Magnifying Glass
A magnifying glass or hand lens ([Pl. 5]) is useful for looking at small specimens and will also prove helpful in examining the finer details of larger fossils. A 10-power magnification is satisfactory for most purposes, and several inexpensive models are available.
Paper or Cloth Bags
Small bags are useful in separating specimens from different localities. Heavy-duty hardware bags for large rough material and medium-weight grocery bags for smaller specimens may be used. Locality data may be written directly on the bag or on a label placed inside with the fossils. As an added precaution some collectors do both. The more serious collector may want to use a cloth geological sample bag ([Pl. 5]).
Plate 5
[FOSSIL] COLLECTING EQUIPMENT
GEOLOGIC HAMMER (Chisel end) MAGNIFYING GLASS GEOLOGIC HAMMER (Pick end) COLLECTING BAG SAMPLE SACK
Other Useful Items
The items described above are those that are most needed and constitute the basic equipment of the [fossil] hunter. The serious amateur may wish to include certain additional items which will place his collecting on a more professional basis. Some of these accessory items are:
1. A [topographic map] of the collecting area. These are available for many parts of the State and are published and distributed at nominal cost by the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C., and/or Denver, Colorado. The Survey can supply an index sheet showing all such maps available for Texas.