Need Other's Viewpoint.

[bear-dog]

I have hunted fossils in Florida for...just say a long time.Something keeps poping up that makes me think.The matrix I usually hunt in is dirt[sand].All you have to do to remove the fossil is gently pull it out.

From time to time I run across the same matrix compacted to the point of being like cement.You have to break the section away containing the fossil and use a dremmel to remove it.What causes this?It seems strange to have the same matrix,one loose and the other rock hard.

I am open to suggestions as I am stumped.

[Bill]

Recrystallization of dissolved calcite, from the fossils and surrounding matrix, often cements the sand grains, producing a hard lens.

[bear-dog]

Thanks very much.It just seemed odd how you could get the same fossils in the same dirt ,but have such a hard time removing the fossils from the same type dirt.

[frozen_turkey]

Recrystallization of dissolved calcite, from the fossils and surrounding matrix, often cements the sand grains, producing a hard lens.

basicly sandstone jr.

[Auspex]

basicly sandstone jr.

That's a pretty good analogy!