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Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Fossil Finds, Processes, Adventures and Outings _ A Marine Fossil Project

Posted by: swizz Nov 13 2014, 10:10 AM

I collected this in northern Colorado earlier this year from a layer that has always been productive for me.
It is a fairly good sized Ammonite and I believe more than 50% of it is there but still encased in layers. I haven't cleaned any of this piece yet nor tried to extract anything, this is how it came out of the earth.
I have a conundrum because.... the closer I look, the more little treasures I see protruding from the layers that are protecting the Ammonite. For example, if you zoom the first image and look at the upper right area... there's part of a small black tooth with it's jawbone/gumline exposed. There are also tubeworm or nymph fossils partially exposed. I want to see more of the Ammonite but it'll be a tricky extraction as these other tidbits are equally interesting.
I may start with just warm soapy water and a toothbrush.
https://flic.kr/p/pLaErUhttps://flic.kr/p/pLaErU by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/pL5sjBhttps://flic.kr/p/pL5sjB by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Nov 13 2014, 10:20 AM

Here are some closer looks at what I mean.
Tooth
https://flic.kr/p/pL9xschttps://flic.kr/p/pL9xsc by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

??
https://flic.kr/p/pL68iZhttps://flic.kr/p/pL68iZ by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Tubewoms, Nymphs, or tiny Crustaceans (segmented bodies)
https://flic.kr/p/q3DBUQhttps://flic.kr/p/q3DBUQ by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Crusty Nov 13 2014, 10:36 AM

Definitely makes it tougher to get to the good stuff. I guess you could look at the "extra bits" as flour gold, you might sacrifice some of it to get to the good stuff, but the good stuff is what you want.

Look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Posted by: swizz Nov 13 2014, 10:45 AM

I'm not sure how good that Ammonite is gonna be as a specimen or if the matrix will allow it, kinda brittle. It'll be an interesting journey.
Now.... if there's "Ammolite" in there.... that's a different ballgame. happy088.gif

Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 13 2014, 02:59 PM

Very cool fossil find Chris! It's kind of like the combo piece, should it be altered or not.... chin.gif
I personally think it should be left as is! Excellent example of some of the cool fossil specimens found here in Colorado!
thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

Posted by: swizz Nov 13 2014, 03:44 PM

I'll know better what it looks like after I give it a good scrubbin. thumbsupsmileyanim.gif If it looks good nuff I may just leave it!
Unfortunately I broke my textile gun a couple years ago. I think that the proper tool would be various sizes of needle guns but I don't have that fancy stuff. I want to at least get that tooth out of there somehow. That's rare.... I've never found one anywhere near that area and would like to ID it out of extreme curiosity.
I also have another sample from that same layer which is much bigger. Maybe 2ft X 2ft and about 5 inches thick... well layered. No visible Ammonite on that one but maybe inside of it. It's outside under the snow now but I bet it has some interesting things in it also. I might get to that this winter too.
I gave Brandon and Erin a small layered piece from the same place when they were up at the CP outing. That may also have some cool stuff in it.

Posted by: Crusty Nov 13 2014, 05:42 PM

wish you were closer, I'd gladly loan you my textile gun.

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Nov 14 2014, 12:02 PM

Cool fossil finds Swizz signs021.gif , wonder if some small picks (like mechanics use or dental picks) might help do the trick. Let you pick at the little fractures delicately with a tiny point that has a handle. Careful of the finger tips though, that hurts! smiley-shocked003.gif

Did your textile gun just quit pumping? I've had to rebuild ours and replace the spring which was broken in two pieces. Basically just had to pull it all apart, clean and lightly oil for assembly with a new spring. I found the replacement spring at the local hardware and have dimensions for that if you need. Has to be a good stiff one though!

Look forward to seeing how the fossils turn out what ever you do with them. happy088.gif

Posted by: swizz Nov 14 2014, 04:53 PM

That's great advice on the picks Dan.... like tiny ice picks, I have those. That's a good tool to extract that tooth fossil for sure, and more.
I destroyed the textile gun by failing to clean vinegar out of it... I think I was spaying white vinegar though it. I took it apart and reassembled it but no-go. The engine hummed but no action. It found it's way to the dumpster. I'm gonna need a new one eventually. I think I'll research them a little better this time too. That one was China made and i think only about $50 but I bet there are way better guns out there. It's demise may have been a blessing in disguise? I dunno, just trying to keep the cup half full, lol. Wide open to brand suggestion for the next gun.

Posted by: MikeS Nov 14 2014, 09:13 PM

Nice fossils swizz! I think that a gentle scrub and picks are the safer way to go for what you want to do. Very cool.

Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 15 2014, 07:04 AM

QUOTE (swizz @ Nov 14 2014, 03:53 PM) *
That's great advice on the picks Dan.... like tiny ice picks, I have those. That's a good plan to extract that tooth fossil for sure, and more.



Just like a guy to want to pick at it!
smiley-laughing021.gif

Posted by: swizz Nov 15 2014, 07:25 AM

I can't help it..... curious! chores041.gif

Posted by: swizz Nov 22 2014, 11:17 AM

A little bit of progress, mostly on the right hand side.
Working on this side with a small pick to pry layers and a dry toothbrush. May add water to the process soon, all of the loose stuff is off.
https://flic.kr/p/q9DWPXhttps://flic.kr/p/q9DWPX by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 23 2014, 07:30 AM

It's coming along nicely Chris!
happy088.gif

Posted by: swizz Nov 23 2014, 02:46 PM

Thanks!
Here's the flipside. I think that this will be the better side if I can remove that matrix but it's gonna be a slow process and tricky.
https://flic.kr/p/qaGx54https://flic.kr/p/qaGx54 by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Mar 29 2015, 05:20 PM

Here are some lil Clam fossils from the same formation that I cleaned up today.
https://flic.kr/p/rRDppuhttps://flic.kr/p/rRDppu by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 30 2015, 07:29 AM

Very sweet find Chris!! greensmilies-012.gif Keep those fossil pictures coming...love um!

Posted by: swizz Aug 20 2015, 12:18 PM

Here is an unknown marine fossil I found the other day here in Grand County. It's matrix is a hard shale. I'm tempted to leave it as-is but will try and expose a little more. It looks to be one single clam shell with a few pronounced rib separations.
https://flic.kr/p/wDAp6Jhttps://flic.kr/p/wDAp6J by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: ASTROBLEME Aug 24 2015, 10:24 PM

QUOTE (swizz @ Nov 14 2014, 05:53 PM) *
That's great advice on the picks Dan.... like tiny ice picks, I have those. That's a good tool to extract that tooth fossil for sure, and more.
I destroyed the textile gun by failing to clean vinegar out of it... I think I was spaying white vinegar though it. I took it apart and reassembled it but no-go. The engine hummed but no action. It found it's way to the dumpster. I'm gonna need a new one eventually. I think I'll research them a little better this time too. That one was China made and i think only about $50 but I bet there are way better guns out there. It's demise may have been a blessing in disguise? I dunno, just trying to keep the cup half full, lol. Wide open to brand suggestion for the next gun.


Hello swizz,

Nice finds! I'm wondering if an electric engraver tool would be of any use on your project. The one I have cost about $20 and is adjustable for the speed of vibration. It works OK on some of the fossils I've cleaned however, I've never used it on fossils embedded in hard shale before.

Keep up the good work. Really enjoy they pics you've put up. thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

Posted by: swizz Aug 27 2015, 09:27 AM

Thanks Johnny! I like the engraving tool idea and think that I have one tucked away here somewhere.

Posted by: swizz Sep 13 2016, 05:40 PM

I picked up another cluster yesterday. This is rough and not cleaned yet... may have some surprises... or may become another yard ornament. biggrin.gif
https://flic.kr/p/Lf1ctuhttps://flic.kr/p/Lf1ctu by https://www.flickr.com/photos/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Denise Sep 13 2016, 05:58 PM

greensmilies-012.gif Wow, that's a sweet find Chris! I am going to bet that that one will look great and may hold a few surprises after a good cleaning! thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

Posted by: fenixsmom Sep 13 2016, 09:26 PM

Great find!

Posted by: EMac Sep 14 2016, 09:33 AM

That's really cool!

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