Once fossils are acquired, they usually take a stop in the preparatory lab before they are integrated into the main collection holdings. Check out some of the ways we get fossils ready for curation below.

  • drying oven
    The oven is used to dry specimens that are too damp to be prepared. It can also be used to dry matrix.
  • tool for preparing fossils
    This tool acts as a tiny jackhammer to blast extra or unwanted sediment off of specimens.
  • saw (a tool)
    The rock saw is used to trim oversize or unwieldy specimens down to size.
  • microscope
    Microscope for viewing and repairing detailed specimens.