Preparators' Scratchpad
Paleo PrepList Photos & Links
Interested in submitting an image? Please send the image to ReBecca at paleochick@gmail.com along with a description and any other information you can provide (submitters name, specimen numbers, repository, formation, age, species, any questions regarding the specimen(s), photographer, ect...).
January 2007
Courtesy of Greg Brown: Just thought this would be a good picture to take before I "re-solve" my adhesive bottle! This is a bottle of Acryloid adhesive that sat undisturbed/unused for several months. As the acetone solvent slowly (very slowly) evaporated or diffused through the polyethylene container, the Acryloid eventually turned into a solid block of resin. Well, almost solid. Note the large "bubbles" at and near the surface. Since there were no visible air bubbles in the container while the Acryloid was still liquid, does anyone care to theorize what these are, where they came from and how they formed? I think I know, but it would be fun to hear what others think about this, and what lessons it might teach us about how we use adhesives. Although this is Acryloid, this same phenomenon is present in other solvent-based adhesives as well.
July 2006
Microfossil Storage Technique - Matt Smith, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
March 2006
JOB: Preparator, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Click here for the official announcement (March 21, 2006)
January 2006
JOB: Dinosaur Specimen Preparator, Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Click here for the official announcement (Jan. 22, 2006)
For fun: A Big Block - How long do you think it will take to prep this? See pictures and cast your vote now! - Dec. 21, updated on Jan. 29, 2005
December 2005
"A Quick and Dirty Description of our Microfossil Vial Storage System" - Greg Brown posted Dec. 3
Testing Properties of Preservatives in the Preparation Lab, Scott Madsen, JVP 16(3) Sept. 1996- Abstracts. Preparator Session talk, AMNH, 1996. View as .htm or .doc - Dec. 20
JOB: Preparator position is open at Petrified Forest National Park. The deadline for applying is January 13, 2006. Click here for the official announcement or for more information see the announcement at www.usajobs.opm.gov under position PEFO 06-06A Physical Science Technician or PEFO 06-06B Museum Technician.