Fossil & Mineral Preparation

You've got the fossil, the tools, and the enthusiasm. But every prep session feels like a gamble: Is this the right air scribe pressure? Will this consolidant craze or yellow? How do I remove this hard calcite matrix without destroying the bone? This book answers those questions with data, not anecdotes.

Built for the workbench, not the armchair, this guide is organized for rapid lookup. It's packed with tables—air scribe settings by matrix hardness, consolidant compatibility charts, needle scaler tips by application—and numbered procedures with exact values for temperatures, mixing ratios, and application times. No vague 'use as needed.' Every chapter targets the real-world challenges of matrix removal and consolidation, from soft sandstone to indurated limestone, and from fragile fish scales to robust dinosaur bone.

You'll learn to diagnose your matrix, choose the right tool and setting, and apply consolidants with precision, whether you're using cyanoacrylates, epoxies, or Paraloid B-72. The troubleshooting chapter alone will save you hours of frustration. This isn't a coffee-table book; it's a tool, meant to be dog-eared, dust-covered, and open on your bench while you work.