The modern commercial fossil industry is huge. While most people still think that a fossil collection is only meant for paleontologists and science geeks, the truth is, it can be enjoyed by anyone. In fact, with hundreds of sellers offering a wide variety of fossils, from dinosaur fossils to shark teeth and everything in between, it has become easier than ever to buy them, even online. As surprising as it may sound, you can buy centuries-old relics without leaving the comfort of your home.
As convenient as it is to buy fossils online, you might not always get what you expected. Imagine buying Anzu claws for sale, only to receive an ugly piece of rock and putty. Although the fake fossil market is small, there are many highly and poorly restored fossils. So before you click “Buy Now,” here are a few things you should know.
Quality of the Enamel (of Fossil Teeth)
The enamel is perhaps the most important element of quality grading of fossil teeth. The enamel of the highest quality fossil tooth will almost be entirely intact from the base to the tip. While it might have inevitable cracks or chips, it would also be smooth overall to touch. Owing to their age, most teeth fossils you find will not retain their original enamel color. So instead of being white, you might find them in brown, black, grey, or yellow colors. This happens due to the transfer of minerals from the ground to the teeth over the millennia.
Completeness of the Fossil
Before purchasing fossils online, you should consider how much of it is intact and original. Some specimens on the market are only two or three inch fragments that contain few defining characteristics. The fossils that are complete, with hardly any abrasions, are rarer and towards the expensive side. When it comes to bones, completeness is determined not only by how much of the bone is intact but also by the amount of permineralization it has undergone. So bones that have undergone a significant amount of permineralization are considered to be of low quality, even if they are completely intact.
The Amount of Repair and Restoration
Finding fossils with cracks and certain broken or missing parts should not surprise you, as fossils are millions of years old, which makes them susceptible to such damages. In this vein, repair and restoration become inevitable aspects of collecting fossils. Besides, when you have something with such historical value and delicateness, it deserves your utmost attention.
Fossils with an extensive amount of repair and restoration are considered to be of lower quality and less valuable than those that have not been heavily restored. Many fossils available in the market have often been repaired and sometimes very poorly repaired, but that does not mean you cannot find unrestored fossils. Smaller fossils often have little to no repair or restoration, as their small sizes make them less prone to breakage during excavation.
If you are looking for Anzu claws fossils or any other fossil for sale, you can check out the wide array of fossils at Buried Treasure Fossils.
