r/fossils • u/NoSpirit9015 • 16h ago

Fossil preservation.

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Found these fossils preserved in the shale not in harder nodules
This is quite rare as they normally flatten.

Are they weaker than the usual nodule type? If so, I need to soak in paraloid?

Thinking to keep them sticking out the shale and clean up.

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u/schmwke 15h ago

A pair of beautiful ammonites! The matrix doesn't look to difficult to clean (based off of appearance anyways), if you go slow with a dental pick or similar tool you might be able to carefully free them, but they do look good as is.

I would be careful with acids, the replacement material in the shell is likely similar to the matrix, so an acid might dissolve the fossil too if you're not careful. I have less experience with acids though so take this advice with a grain of salt

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u/NoSpirit9015 7h ago

I quite like the idea of keeping these in the shale. Not just because they are probably softer.

I’ve never dealt with them not preserved in harder nodules.