Inside the CFDC's Fossil Prep Lab
Excavating fossils is only the first step. Find out how fossils are transformed in our very own fossil prep lab.
Restoring Sid (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
How does a fossil go from this...
The New Sid Exhibition (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
...to this?
In our previous story, you learned how fossils are found and excavated. But that's only the first step in getting fossils ready for research and display.
The Renovated Fossil Prep Lab (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
The Fossil Prep Lab
At our newly renovated laboratory, we use a variety of preparation methods to clean and reassemble fossils.
Choosing a Method
Fossils are found in a variety of conditions, which means we have to use different methods to clean and prepare them. Some fossils can just be washed, but others need to be removed from the surrounding rock.
We also find fascinating microfossils like this shark tooth by sifting through sediments using a series of graded mesh.
Opening the Field Jacket
While some fossils are small enough to remove by hand, many larger and more fragile specimens have to be enclosed in plaster "field jackets" that can be opened using a small saw once safely transported to the lab.
Once the jacket is opened, the matrix (rocks and sediments) still have to be removed to expose the fossils. If the matrix is soft enough, basic tools like brushes and awls can be used to remove it.
Using Air Scribes
When the matrix is too hard to be removed manually, mechanical tools can be used. The air scribe, pictured here, can easily break apart harder sediments.
In-Situ Photograph - Wood (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
Keeping Everything in One Piece
Consolidant (a type of glue) is often used throughout the fossil prep process to prevent fragile fossils from falling apart further while we are working on them. The thin solution can be applied directly to the fossil as soon as cracks are noticed.
Putting the Pieces Back Together
Despite all of this careful work, fossils are often already damaged by the effects of time, which means they need to be reassembled once they're freed from the matrix. Sometimes, this is as simple as gluing a single bone back together using an epoxy glue.
Plaster Repairs (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
Filling in the Gaps
Since a fossil is rarely preserved in its entirety, we sometimes also use materials like plaster to improve its structural integrity.
Unearthing Fossils (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
Reassembling Full Specimens
Other times, we are lucky enough to find complete or near-complete specimens. In these cases, reassembly can be a bit more complex, and more work is needed before the specimen can be displayed.
Research (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
Identification
Once the bones have been restored as much as possible, palaeontologists identify the different parts of the skeleton so they can be arranged in their original orientation.
Reconstructed Mosasaur Skull (2023) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
Mounting Specimens
The CFDC is also working on mounting some of its specimens onto steel frames so visitors can better understand what ancient marine animals used to look like. These can be composed of a single individual, or, if not enough bones are available, multiple individuals.
Bruce the Mosasaur (2022) by Canadian Fossil Discovery CentreCanadian Fossil Discovery Centre
Replicas
We also create replicas, which serve as great educational tools to fill in the gaps when the original fossil is too fragmentary. Bruce is a great example of a full-specimen replica that shows just how big he was! We'll be explaining the replica-making process in another Story.
Want to visit the prep lab yourself? Book a VIP tour: Museum Guided Tours – Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (discoverfossils.com)
