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PALEONTOLOGICAL MUSEUM and STUDY COLLECTIONS
A. Hugh Adams Central Campus - John H. Payne Hall
The preservation and cataloging of specimens is one of the most important features of fossil collection, identification, and maintenance.
PRESERVATION AND CATALOGING OF FOSSIL SPECIMENS
Preservation of Fossils
- Gently brush with toothbrush or hand brush
- Further cleaning can be done with an artist's brush and dental pick
- Fragments are carefully glued together with white glue (diluted with water if necessary) and applied with a fine brush
- While the glue sets, fragments may be held in proper position with plasticine modeling clay
- Fossils should be thoroughly dried in a drying oven.
- Butvar-76 is used for fossil bone preservation because it is easily reversible and shows long-term integrity. It is also relatively inexpensive. Butvar is can be purchased from the Florida Paleontological Society and is used by the Florida State Museum . The dilute solution is flowed onto the bone with a soft brush.
Identification of Species
- Identification of specimens will follow current systematics
- Notations can be made if the nomenclature is disputed by leading paleontologists
Cataloging and Display of Specimens
- Specimens may be numbered with a catalog number, storage location, and barcode for easy location and inventory
- Scientific displays may be arranged according to age, animal kinship, or site of discovery
- Fossils will be labeled with both scientific name and common name where appropriate as well as age, formation, and origin if known
- Smaller fossils may be presented in Riker Mounts available from biological supply houses
- Some smaller fossils may also be cast in a clear resin block that can easily be handled by students.
Broward College A. Hugh Adams Central Campus |
A. Hugh Adams Central Campus
3501 SW Davie Road
John H. Payne Hall, Building 7
Davie, FL 33314