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Preparing a fossil leaf slab for loan

Posted 2/16/2011 12:02 AM by Meghan McFarlane | Comments

DMNS has a really nice collection of fossil leaves--so nice, in fact, that occasionally other museums borrow our specimens for their own exhibits. This week, Jessica Fletcher examined and documented the condition of a large slab of fossil leaves that was collected in the Hell Creek Formation by Dr. Kirk Johnson. This slab was requested for loan to another large museum, and will be displayed along with dinosaur fossils from the same time period. Jessica collaborated with several other departments to ensure the fossil leaves were stable enough to travel. Dr. Johnson took the time to prepare the specimen, and the Paleo Lab consolidated the surface so that the fragile sandstone matrix will not crumble during transit.