The air-abrasive technique: A re-evaluation of its use in fossil preparation

Abstract

This paper outlines the history of air-abrasion (also known as airbrasion) as a paleontological preparation technique and evaluates various powders and their proper-ties. It explores the rationale behind the selection of abrasive powders and presents, for the first time, trench-scatter experiments through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photography and three-dimensional (3-D) profiling. This article also offers gen-eral practical advice and details the results of an international survey of practising fossil preparators.