Check out my crab claw!!

[outdoorfunblonde]

Oh my goodness... wait a moment... is there a scientific term for "crab claw"
LOL, I'm sure there IS, but really don't care... LOL
Don't get mad, I'm just being silly, OK folks??
Do you like it??
Is there a way to clean fossils so I can remove the excess hardened mud attached to it??

 

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[Flick420]

that is awesome, very cool find, no idea on the cleaning, only guess without research would be to soak it in water and brush away very lightly, but definitely dont do that till you hear back from others with more experience im sure they can help out.

 

[EccentricInTexas]

Awesome!!! Never found one of those before!!!

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

. . . is there a scientific term for "crab claw"

Of course. They have to have a Latin name for every little bit. ;-)

Claw in latin is Chela, or Chelae (plural). Also Cheliped.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Great find! As to cleaning away the matrix, it depends entirely on what it's fossilized in. I would take a dental pick or exacto-knife and see if the matrix inside the claw wants to flake off easily without harming the claw itsself. IF it does, then just go really slow and don't use much pressure or you could crack the fossil too.

 

[cody milam]

Hey that's really cool man, I would not think many of those would have made it to become fossils from they're delicate nature

 

[austin]

Bet it also didn't take many that size to make a meal. Also, be careful. That limestone will break easily if too much force is applied. I live here in limestone heaven. Have broken many nice samples while getting them out or cleaning. Never found a crab claw though. Pretty cool find...

 

[bone2stone]

Dental picks and a great deal of care and patients.
Using magnification would help as well.
Takes a long time to get the undesirable matrix to free up without damage.

Bone2stone