Page 41 - Atlas of Creation Volume 1

Harun Yahya

identified in the light of the rock bed itself.
Every type of rock is broken in different ways.
Schists, for example, have layers through

which fracture lines can be established.
Chalk, on the other hand, offers no such
layers. At the same time, it is very important
to watch for such indications as color changes

or structural differences, if the fossils contained
inside are not to be damaged.
After the fossil has been extracted from the rock, it
undergoes a number of different processes. It must be protected and reinforced

while being transported to the laboratory where it will be examined. One of the
methods employed is to stabilize the fossil with chemical adhesives. Plaster
casts are used for very large
fossils. Those parts of the fossil Collecting sedimentary rocks
and stones and carefully
that will be at risk during
breaking open those ones
transportation are wrapped in predicted to consist fossils is
dampened newspaper and then an important stage of
collecting fossils.
dipped in plaster.
The fossil then must be cleaned
in order for all its details to become
visible. If the fossil is harder than the rock surrounding
it, then the cleaning process is a great deal easier.

However, if the fossil has a softer structure, then
chemical substances need to be used. One of the most
commonly used methods is to clean away the matrix
with acid. This enables all the fossil's details to be

During transportation, brought out. In some situations—particularly when the
sometimes fossils have fossil is very delicate and possesses the same structure
to be protected by
as the rock surrounding it—X-rays and computer-
plastering. In the
scanning devices are used to determine the fossil's
picture is shown how
a fossil bone is structure before it is extracted from its location.
covered by plaster.

FOSSIL CLEANING BY ACID

One method for cleaning fossils is to use acid. It is an efficient method to clean the limestone rock surrounding a
fossil without harming it.
1. The rock surrounding the fossil is submerged into the proper acid until a small portion of the fossil appears.
2. The emerging section of the fossil is washed and covered with a material resistant to acid.
3. Fossil is submerged into acid once again, and these operations are repeated a few more
times.
4. The protective material should be applied to the exposed portion of the fossil, so
as to protect it from any harm.
5. Finally the fossil is entirely released from its surrounding
rock. Fossil is thoroughly washed to clean it of
both the acid and its protective material.

Adnan Oktar 39