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Marc Behrendt
421 South Columbus Street
Somerset, Ohio, 43783 USA
(740) 743-2818
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Preparation Do's and Don'ts By Marc Behrendt
In the Field…
Always take the negative, if it is available.
Do not try to prepare your fossil in the field.
Do not remove matrix to see the fossil better.
Do not overglue.
If need to glue a piece into place, but may need to remove that piece
later, use diluted white glue.
If a chisel must be used to extract a fossil, chisel away from the
fossil, not towards.
It is better to bring home a large rock containing a perfect fossil than
to bring home a small rock with a damaged specimen.
If the fossil rests at the outer edge of the rock, find the adjoining
piece. Then the fossil may be centered on the reattached matrix for display.
Super glue requires a dry rock; use diluted white glue on wet matrix.
Unstabilized weathered shale will fall apart when it dries, even with
the best care.
In the Lab…
Don't overclean a specimen. An underprepared fossil is more
scientifically valuable than one that much of surface ornamentation has been removed.
Don't start a piece until its display orientation is determined.
Hammer away from the fossil, not towards the fossil.
Nodules and concretions will usually split with ease, if they are
subjected to several freeze-thaw cycles.
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