What is fossil polishing?

Polishing can be a the perfect way to enhance the beauty of a fossil. It is an aesthetic approach to fossil preparation, usually performed on fossils which either are found so abundantly that their scientific value is limited, or fossils that just 'look best' when they're polished. Sometimes they are used in arts, crafts and jewellery in their polished form. 

Some fossils are cut before being polished, and others are left whole. Fossil polishing is something you can do at home with some very basic supplies - some good quality wet-and-dry paper in various grits (different coarseness), tin oxide polishing powder, a rotary tool with a felt wheel and some water. And of course a fossil. The best fossils and rocks for polishing are crystalline ones (e.g. calcite). The rock must be hard and non-porous for it to take a polish. Click here to purchase cut fossils that you can polish at home. 

Learn more here and read our step-by-step tutorial on fossil polishing.