How to Extract Fossils

*Before extracting fossils, ensure you have permission to collect them by the private or public
landowner and/or state or federal agency of the area. Collecting fossils may come with a fee.
(Fossil Preparation)
Materials:
Ice pick
Chisel end rock hammer
2 Pointed end rock hammer
12Chisel
Small shovel
Consolidate (Butvar B76 Powder mixed
w/acetone)

Brushes (1, 1-1/2, 2 )

Plaster bandages
50 ft tape measure
Water
Tissue paper/ Toilet paper
(Fox, Field Equipment Checklist, 2009)
(Fox, Basic Field Preparation Tips, 2009).

Step 1- Determine the fossils size

A. Clean the surfaces with a brush and carefully dig around the area with an ice pick (Fox, Field
Prep., 2009).
1. Draw out how big the fossil is and how much area you will have to dig with the tape
measure.

Step 2- Remove the overburden

B. Trench around the fossil, about 2to 3
away (Fox. Field Prep., 2009)
1. Uncover how deep the top of the
fossil is.
C. Do not take the whole fossil out, the
sediment and dirt keeps the fossil
together (Fox, Field Prep., 2009).

Step 3- Consolidate
D. Reinforce the fragile areas of the fossil
with a consolidant (Butvar B76) (Fox,
Basic Field Prep., 2009).
Figure 1- A fossil with a cleaned surface and trenches
1. Use a pipette, soap bottle, or brush to around it (Hone, 2009).
place the consolidant on the fossil if needed (Fox, Field Prep., 2009).

Step 4- Trench
E. Trench until the fossil is encased in rock (Hone, 2009).
F. Chip away the bottom to make a pedestal with chisels and picks, making a mushroom shape.
i) Leave enough rock to keep it well supported (Hone, 2009).

Step 5- Jacket
After trenching around and to the bottom of the fossil:
G. Place a layer of tissue paper or toilet paper on the fossil/pedestal (Fox, Field Prep., 2009).

1. Add water on the paper before placing it on the rock or brush the water on to the paper
after placing it on the rock (Hone, 2009).
i) This will stop the plaster from sticking to the fossil (Hone, 2009).
H. Place plaster bandages on the fossil, 2 to 3 layers should protect the fossil during transport
(Fox, Basic Field Prep., 2009).
1. Overlap each piece of plaster for further protection during transport (Hone, 2009).
i) Make sure the plaster is tight to the fossil and rock (Hone, 2009).
I. Wait for the plaster to harden (Fox, Field Prep., 2009).
Figure 2- Placing paper on
the fossil and rock
(Hone, 2009)
Figure 3- The fossil and
rock with plaster on top
(Hone, 2009)

Step 6- Final Cut

J. Start cutting the support away from the top.
1. Make sure that when you turn over the pedestal that the fossil does not fall out of the
jacket (Hone, 2009).
K. Flip it over to start jacketing the bottom layer the same way you jacketed the top and sides
(Hone, 2009).

Figure 4- Chiseling away

the support (Hone, 2009)
Figure 5- The fossil and
rock is flipped over, ready
to be jacketed (Hone,
2009)

Step 7-Labeling
Label the jacket with:
L. Specimen name
M. Collection or locality notes
N. Jacket Construction
O.

P. Orientation of the specimen

Q. (Fossil Prep.)
R.

S. Now you have successfully excavated a fossil!

T. References
U.
V. Hone, Dave. (2009, May 18). Making field jackets. Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
https://archosaurmusings.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/making-field-jackets/
W.
X. Fossil Preparation:The Paleontology Portal. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://preparation.paleo.amnh.org/35/techniques-in-the-field
Y.
Z. Fox, Marilyn. (2009). Basic Field Preparation Tips. Retrieved April 22, 2015, from
http://preparation.paleo.amnh.org/assets/Fox_Field_Prep_Notesv2withimages.pdf
AA.
AB. --- (2009). Field Equipment Checklist. Retrieved April 22, 2015, from
http://preparation.paleo.amnh.org/assets/Fox_Field_Equipment_Checklist.pdf
AC.