How do paleontologists clean fossils? Paleontologists use a tool called an air Abrasion unit. This tool uses a stream of strong Air to brush dirt off smaller fossils.
Paleontologists use this tool to clear off smaller chunks of dirt on the fossil which other tools could not do. These tools are also used in the dentist. They are used to clean off patients’ teeth just like paleontologists use them to clean off the dirt on fossils. These air abrasion units are sometimes called micro sandblasters because of how they clean the sand or dirt of fossils. Air abrasion units are best used when the fossil is stronger than the material that encases it. Depending on what you are doing the amount of pressure varies. These are some things about how paleontologists clean fossils using air abrasion units.
Related Stories
•http://preparation.paleo.amnh.org/42/chemical
•https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/badl-fossil-lab-what-happens.htm#:~:text=At%20first%2C%20paleontologists%20use%20power,the%20details%20of%20removing%20rock.
•https://www.zoicpaleotech.com/pages/learn-about-fossil-preparation-tools-1
•://www.finestfossils.co.uk/blog/preparing-cleaning-and-preserving-your-fossils/
•https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/vertpaleo/amateur-collector/preparation/
Take Action
Visit a fossil site to see how fossils are cleaned. You can look up fossil sites and see if there are any near you.
