3D CASTS FROM NATURAL MOLDS: A CASE STUDY IN FOSSIL FROGS

Abstract

The technique presented in this paper points to the recovery of three dimensional rigid casts from natural molds of fossil organisms. The study of organisms preserved as molds in the rock (usually in slabs) is difficult, even if the natural mold is high detailed. Traditionally, casts were made from each side of the natural mold, resulting in positive, soft partial specimens embedded in the rock. These kinds of casts did not solve some issues related to the preservational mode and exposure of the natural molds. The application of this technique turns a natural rigid mold into a soft silicone rubber mold to make a final three dimensional rigid cast of the whole specimen devoid of sediment. This technique provides casts that preserve the details of the natural mold. The obtained casts allow and facilitate scientific anatomical studies but also provides excellent specimens for museum exhibition or educational purposes.

Keywords

• Silicone rubber
• Resin
• Replicas
• Molding technique
• Slabs
• Museum