Sir Knightia Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Dear Fossil Forum fans and friends, I am really enjoying working on my Green River Fish 'do it yourself' prep kits. I am wondering, do you have suggestions for other easy to prep fossils? I will probably get a dremel tool this year's end, but not an air scribe. I asked a nice Utah quarry man if he could ship me some Wheeler Shale material I could sift through, but it was too expensive, because of shipping all that rock. Moroccan Trilos, could I do them at all with a dremel? Sometimes I see unprepped ones on Ebay. I understand that Washington Crab nodules are one of the hardest substances on earth, ha ha, so I guess I can't be doing those. Can you suggest any easy to get material besides Green River Fish I could look into prepping? Thank you:) Gerard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracer Jr. Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 my favorite are unprepped moroccan shark teeth in matrix. they're quite easy to prep. i did mine mostly with a dremel tool. the moroccan matrix on the shark teeth and mosasaur teeth seems pretty soft compared to the fossil itself which makes for easier prepping. not sure on the trilobites though, haven't tried that one yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THobern Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 He's got it; Moroccan otodus teeth are great for that sort of thing; cheap, easy to prep and great fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Knightia Posted November 10, 2009 Author Share Posted November 10, 2009 He's got it; Moroccan otodus teeth are great for that sort of thing; cheap, easy to prep and great fossils. Grand! Now, I just need to find a source of unprepped Moroccan teeth. I'll check the shark tooth dealers on the web, if any of you know of any sources, please let me know, 'kay? Thanks for your help! Gerard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenixflood Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Some fern fossils in shale can be split pretty easy too because of the material of the roack and how it is layered The soul of a Fossil Hunter is one that is seeking, always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I'm going to suggest any soft matrixed fossils. Thin shale, sandstone, mud stone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmytee Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 please let me know if you can find any unprepped mosasaur teeth -emily I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. ~ E. B. White Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Knightia Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share Posted November 11, 2009 please let me know if you can find any unprepped mosasaur teeth -emily I found this place on the internet, Spencer's Lapidary that sells fossils prepared so they are still in the matrix. Mixed feelings, the piece is already 'finished', but one could do more work to remove the matrix. $30 for a mosasaur tooth in matrix doesn't seem unreasonable, have emailed them to find out if they can get completely unprepped Mosasaur and Shark Teeth in Matrix. ---Gerard Spencer's Mosasaur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracer Jr. Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 while we're on the topic of moroccan fossil in matrix, most of the matrix is not real and the fossils were set into it. that mosasaur tooth is real, but the matrix doesn't appear real to me. if you go to "related items," where it says XLARGE otodus tooth in matrix, the matrix is real, but the tooth is basically completely putty. the pink part that you see on the tooth is where they repaired it with putty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmytee Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 hmm it does look a little sketchy with the rock filled in with matrix. I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. ~ E. B. White Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Knightia Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share Posted November 11, 2009 Thanks for the save, Tracer Jr. Be blessed! Gerard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmytee Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 i've been looking around... seems like ebay's the way to go. as long as it looks legitimate. I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. ~ E. B. White Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracer Jr. Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) the real moroccan matrix will normally have many little weirdnesses in it. the rock is kind of sparkly, and has white chunks etc in it. example of real matrix: http://www.jejufossil.co.kr/jnbd/upload/exhibition/1W_05_9.JPG most common type of not completely original moroccan fossil: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.parkcityfossils.com/pcfg/pcfg_9.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.parkcityfossils.com/pcfg-show-fossils.htm&usg=__xaRHWmqJkKJSIpgJKmE_H49r0oc=&h=404&w=1024&sz=56&hl=en&start=31&um=1&tbnid=Qto7aO212OtN7M:&tbnh=59&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmoroccan%2Bmosasaur%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1 the "fake" mosasaur material normally consists of real teeth that are set into a type of "matrix" with bones that they carve to resemble the shape of a jaw. i bought this piece as it was only half exposed in the matrix. took about three hours to prep. http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?app=gallery&module=images§ion=viewimage&img=6906 Edited November 15, 2009 by Tracer Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Knightia Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 Thanks again Tracer Jr. And great pics! The Otodus is beautiful! ---Gerard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracer Jr. Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 no problem and thank you it was quite fun prepping it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Menser Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 (edited) White River vertebrate fossils are pretty straight forward in their prep. They can be a bit pricey, but are a heck of a lot of fun to work with. Edited November 16, 2009 by Frank Menser Be true to the reality you create. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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