Malcolmt Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Finally I can share an incredible piece with you all!!!!!!!! I have been very fortunate to be able to do invertebrate fossil preparation for The Royal Ontario Museum (The ROM). I have recently been given permission to share pictures of some of the work that I have done for them. Thank you Dr. J.B. Caron. In the coming weeks I will share some pictures of other pieces I did for them. In total I prepared about 12 pieces for them out of their collection and I donated 7 pieces for the new gallery. In case you are not already aware they will be opening a major new fossil gallery "The Dawn of Life" later this year. Here is a major piece that I did for them last year. The piece is quite stunning in person , my photography does it no justice. You will be able to see it in person in the new gallery. There are over 60 Leviceraurus mammilloides on the plate. As well as a few other species of crinoid and trilobite. To spare you all the waiting here is the finished piece The piece was prepared over a 12 month period and required around 200 hours to prepare. It was prepared under a Olympus zoom microscope using the following air scribes (CP9361, ARO, Pferd MST-31, Paleotools Microjac 2) The air abrasion was performed with a Comco MB1000 using baking soda and dolomite in the 40 micron range and mostly 20 to 30 PSI. Since this was a piece of scientific importance (there may be a new species on here and it potentially shows some sexual dimorphism ) all associations were left on the plate. If a brachiopod was covering a trilobite it was not removed. Partial trilos were not removed to exposed complete ones below it. Dr. Caron was quite specific in what he wanted in the way the specimen was prepared. There are probably more trilos that have not been exposed and these may be discovered in the future by Xray. At 200 hours I quit searching for more as the plate had nice aesthetics and the museum needed it to do professional photography and measuring for the display. This picture is as it was found in the field back in 2019 by David A. who is a member here on the fossil forum. The fossil was found in an Ordovician quarry (St. Mary's Cement) that allows a very limited number of qualified collectors in a few times per year. The slab as found required 4 people to bring it down the side of a very large blast pile using a blanket. It was estimated that the slab weighed about 300 pounds. Here I am u The 2nd and 3rd pictures are me cutting and thinning the slab using a checkerboard technique done with a diamond rock saw. This got the piece to a transport weight of about 60 pounds. The rest of the pictures are a sequence leading up to the finished piece which weighs about 50 pounds and was the first picture shown in this post. If you have any questions please feel free to ask or send me a private message if you prefer. The piece in my basement before any preparation. Not so pretty at this point in its life.... The piece at 1 hour The final shot here was with about 20 hours to go 7 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Amazing fossil, amazing prep!! You really brought that one to life. Don 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 That is absolutely amazing! Incredible work Can't wait to see the others 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossilis Willis Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 The ROM is lucky to have you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Thanks for all you do.... 2 The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Incredible specimen which had the good fortune to find its way to your capable hands. We enjoyed our (slightly rushed) visit to the ROM a few years back. Looking forward to a return visit sometime in the not too too distant future. Will enjoy seeing this one up close and personal. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Wow and wow! Incredible specimen, magnificent preparation. Congratulations. Hopefully, someday I will get to see it on display at the ROM. Awesome!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Breakin' Rocks Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 (edited) Woah, that is some serious time and effort, and it paid off in spectacular fashion. Cheers, Brett Edited July 8, 2021 by Brett Breakin' Rocks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Great stuff! I'm glad you were allowed to show it as I may never make it to the ROM to see it in person. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Excellent!! Looking forward to seeing your other masterpieces. 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Stunning piece. Thank you so much for sharing. 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 I remember the day that was found. I have some additional original field find photos I could post here if you like, @Malcolmt, just to show how far you took this piece. 2 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainefossils Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Wow! Amazing preparation! Congratulations on a job well done. 1 The more I learn, the more I find that I know nothing. Regards, Asher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Outstanding find and QUALITY prep!!!!!! Did you sign that piece of art?? The Royal Ontario Museum is under 2 hours from Buffalo. I will put it on my bucket list for the next time I am in Buffalo. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 A masterpiece! The ROM is fortunate to have found you. Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted July 7, 2021 Author Share Posted July 7, 2021 3 hours ago, Kane said: I remember the day that was found. I have some additional original field find photos I could post here if you like, @Malcolmt, just to show how far you took this piece. We have the permission of The ROM to post pics and I am sure that Dave A. would not object. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Spectacular job, Malcolm! Thanks for posting this. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "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...
Malcolmt Posted July 7, 2021 Author Share Posted July 7, 2021 1 hour ago, minnbuckeye said: Outstanding find and QUALITY prep!!!!!! Did you sign that piece of art?? The Royal Ontario Museum is under 2 hours from Buffalo. I will put it on my bucket list for the next time I am in Buffalo. Mike I wrote on the back of the piece in very neat super fine sharpie all the details of where and when it was found , who found it and who prepped it. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historianmichael Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Wow! That is incredible find and an amazing prep. The ROM is incredibly lucky to have it in its collection. I will have to put the ROM on my list of places to visit soon. Follow me on Instagram (@fossil_mike) to check out my personal collection of fossils collected and acquired over more than 15 years of fossil hunting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 36 minutes ago, Malcolmt said: We have the permission of The ROM to post pics and I am sure that Dave A. would not object. I’ll do one better and provide closeup details of your fine work. 9 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted July 7, 2021 Author Share Posted July 7, 2021 16 minutes ago, Kane said: I’ll do one better and provide closeup details of your fine work. Id still like to see some more field pics I really only have the few I included in the post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 11 minutes ago, Malcolmt said: Id still like to see some more field pics I really only have the few I included in the post. Coming right up… 4 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 Im not a trilobite guy but if I was, this is the piece I would start off with! Some dang nice work Malcolmt. and I also looking forward to seeing more of your prep work. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Trilo Posted July 7, 2021 Share Posted July 7, 2021 I am a trilobite guy and that is spectacular. Amazing preparation I can just imagine what it looks like in person. The ROM is almost a 24 hour drive from here so probably won't make it out there soon but I will eventually. This makes me anxious to see the other preps you did for them. Your prep is so good it looks like they are all walking over each other and you just took a picture of the commotion, like you lifted up a rock and they all scattered in different directions. Can't say it in words, its wonderful. “If fossils are not "boggling" your mind then you are simply not doing it right” -Ken (digit) "No fossil is garbage, it´s just not completely preserved” -Franz (FranzBernhard) "With hammer in hand, the open horizon of time, and dear friends by my side, what can we not accomplish together?" -Kane (Kane) "We are in a way conquering time, reuniting members of a long lost family" -Quincy (Opabinia Blues) "I loved reading the trip reports, I loved the sharing, I loved the educational aspect, I loved the humor. It felt like home. It still does" -Mike (Pagurus) “The best deal I ever got was getting accepted as a member on The Fossil Forum. Not only got an invaluable pool of knowledge, but gained a loving family as well.” -Doren (caldigger) "it really is nice, to visit the oasis that is TFF" -Tim (fossildude19) "Life's Good! -Adam (Tidgy's Dad) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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