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Abstract
The removal of extraneous biological materials from vertebrate ichnological specimens may be necessary if they have been exposed to subaerial processes in the field for long periods of time. It is not uncommon for fossil track specimens to be found nearly completely covered with lichen colonies, especially those recovered from alpine areas. This paper describes a technique using a sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach) to remove lichen from a track surface containing numerous avian prints and small theropod prints with skin impressions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wish to thank Marilyn Laframboise and Darren Tanke (Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology) for many fruitful discussions on techniques for removing biological matter from fossils. We also wish to thank Carrie Herbel (South Dakota School of Mines and Technology) for her detailed instruction in the use of the “solvent-soak technique.” The manuscript was greatly improved from comments by Shahin Dashtgard, Murray Gingras, and from editorial comments by Ron Pickerill.