Fossil Replicas

Making fossil replicas is as much an art as it is a science. See how the CFDC creates lifelike replicas that enrich the museum experience.

By Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Clidastes Mosasaur Skull (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Fossils

Fossils are at the center of the CFDC experience, and displaying them is a great way of educating the public about the ancient marine life that used to flourish in Manitoba.

Osteichthyes Vertebrae (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Fragments

However, these fossils are often too fragile or fragmentary to be displayed effectively or safely. How can we make these valuable specimens available to the public while protecting them from damage?

Plesi the Plesiosaur (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Replicas

One option is to create replicas. Undistinguishable from the original fossil, replicas are frequently used for display in permanent or temporary museum exhibits throughout the world.

Choosing Methods

Museums use various methods ranging from 3D printing to mold-and-cast to create replicas, choosing their methods based on the size and condition of the original fossil and the purpose of the display. For this Story, we'll focus on the methods used by the CFDC.

Mosasaur Jaw (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Our Collections

The CFDC has created replicas of a number of fossils in its collection, such as this fossilized mosasaur jaw.

Mosasaur Jaw Replica (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Small Replicas

For smaller replicas such as the one on the left, the CFDC uses silicone to create molds of the fossils in our collection, and then we fill them with a plastic resin and paint them.

Clidastes Skull Replica (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

We've made replicas of many of the most well-known specimens in our collection, like the Clidastes skull we saw earlier. You can even buy some of these replicas in our gift shop!

Femur Replica (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Large Replicas

Replicas of larger fossils can be more challenging to create. Let's take a look at how the CFDC's executive director, Adolfo Cuetara, created a replica of a 2-m long sauropod femur using the mold-and-cast method. Turiasaurus is believed to be the largest dinosaur found in Europe

Creating a Mold, Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, 2023, From the collection of: Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Creating a Clay Bed, Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, 2023, From the collection of: Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Show lessRead more

The first step in this process is to create a mold. To start, the parts of this Turiasaurus femur were placed in a sandbox and surrounded by a clay base.

Applying Silicone (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

The Inner Layer

Then, a layer of silicone rubber was applied directly to the fossil to create a flexible inner layer.

Applying Polyester (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Completing the Mold

Next, polyester was applied to create a harder layer. The pieces were then flipped over, and the process was repeated for the other side until the mold was complete.

Original Fossil vs Replica (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Fossil vs. Replica

The mold was then filled with resin to create cast, and this cast was painted to match the original fossil. Can you tell which one is the real fossil?

Suzy the Mosasaur (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Full Specimen Replicas

Replicas are especially important when it comes to displaying full specimens in a meaningful way. Due to the effects of time, it's exceedingly rare to find a complete skeleton, and even when most of the bones are found, they're often in a state that makes them hard to recognize.

The Original Bruce (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Fragments of Bruce

While you might know Bruce from our award-winning displays, you likely wouldn't even recognize what kind of animal Bruce was just by looking at the collected bones.

Bruce the Mosasaur (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

The Bruce Replica

To create a clearer picture, the CFDC and its partners have created complete replicas of entire specimens like the famous mosasaur Bruce. These replicas provide invaluable information about the animal's overall appearance and so much more.

Roto-Casting

While some full-specimen replicas also use the mold-and-cast method for each individual bone, more complex replicas can use roto-casting, which ensures that the resin fills even the smallest details.

Hesperornis Reconstruction (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre

A Challenge

The museum experience wouldn't be complete without replicas, but you might not even realize it's a replica when you see one. When you next visit the CFDC, try to see if you can figure out which displays contain replicas and which displays contain real fossils.

Credits: Story

Want to see more of the CFDC's replicas? Replicas of Fossils – Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (discoverfossils.com)

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Stories from Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre

Online Exhibit