This large snail of the genus Omphalocirrus was already cleaned and roughly prepared by the collector. My task was to complete the preparation and to transform the fossil into a showcase specimen.

First, the centre of the snail was prepared, which fortunately showed good shell preservation in some parts. The surrounding matrix was then smoothed, the outermost whorl exposed, and the mouth area prepared. The rock was predominantly marly soft, but strongly hardened in direct proximity to the fossil. In addition, it was very sticky around the shell in the centre. Finally, the matrix was formed and cleaned without interfering too much with its natural shape.

Fossil: Omphalocirrus sp.

Locality: Hillesheimer area, Eifel (Germany)

Formation: Middle Devonian, Ahbach Formation

Diameter of the fossil: ca. 9 cm (3.5 inches)

Work required: 3 hours