How to Care for Fossils

Fossils can be shells, bones, teeth, footprints, leaves, seeds, tree parts, or any remains of long-ago plants and animals.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Flat Paintbrushes
• Hobby Paintbrushes
• Spray Glues
• Aleene's Tacky Glue
• Cross-stitch Thread Boxes
• Extra-soft Toothbrushes
• Notebooks
• Paper Towels
• Burlap
• Fishing Fly Box
• Cold Chisels
• Safety Goggles
• Specialty Hammers

1. Make a note of where and when the fossil was found before you remove it from its original location.
2. Keep a log on all your fossil finds. This will help you return to the location or research more information on a particular fossil.
3. Remove the fossil from the site, wrap it in burlap or paper towels, and pack it in a box for transporting.
4. Clean the fossil with a soft brush. Fossils from the sea such as shells or sharks' teeth should be soaked in a weak solution of bleach water to remove the salt. See "eHow to Clean Shells" under Related eHows. Fossils made of clay should only be cleaned with a soft cloth or brush. Fossils made of iron pyrites need to be brushed clean and varnished, as they will decompose if left in the air.
5. Mend a fossil that has a small crack or weak corner with clear glue. The points on sharks' teeth can be fragile, but a couple of coats of glue will strengthen a tooth.
6. Store cleaned fossils in a case with separate compartments. Use a plastic fish lure box or an embroidery thread box.
7. Label the compartment with a felt marker - write down the name of the fossil and its log number. Remove only one fossil at a time from its compartment to prevent mix-ups.

Tips & Warnings

• A fragile or crumbly fossil can be strengthened with quick-drying glue that's sprayed or brushed on before removing it from the fossil bed.
• Keep your smaller tools and cleaning supplies in a tackle box.
• Do not remove fossils from restricted lands or damage the fossil bed.