Thalassina Lobster Prepped

[Ruger9a]

Hello folks,

I wanted to share some photos of one of the mangrove lobsters (Thalassina) I finished prepping.  It's from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia from the Holocene-Pleistocene error.  The matrix on this lobster was the hardest I've ever worked with. 

[Ruger9a]

Before photo.

[Bobby Rico]

Nice preparation on a very beautiful fossil. 

[RuMert]

Awesome prep job. Hard matrix on such a relatively modern fossil is news for me. Got used to Jurassic matrix looking like mud or humus and actually used as such by clueless gardening/land improvement companies

[caldigger]

I would say you did an outstanding job of it.  From what I have heard that matrix is so hard it makes those lobsters pert near impossible to prep without destroying them.

Great work! 

[Ludwigia]

Excellent work!

[Tidgy's Dad]

Marvelous prepping.

And what a great lobster too, the way it's positioned gives it a scorpion look, lovely. 

[Ruger9a]

Thanks guys.  And yes, the matrix it super hard.  I broke the first one trying to prep it, luckily it was only a partial that I used for experimentation.  I have another I've been working on for about three years (little here, little there) and it's only 50%.  I don't ever plan to tackle another one when I'm finished with this one.

[Misha]

Wow, nice work!

I've had a few of these guys, what did you use to prep them?

[Uncle Siphuncle]

Nice.  How many hours involved, and what tools/methods?

[jpc]

I am with Dan... what tools and how much time.  

I have never seen one of these prepped.  Very nice.  

[caterpillar]

Good job. I know this matrix and it is very hard to prep

[Ruger9a]

There was no magical mystery tool, sorry.  I used a Dremel engraving tool (very cautiously), pin point rotary grinding tools, dental picks, plastic picks and Exacto blades (lots of Exacto blades).  It took me over two years to prep.  Not every day, but at least a few hours per week.  Oh, and a bottle of aspirins for the eye strain headaches.  I was over cautious and took my time since I ruined the first one I tried to prep.  I worked under a 10X magnifying lamp.  Unlike the first try, as soon as I started to get frustrated I put it away and tried again next week or the week after.  There are no enhancements, painting or other coloring.  It's all natural with only a lite coat of museum wax.  I do have to work on my photography skills because the specimen has super sharp details in some places like the belly, eyes and antenna.  Hope this helps.  The last one I am working on is shown below.  I haven't touched it in over a year.