From Field to Collections and Study

Thus far we have not collected anything large that requires preparation (or removing the fossil from its surrounding rock and stabilizing the remains). Most of the remains we have collected have been relatively small (that will change this summer), consisting of small isolated bone pieces and a few hundred trilobites. We thought we would show a few of the trilobite specimens we collected in California and track their progress from the field to collections and study.

Upon returning from the field, the trilobites are taken into our cataloging room where they are identified by John Foster, Dinosaur Journey Museum curator (to the species level if possible). During this process he will also take any measurements he may need from the specimen and make notes of these for his research.

After the specimen has been identified it is given to me to enter into our museum database (we use the program Past Perfect). In this database we enter as much information as we can, including:

• land collected from (BLM, Forest Service, Park Service, private…)
• catalog number
• object identification
• date and who entered the information
• the collector and date
• the identifier and date
• preparator and date (when it applies)
• any preservation methods (tools used; conservation materials, such as glues, used)
• site name and locality number (we have a separate database for this information)
• description of the specimen
• taxonomic classification
• geological formation and age
• condition
• a photo
• any notes (as needed)

We then write out a specimen label for each item cataloged. These labels include the specimen number, identification, element, formation, age, locality and locality number. These labels are printed on acid free paper and are included with the specimen in the collections room.

Specimens are places in the appropriate size box, with a layer of ethafoam cut to the correct box size and placed under the specimen. The first step in labeling the fossils included putting down a small ”stripe” on the specimen as a basecoat before writing, using Paraloid B-72 (a general-purpose thermoplastic acrylic resin), which is allowed to dry fully. If the specimen is light enough we write directly on this surface. If the specimen is darker, as many of our specimens are, we put a similar small “stripe” of white acrylic paint on top of the B-72 basecoat. When this is dry we write the specimen number onto the item. An overcoat of B-72 is then placed over the specimen number, to help with durability.

Photographs of the specimens are taken to enter into the database. Specimens are then moved from the cataloging room to our collections room where they are stored in steel Lane Cabinets and cabinets made by Steel Fixture (specialty built cases for geology and paleontology specimens). These specimens are now ready for anyone who would like to visit the collections to study the items. Superb items are put on display in the museum.