Education and Resources
Preparators' PDFs
A variety of PDFs for preparators are listed below. View and download Preparators' symposia & session, technical papers, past talks and posters, how-to guides, FAQs, etc.
Preparators' symposia & sessions
Production of multi-purpose molds for versatile, detailed replication of large-scaled fossils: the Basilosaurus isis casting project as an exemplar :
Michael Cherney, William Sanders, Philip Gingerich, and Iyad Zalmout, University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Mohamed Antar, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Wadi-Al-Hitan World Heritage Site, Fayum, Egypt. 2009
- Acid preparation of fossils using sulfamic acid, a weak organic acid, and its advantages over acetic and formic acid preparation: Carlos Padilla and Mary Parra, Fundacion Colombiana de Geobiologia, Bogota, Colombia. 2009
- Armature damage in a mounted specimen:
Robert Evander, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. 2009
- Temporary gap-filling to stabilize an exploded matrix for fossil preparation: the sand and Butvar B-76 technique:
Amy
Davidson, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. 2009
- Reversible filler: A fresh look at Butvar-76 :
Shawn Haugrud, and Brian Compton, East Tennessee Museum of Natural History, Gray, TN. 2008
- Jacketing the desert sands :
Marilyn Fox, Faysal Bibi, and Andrew Hill, Yale University, New Haven, CT. 2008
- Restoration and threedimensional assembly of a nearly complete, articulated Eocele Protocetid whale skeleton from Pakistan: William Sanders, John Graf, Iyad Salmout, Munir Ul-Haq, and Philip Gingerich, University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, Ann Arbor, MI. 2008
- Removing fossil ribs: the thread technique
Amy Davidson, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. 2008
- Air abrasive 101: Jean-Pierre Cavigelli, Tate Museum, Casper, WY. 2007
- Vertebrate microfossil storage, the basics, and a new technique:
Matthew Smith, Kimberly, OR. 2007
- Methods for labeling silicone molds: Jeff Person, Charles Baker, Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK. 2007
- A multi-media solution to complex molding and casting of internal and external surfaces of a fossil Homo erectus cranium from Java:
Amber Heard, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; John Graf, William Sanders, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 2007
- Pyrite oxidation: Review and prevention practices: Akiko Shinya, Lisa Bergwall, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL. 2007
- Discovery, excavation, and preparation of the skull of a new centrosaurine ceratopsian from the Wahweap Formation of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), Southern Utah: Donald De Blieux, Salt Lake City, UT; James Kirkland, Utah Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, UT; Alan Titus, Bureau of Land Management, Kanab, UT. 2006
- Assembling an archival marking kit for paleontological specimens: Amy Davidson, Samantha Alderson, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY; Marilyn Fox, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT. 2006
- Packing and transporting vertebrate fossil overseas: ReBecca Hunt, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL. 2006
- Molding and Casting of In-situ Articulated Skeletons in Soft Matrix: A Case Study from the Ashfall Fossil Beds, Nebraska: Gregory Brown, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE. 2005
- A technique to create form-fitted, padded plaster jackets for conserving vertebrate fossil specimens:
Steve J. Jabo, Peter A. Kroehler, and F. V. Grady, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. 2005
- Museum collection management -- Is it really worth digging in a National Park?:
Rachel Benton, Badlands National Park; Ann Elder, Dinosaur National Monument. 2005
- An investigation of cyclododecane for molding fossil specimens:
Amy Davidson and Lisa Kronthal, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY; Rachael Perkins Arenstein, Conservator in Private Practice, New York, NY. 2004
- A foot-controlled, chip blowing needle for micropreparation of fossil vertebrates: Amy Davidson, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. 1998
- List of all papers by Author
- List of all papers by Title
- List of all papers by Category
- List of all papers by Year
Technical papers
- #1: The Creation of a Micro-scribe for Small Material:
Tim Feda,
Fundy Geological Museum, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. 2000
- #2: The RONDAN Jacket Support Clamp and Jacket Transport Sled: Ronald E. Peterson and N.V. “Dan” D’Andrea, New Mexico Museum of Natural History; Andrew B. Heckert, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico. 2001
How-to guide
- Casting with epoxy resin using a desiccator chamber, vacuum pump and pressure chamber:
Ian Morrison, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada. 2007
FAQs
- Material & Methods FAQs:
Current FAQs in PDF file.
Reference for preparators
Materials & Methods: A resource for Preparators of Fossil Vertebrates
PREPLIST
Preparator's Session
Materials & Methods FAQs
Technical Papers
Preparator's Grant
Preparators' PDFs
