that is completely full of crinoid and brachiopod fossils on the sub-cm scale. I know that there has to be small micro-teeth from sharks in this matrix, but even though the material is "crumbly", it is still way to hard for me to effectively go through by hand or with tweezers and dental picks.

Does anyone know of a safe way for me to extract the fossils (particularly the teeth) from this matrix? On the ryniechert website, it says that they use acid to dissolve the limestone, but I am skeptical of this method because I don't want to destroy the teeth.

Any ideas?

Thanks so much for any help you guys can provide!

[sixgill pete]

First try hot water to break it down. Make sure the matrix is completely dry. Boil enough water to completely cover the matrix in a bucket. Pour the boiling water over the matrix and let it soak overnight. Then you need a fine sifter ( i use one thats .75mm; 3/4 of a mm) use it to was the matrix with. This should remove all of the dirt and leave you searchable matrix. You may have to soak / wash several times.

If the hot water does not break it down. try using whit vinegar. same way, make sure the matrix is dry, boil the vinegar and pour it over the matrix. Soak overnight then wash it very very very well to remove all traces of the vinegar.

Hope this helps.

[TNCollector]

First try hot water to break it down. Make sure the matrix is completely dry. Boil enough water to completely cover the matrix in a bucket. Pour the boiling water over the matrix and let it soak overnight. Then you need a fine sifter ( i use one thats .75mm; 3/4 of a mm) use it to was the matrix with. This should remove all of the dirt and leave you searchable matrix. You may have to soak / wash several times.

If the hot water does not break it down. try using whit vinegar. same way, make sure the matrix is dry, boil the vinegar and pour it over the matrix. Soak overnight then wash it very very very well to remove all traces of the vinegar.

Hope this helps.

I will definitely try this, sounds like it might work! Thanks!