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Visitor Information Phone Line Experiencing Intermittent Outages
The visitor center phone line is not working reliably for some callers. If you are unable to get through to the staff during business hours, click the More link to email visitor services and a ranger will contact you as soon as possible More »
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Changes to Visitor Service Due to Sequestration
Due to mandatory, across-the-board budget cuts, some visitor services in this park have changed. Please check the Plan Your Visit section for more information. More »
Fossil Laboratory
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All fossils taken from the field must be stabilized before they can be studied. After being removed from the field, fossils are taken to a lab where they can be made available for study. Each fossil goes through stages before it can safely be handled by researchers: stabilization, preparation, and sometimes casting and molding.
Jennifer Cavin working on a fossil
NPS photo
Preparation Once fossils are stabilized, they go through the process of preparation. This step is the painstaking removal of the surrounding stony matrix from the fossil. Preparators use a number of different tools and techniques to carefully remove matrix. Mechanical tools such as airscribes—tiny jackhammers—remove matrix without ever touching the fossil. Sand blasters remove the matrix without sending harmful vibrations through the fossil. Dental picks and micro-needles may be used for high resolution of delicate structures. |
Did You Know?
Some of the earliest rhino fossils in the world were found in the John Day beds. We call these the "running rhinos".