cincihunter Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I have a large rock that contains a large conglomeration of different shells. My goal is to identify every one of these shells. My question is..... how can I develop a system to tell which shell is which after I identify it? Anyone have any suggestions? Just another fossil hunter from Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm a member of the Dry Dredgers. My real name is Adam if anyone's curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 maybe take a photo and label it with the fossil names on your computer, or with #'s on the photo and corresponding names on paper if it's to crowded! I don't know how to do that but if you check some posts on here you should be able to find out! Check some of Harry Pristis posts on photography, he's the king! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Daniel AKA (Bones) Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 If I have a piece that has multiples. I number each specie beneath 1,2,3,etc. very small. Then on the back or bottom, describe each number. v = 0.25 * g0.5 * SL1.67 * h-1.17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nicholas Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 If I have a piece that has multiples. I number each specie beneath 1,2,3,etc. very small. Then on the back or bottom, describe each number. I'm with bones, I have a small piece with a few different shells and if I were to get around to label it... I'd do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincihunter Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Sounds like a winner to me! Thanks guys! Now I just have to finish prepping it before I get around to labeling...... Just another fossil hunter from Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm a member of the Dry Dredgers. My real name is Adam if anyone's curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkchaser Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 maybe take a photo and label it with the fossil names on your computer, or with #'s and corresponding names! I like this idea a lot. So much in fact that I plan on stealing it. RAWR! I am zeee dead bobcat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest solius symbiosus Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I use a locality and acquisition number for my pieces, and then add letters if there are multiple fossils on one piece. Then in your notes, describe the fossil, e.g; 5- 21 then a, b, c,... ect.(site 5; 21st piece collected; fossil a, fossil b, fossil c,... ect.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I have a large rock that contains a large conglomeration of different shells. My goal is to identify every one of these shells. My question is..... how can I develop a system to tell which shell is which after I identify it? Anyone have any suggestions? Nice problem to have! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 If I have a piece that has multiples. I number each specie beneath 1,2,3,etc. very small. Then on the back or bottom, describe each number. I just hate writing on my fossils! but to each his own! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharktoothguy11222 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I use the, as Auspex so eloquently put it, the "Trinomial System" That is, I use the first three letters of the Fossil Formation first, followed by the species number, followed by the individual fossil As an example: Bah-1-001 Bah---- stands for the Bahia Inglesa Formation 1-------stands for the species of animal. In this case, Great White. 001-------- stands for the individual great white shark tooth. And so, it would go on, Bah-1-002, Bah-1-003, Bah-1-004, etc, etc. And the, Bah-2-001 is Isurus hastalis. ----------Bah-3-001 Odontaspis ferox. etc, etc, etc. Hope this helps! Tha tighin fodham, fodham, fodham! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 but what about the locality? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest solius symbiosus Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I just hate writing on my fossils! but to each his own! How will you know what is what if you don't have some kind of reference. You might remember what it is, and where it was found for a while, but in 20 years??? If you keep good notes, and catologue properly, the fossils significance will be kept for prosperity. Otherwise, it is just a pretty rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 One last thing - I agree pretty much with everything above - but the key is DO SOMETHING!! Just don't wander around without some type of system - whether it very complicated or just plain numbers; otherwise you end up with a garage/basement/room full of rocks and nothing to show for your work at collecting them. My personal system - I keep a field book. Each time I go out, I note the locale (or locales), the date, time spent collecting, even the weather. I list who I was with, what formation we thought we were in and general notes on collecting that day. Nothing elaborate. The bottom of the page I list the fossils found that day. The system I use for numbering is the date in "yymmdd" format followed by a dash and three numbers starting with 001 (eg. 090130-001) I then try to identify the fossil at home and fill in the pertinent details so a completed entry looks like this- 090130-001 "Tylostoma sp" gastropod. Where I collect a multitude of fossils of the same type - Hemiaster echinoids for example - they all have the same number. I use "white out" typing mistake cover to paint a strip on the bottom of the fossil and use a black ink pen to put in the date and number - eg 090130-001. If the fossil is too small for a number, I put it in a plastic coin container, make a lable and affix it to the outside of the contailer. With that number on the fossil or container all I have to do in the future when I pick it up - whether it be tomorrow or 20 years from now (as some of my fossils are at least that old in my collection) - I just refer back to my field book and everything about that day - including that fossil comes back - even the weather!! But regardless of what you choose - choose something and start - you can always modify, elaborate or change later but you can never go back in time and regather those memories. Good luck Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonemanX3 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have a large rock that contains a large conglomeration of different shells. My goal is to identify every one of these shells. My question is..... how can I develop a system to tell which shell is which after I identify it? Anyone have any suggestions? Usually when I catalog my fossils on a computer file I have one picture in it of the rock that the fosils in and then the second pic. is a picture of the one I'm talking about in the file. In here I've given you guys an attactment of an example of one of my finished computer files for a fossil.112108_CBSPC_NYMSCP.doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Usually when I catalog my fossils on a computer file I have one picture in it of the rock that the fosils in and then the second pic. is a picture of the one I'm talking about in the file. In here I've given you guys an attactment of an example of one of my finished computer files for a fossil.112108_CBSPC_NYMSCP.doc very nice! thats how I like to do it, cataloged but no writing on the fossil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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