Kennyburns Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) Hey I am trying to extract a fossil (ammonite) from a carbonate rock with a drill (mechanical extraction). However, it gets much harder to remove the matrix as I go further down into the rock. I was wondering if it was any techniques, one could use to soften the matrix. I have been thinking about doing acid treatment in the form of acetic acid explained in (Green 2001). I also heard about a technique called something like ultrasonic (Not sure if the I remember the name correctly). This is a machine that we have at my university. The sample is supposed to be laid in water and the machine then bombard the rock somehow... Do you people have any tips? Here is an image of my ammonite. As you can see it is quit buried. http://tinypic.com/r/2gwceva/9 Edited November 23, 2015 by Kennyburns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 It would help if we could have a picture, because the state of the fossil can change how you can get it out. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 You are using a "drill"? As in electric drill with masonry bit? Keep the bit sharp, and employ infinite patience. A pneumatic scribe would be the best tool, but you have to use what you got. Acid is indiscriminate, as are ultrasonic energy; mechanical extraction is best in this case. "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...
Kennyburns Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 No, Administrator. I'm using bits that are specific for extracting fossils. Thanks for the replay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 No, Administrator. I'm using bits that are specific for extracting fossils. Thanks for the replay! Good; keep them at peek sharpness nonetheless "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...
jpc Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 This looks like a job for an airscribe rather thsana drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 I agree with JP and Auspex on the pneumatic airscribe. It also looks like you may only have a partial ammonite there, but you will only know for certain once you've removed some more matrix. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyburns Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 (edited) Unfortunately I do not have access to an airscribe at my university. I have only access to a drill with plenty of different angels and surfaces, tons of different acids and the ultrasonic energy. Btw this is my first try on extracting a fossil from a rock using mechanical extraction method. Before this I have only tried to dissolve carbonate rocks that contained fossils with HCl and acetic acid. Edited November 24, 2015 by Kennyburns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Go back a step... Hammer and chisel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Pocock Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Try a simple Dremil engraver only cost about $20 and it should be effective on the matrix. Regards Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 First, address your preparation thinking "I'm removing matrix from the fossil". Removing the fossil from the matrix almost guarantees significant damage to the specimen. It's all in how you look at the situation. Second, I agree with JPC. A hammer and chisel will work much better than the drill. Third, get a different ammonite. I think Roger is right that you have a partial ammonite. 1 Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts