Strepsodus Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Hi. I found this Neuropteris fossil in West Yorkshire, UK. I started to prep it but my etcher burnt out; therefore I'm hoping someone can finish it off by removing the last bits of rock and bringing the detail out more if possible. In return I will give you a fossil. I have many fossil types including: Carboniferous plants Bivalves (Jurassic) Belemnites (Jurassic) Ostracods (Carboniferous) Crinoids (Jurassic) Various Dinosaur fossils Various fish fossils Amphibian teeth Shark teeth Ammonites... ... and many other fossils. The rock comes away from the plant very easily. If you can prep it please tell me what fossil type you want and I'll show you what I've got. I have attached two pictures; one before preparation and one showing what it looks like now. Thanks, Daniel Edited June 11, 2016 by Strepsodus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Hi Daniel, an etcher might be a bit aggressive and unwieldy for this so why not have a go with some dental picks yourself. You can get a set really cheaply from ukge.com. It's a pretty cool plant fossil John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Daniel, I'm not really sure there is much more there to expose. I think this plant is preserved as a thin carbonaceous film, and that where it looks like rock covering the fossil, is actually where the carbon film stuck to the other side of the rock, and there is nothing there . Prior to prep. This is your prepped photo: Looks to me like you are actually digging below the fossil level. I too, think an engraver is much to powerful for this fossil. Not sure there is any prep required here. Look at it really closely with a good hand lens - I think you will see what I mean. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsodus Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Hi. Thanks for the replies. From the pictures it looks like I am digging below fossil level but I think the whole pinnule is there; it slopes downwards which makes the pictures look confusing. When I was prepping it I saw small rock pieces come away which exposed more of the pinnule. I think the pinnule is thicker than it looks, but as it is a similar colour to the rock it makes it look thin. My pictures are a bit burred so it's probably hard to tell if it's possible to prep by just looking at the pictures but I think there is more of the pinnule under the rock. Thanks, Daniel Edited June 11, 2016 by Strepsodus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsodus Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 Hi. Here are some microscope images which will hopefully help find out if its possible to prep or not. Thanks, Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted June 11, 2016 Share Posted June 11, 2016 Your microscope images look like you are digging into the fossil also. I would say it is at a stopping point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsodus Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 Hi. Thanks for the reply. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 I wouldn't do anything more. I think you're starting to damage the fossil. John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsodus Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 Hi. Thanks for the reply. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 If you think there is more leaf under there, I was thinking about a method that might work (haven't tried it myself): get some good glue (superglue or whatever) and glue a small stick of wood or toothpick onto the spot you want to remove, and when it's dry, pull at it and see if it comes off. Has anyone else tried doing this and does it work? If anything more comes off beyond what you wanted to remove, maybe those parts can be split from the rest of the waste and glued back on. Whatever damage might occur can't be as bad as a bad etcher job, could it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsodus Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 Hi. Thanks for the reply. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Hi Daniel. It's practically impossible for me to make a judgement on the basis of your photos. 2D pics can be deceiveing. One would need to see it live in 3D, which is why I'm suggesting you take it down to Brian Blessed at the fossil shop in Whitby before you do anything more to it. He would be able to judge it and also prep it for you if need be. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsodus Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 Hi. Thanks for the reply. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paleoflor Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Prepping plant fossils can be difficult. As already suggested here, I'd do your next one by hand, if I were you. Below are some images of a small-pinnuled fern frond that I prepared using hand tools only. Unfortunately, one of the pinna was located in the rock shallower than I anticipated, causing me to go through it as well. With hand tools, however, you get somewhat a better chance to avoid this, or at least to minimize the damage done. Tim Before Before After After Searching for green in the dark grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 goed geda....err,nice work,Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsodus Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 Hi. Thanks for the replies. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Wow Tim, pretty amazing stuff you've achieved there! John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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