Samples

Preparing and Returning Samples

How to wash your fossils:
Outside:

You need:

  • Hose
  • Tarp
  •  Sieve (A pasta strainer will work here.)

Remember: Start this in the morning, on a clear sunny day. Your fossils came to you in samples, 4 subsample bags per sample. Make sure you keep the rocks in each subsample separate from the rocks in other subsample bags. Make sure you put all of the rocks that came in a subsample bag back into that subsample bag when you are done washing them.

    1. Spread out your tarp.
    2. Lay all of the subsample bags out on the tarp to make sure there will be enough room.
    3. Put one subsample into your sieve and rinse all the dirt and dust off with the hose.  Do this over grass or pavement, not over the tarp.
    4. Lay the subsample out on the tarp, grouping all of the rocks together. Put the subsample bag it came in under the rocks, so you can keep track of which subsamples are which.
    5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with all of the subsamples.
    6. Once you are done, the first one you washed is probably dry on top. Flip the rocks over as needed to get them dry all over.
    7. Put the clean rocks back into the correct subsample box when they are dry. They are now ready for your class.

Inside:

  • You need:
    • Sink
    • Sieve (A pasta strainer will work here.)
    • Large, clean, flat drying area
    • Bin or tray that fits in your sink (optional)

Remember: Your fossils came to you in samples, 4 subsample bags per sample. Make sure you keep the rocks in each subsample bag separate from the rocks in other subsample bags. Make sure you put all of the rocks that came in a subsample bag back into that subsample bag when you are done washing them.

    1. Lay all of the subsample bags out on your drying area to make sure you have enough room.
    2. You might want to put a bin or tray in the bottom of your sink to catch the dirt if you aren’t sure how the plumbing will handle it.
    3. Place your sieve in the sink, over the bin if you have it, take one subsample out of a bag, and place that subsample into the sieve. Rinse off the dirt and dust. Put the washed rocks back on the drying area grouping all of the rocks together. Put the subsample bag it came in under the rocks, so you can keep track of which subsamples are which.
    4. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with all of the subsamples.
    5. Turn over the rocks as needed to get them completely dry, making sure to keep them grouped together by subsample.
    6. Put the clean rocks back into the correct subsample bags when they are dry. They are now ready for your class.

How to mail your fossils back to us:

    1. Please make sure that all of the subsamples make it back into their original bags, or at least label new bags exactly like the original bags.
    2. Pack the samples in the original boxes if possible.
    3. ParcelPost! When you take them to the post office, just get them back to us as cheaply as you can. No delivery confirmation, no insurance, no 2-day shipping. Parcel post tends to be the least expensive way to ship packages.
    4. When you return your calipers (please return your calipers), please mail them in a separate box or envelope. They break when they are shipped in the same box as 8 pounds of shale.

Send to:
Paleontological Research Institution
1259 Trumansburg Road • Ithaca, NY 14850