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| So you want to find out how to collect fossils. Fossil collecting is a great hobby. You get to collect stuff that is millions of years old, plus learn about them. Also, fossils are absolutely free! In this section, I will give you some tips on how to start your very own collection of fossils! |
| Before you go anywhere, you must know where you are going. Check with your local museum as to where good places to find fossils are. Also, look at the page on how fossils are formed on this site so that you can understand better where to dig. You should also get permission from the land owner first. Once all that has been worked out, you will need some equipment. |
| You don't need very expensive and professional equipment, though. Here is a list of some good things to have: A tough bag to carry all your tools in, plus some fossils you may find, a map of the land so you know where to dig, a notepad to jot notes about your findings, a pen to write with, small plastic bags for fossils, medium sized plastic bags, kitchen towel or newspaper to wrap you findings in so they don't get damaged, and a butter knife in case things must be picked out of soft clay. |
| Places to look are where fossils could have come to the surface, such as a newly ploughed field, a quarry, or the seaside. Do some research ahead of time, so you know what you are looking for. Once you find one, carefully wrap it in newspaper so it doesn't break, then put it in a small plastic bag, then your large bag. Make notes on exactly where it was found so that you can learn stuff from it, or come back at a later date for more. Make sure to include the type of rock it was in, and other fossils nearby. |
| Once you have arrived home with some fossils, there are still a lot of things to do. Carefully take out your fossils. You may want to clean them if they are caked in mud. Next, get out some reference books and find out what kind of fossil it is. It is a good idea to give it a reference number, then record information about it on a file card. Include such things as the location it was found in, the date it was found, what kind of fossil it is, and it's age. If your fossil is fragile, you can strengthen it using glue. If it was found by the seaside, soak it in water to get rid of the salt. Salt can damage a fossil. |
| Make sure you have a good place to store your fossils. You can also choose to display them. Shop around for a method of storing and displaying that will work for you. Remember, if you find something that looks very important, tell the experts about it. Don't get discouraged, fossils are possible to find if you do your research. |
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