There's a crinoid fossil inside this rock—but you need lots of experience to know where and how to find a rock like this.
	Finding and preparing these fossils takes a lot of work.

You're right...but how did you know? You would need lots of experience to know where and how to find a rock like this in the field.

The rock below, on the other hand, contains hundreds of crinoid stems. That¹s how common crinoids were 300 million years ago!

It's easy to find crinoid stems—but it's very hard to find a complete crinoid fossil. The creature was so delicate that it usually broke apart before it fossilized.

What tools would you use to expose the fossil inside this rock?

TOOL: USE:

Preparing fossils takes many hours of work.

First, use the pneumatic tool to carefully chip away at the rock surrounding the fossil.	Then gently use a common dental pick to clean more delicately around the fossil.	Finally, use an air abrasive tool to gently scour away any rock that remains on the surface of the fossil.

Crinoids and other fossils from long ago are fun to find—you just have to know where to look! There may even be a good fossil site near you! Check with your nearest geological survey to find out!

Or help me solve another geo-mystery!

© The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 2000