Hard Hat

One of the most essential pieces of safety equipment is a well fitted, high quality hard hat.  A standard builders hard hat is the absolute minimum that should be worn in areas that are liable to falling rocks, especially cliff faces and quarries. The example shown (left) is a climbers hard hat, engineered with practicality in mind. Fossil hunting is often undertaken in similar surroundings as rock climbing, so it seems reasonable to anticipate that this equipment protects from the common dangers.  In addition,

Discovering Fossils find the inclusion of the chin strap essential when leaning over specimens or using a hammer and chisel.

High Visibility Jacket

Many of the locations featured on Discovering Fossils are both remote and potentially dangerous.  Being prepared for potential accidents is very important.  The use of a high visibility jacket, or at least brightly coloured clothing, is recommended to ensure you can be quickly found if an accident were to occur.  Within quarries their use is a legal requirement and will ensure you can be seen by vehicle operators.

Discovering Fossils choose equipment originally designed for cyclists, as it incorporates the usual high visibility features and also protects from the wind - an all too familiar characteristic of coastal locations in particular.

Walking Boots

Never underestimate the importance of suitable footwear.  A good pair of walking boots will protect you from ankle sprains, provide you with more grip on slippery surfaces and keep you dry in wet conditions.  At Discovering Fossils we choose walking boots comprised of manmade fibres rather than leather, as many of the locations featured on the website are coastal.  Salt water makes light work of leather uppers, whereas nylon composites are much more resilient. The example pictured (left) are the best part of 10 years old!

Heavy Duty Backpack

When considering the type of bag to use, it's worth setting aside one that will only ever be used for fossil collecting.  Invariably the rocks you find will be either very dusty or muddy and quickly make a mess of anything they come in contact with.  It will also need to carry a range of accessories (detailed below) which need to be easily accessible.  Among the features recommended by Discovering Fossils include: brightly coloured, strong holder construction, back support, very strong straps, plenty of easily accessible pockets and a concealed rain cover.

A selection of the essential tools and accessories to carry with you on a fossil trip.

Protective Glasses

We never leave home for a fossil trip without ensuring we've brought the necessary eye protection.  All too often we see people striking rocks with their hammers without adequate protection and to no surprise we've also seen a number of injuries as a result, albeit not on a Discovering Fossils event!  You can purchase eye protection form most DIY stores or online.  Discovering Fossils recommend purchasing a pair which include an elasticated head strap, to ensure they stay on your face when hammering.

Hammering Glove

It may seem like a luxury extra, but when it comes to removing specimens in situ or that are attached to a large boulder, then the benefits are very apparent. Some specimens may take a hundred or more strikes to separate from the matrix, which without a protective glove, would leave numerous blisters! Discovering Fossils recommend fingerless gloves comprised of a leather underside for grip and comfort. The example shown (right) is actually designed for sailing, as it needs to protect from friction burns whilst keeping the fingers free to work.

Large Hammer

Choosing a suitable hammer is important and will vary depending on the individual.  In either case the hammer should feature a wide head and well constructed handle, avoiding wood where possible as it can easily fracture if you miss the top of the chisel (see below). Before purchasing a hammer, try several differing weights until you find one that feels comfortable.  Discovering Fossils recommend that women and children do not exceed a weight of

1 Kilogram.  A too heavy hammer will inhibit use and risk repetitive strain injuries.

Heavy Duty and Precision Chisels

A chisel is required for removing fossils from the surrounding matrix or slitting potential fossil bearing nodules.  In most instances a large chisel should be used for completing the bulk of the work, while a smaller, more precise chisel can be useful for finer work. Discovering Fossils recommend a chisel constructed of 'Cold-steel' as this has been especially engineered for hard materials.  Anything softer won't last five minutes.  The examples (right) are several years old and have never been sharpened despite frequent and heavy use.

Steel Point

In many instances it may not be necessary to undertake chiseling to remove all or part of the matrix surrounding the fossil.  Sometimes all that's required is a slight coaxing using a steel point to reveal the fossil. This is particularly relevant with crumbly matrix, where chiseling may shatter a fragile or fractured fossil.  The steel point can be used in conjunction with a liquid or gel superglue (see below) as a last resort in the field to position and consolidate loose parts of the fossil.

Brush

A brush is an essential part of a fossil collectors toolkit, both in the field and at home.  In instances where a fossil is partially covered by loose material and dust, the brush can be used to clean the surface in order to assess the most suitable method of extraction where applicable.  It's also useful when making essential repairs in the field to clean the adjoining surfaces before gluing.  Discovering Fossils recommend selecting a soft, fine bristled brush as pictured (right).

Fast Setting Super Glue

No matter how experienced the fossil collector is, it's impossible to guarantee the specimen will not be damaged tying to remove it.  In these instances, the first stage before gluing should be to assess the likelihood of the fossil surviving until repairs can be carried out at home. Should it be necessary to glue the specimen, Discovering Fossils recommend a fast setting liquid and gel glue. Liquid glues are useful for strengthening deep cracks, whereas gel variants are more suitable for damage to the surface of the fossil. Always use glue sparingly and avoid any touching the visible surface of the fossil.

Magnifying Hand Lens

A hand lens enables the fossil collector to enjoy the finer details of the specimens they find. It's often remarkable how well preserved some of the most intricate structures can be. Discovering Fossils recommend a lens with x10 magnification that folds away into a metal casing to protect it from damage.

Newspaper

Simple, yet effective, newspaper in most instances is the recommended material to protect your finds in transit.  The best newspaper is the traditional thin sheet (not glossy). When wrapping a fossil in newspaper it's best to begin within individual rather than multiple sheets, you may also find that slightly crumpling the paper beforehand provides extra padding.  If the fossil is particularly valuable or fragile, then multiple sheets should be added.  Once wrapped a strong elastic band (if you intend to open it prior to getting home) or Selotape should be used to stop it from unwrapping.

Elastic Bands

A good tip when wrapping fossils with newspaper is the use of elastic bands rather than Selotape to stop it unwrapping. During fossil trips we're often approached by other collectors enquiring as to what we've found, so it's much less complicated to unwrap the fossil if it's been secured with elastic bands.  Elastic bands are also much more versatile in wet conditions. Of course every fossil deserves adequate protection, so ensure you have a good supply of long, strong elastic bands.

Selotape

Selotape should used in conjunction with newspaper to prevent it from unwrapping during transit. If the specimen is particularly valuable or fragile, Selotape is recommended as it's much stronger than elastic bands.  Only use Selotape if you don't intend to open the specimen prior to reaching home.

Scale

When photographing fossils in situ or at home, it's always recommended to include some degree of scale.  Traditionally a black and white, laminated cm scale (as pictured) can be used.  However for informal purposes your hand, a hammer, chisel, mobile phone or any other commonly recognised object can be used. This will help professionals identify your finds when sending images electronically.

Pen

It may seem obvious, but it's always worth carrying a pen and note pad with you on fossil trips.  When you find a fossil it's often worth noting it's location in order that a more formal record can be written at home.  Alternatively a digital camera can be used.  Aside from this, a pen is also useful for noting the content of wrapped fossils and when exchanging contact details with fellow fossil collectors!

Storage / Protection Box

It's also highly recommended to purchase a small storage box (fishing tackle boxes are ideal). These are ideal during fossil hunts, as they can be used to protect and organise smaller specimens; they also tuck neatly inside your rucksack or shoulder bag. You should also fill each compartment with a small quantity of cotton wool, which will prevent the specimens from moving around each compartment.

An additional benefit of these boxes, is that they retain the water content of the specimens, preventing them from drying out before you get them home.  This is important, as once dry it can be risky to the stability of the specimens to make them wet again.