In this context, specimen preparation means actions taken to either get a specimen ready for being housed in the repository or for specific research. Some examples would be opening a field jacket and using an air scribe and other tools to free the specimen from the surrounding matrix, using an approved consolidant to stabilize a fossil, and using saws and grinding wheels to to prepare thin sections of a fossil coral.
When doing prep of any kind, you must create a record to go along with it.
When working from a field jacket, be sure to note the jacket ID. You will change tools and consolidants many times over the course of working a jacket, so please just click the green plus sign and make a new record.
Although at this time, Specify does not allow attachments to this field please photograph the preparation process at regular intervals.
Prep Tools and Consolidant are drop-down fields. If you would like to use something not already on those fields, please get approval from the collection manager before proceeding. Please fill out the tool details for every tool you use- manufacture, composition (such as carbide tips) and other information you feel is relevant. Notes is a required field, where you are expected to outline the preparation method used, consolidant concentration and solvent, and other pertinent information.
