AJ Plai Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 (edited) I have heard a lot about how some "not-so-perfect" fossils are put into re-constructed or fake matrix in order to add the "raw natural appeal" or to hide the bad parts within the matrix to dupe buyers. My question is this, how can you detect these fake matrices and what are the techniques or tips and tools you can use to test if the matrix is real & original or not? I am in the process of looking for mosasaur tooth and I have heard many mosasaur tooth in matrix employ this particular trick and would like to know so I don't fall prey to it! Also, do fossils embedded in matrix tend to be valued more than ones that are matrix-free? Apart from hiding the bad features of specimen, does this practice also increase the value of the fossil as well? Anyway thx for the enlightening info in advance Edited January 25, 2013 by AJ Plai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Just to say, not all fake matrix is bad. I make some fake matrix up out of chalk dust and PVA glue to fill in cracks/holes the matrix to make the fossil look better. Others make fake matrix to hide bad parts as you say. Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painshill Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 There's good info here on fake Moroccan fossils: http://fakefossils.webs.com/fakemoroccanfossils.htm Browse around that site because there's good general information plus country-specific stuff too. Roger I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew);Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who [Rudyard Kipling] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Plai Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 Thx for the info, very useful and enjoyable read! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Looking under magnification if you can see any bubbles then it is restored or fake. It is difficult to get all the bubbles out of any of the quick and dirty method of faking matrix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelhead9 Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Matrix is often faked by Morrocans by mixing sand with some type of glue or putty. If you can rub bits of sand off of the matrix easily with your finger it probably is fake. Generally, a fossil out of matrix is more valuable than one still in it because more time has been spent prepping it and you can completely see the state of the specimen. It is usually a safe assumption that if someone goes to the trouble of removing a mosasaur tooth from matrix and then puts it back in there is likely a problem with the back of the tooth. Matrix, however, if prepped well, can add a great sculptural quality to a fossil. Still Life Fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 It can be tough to distinguish the "planted teeth" from the naturally-embedded teeth. Sometimes, you can see how clean the matrix surface is right to within millimeters of the tooth and suddenly there seems to be a halo of disturbed matrix all around it - different color, contrast, and/or texture. A piece of matrix was scooped out and the tooth was sunk into a thin layer of the same matrix ground up with glue. A really good prep person could make it tough to detect. A fossil in its matrix isn't any more valuable than a loose fossil. It is a personal choice. Many collectors prefer a tooth or bone to be out of matrix especially if it is small. Someone who collects fossils from a particular deposit might like to have a specimen in the original rock just to have an example of that especially as part of a display. The matrix may have a texture or color that is in attractive contrast with the fossil. I have heard a lot about how some "not-so-perfect" fossils are put into re-constructed or fake matrix in order to add the "raw natural appeal" or to hide the bad parts within the matrix to dupe buyers. My question is this, how can you detect these fake matrices and what are the techniques or tips and tools you can use to test if the matrix is real & original or not? I am in the process of looking for mosasaur tooth and I have heard many mosasaur tooth in matrix employ this particular trick and would like to know so I don't fall prey to it! Also, do fossils embedded in matrix tend to be valued more than ones that are matrix-free? Apart from hiding the bad features of specimen, does this practice also increase the value of the fossil as well? Anyway thx for the enlightening info in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I generally prefer a fossil to be in matrix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Plai Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 A lot of good tips and technique knowledge guys. Very much appreciated, thx! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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