Wet finds should be dried very slowly. Wrap them in clear polyethylene. A few slits in the plastic will allow evaporation at a slow rate. But if your specimens begin to crack or grow mould, close the slits and seek expert advice. Fossilized material that is already dry can be damaged by the addition of moisture.
Dry bone can swell and crack.
Store these fossils in a sealed container with conditioned silica gel to keep the relative humidity below 40 per cent. Seek advice before trying to clean up your fossils - the silt and clay around them can contain significant clues. Even if your hand is as steady as a rock, inexpert scratching and grinding can obliterate a record that has stood the test of 100 million years. The Royal British Columbia Museum. All rights reserved.