The described techniques for extraction of microfossils are directed primarily at the extraction of calcareous microfossils from various types of limestone, although the same techniques may beused for some sandstones and shales. The equipment needed is not complicated; the most obvious is a good binocular microscope with a working distance of three or more inches, to allow manipulation of the rock from which the specimens are to be extracted. The magnification required depends on the size of the specimens, but should go up to at least 80x. Other essential tools are a pin vise with a chuck which will hold an ordinary steel sewing needle and a rotary dental machine or other grinding device which will accept a small thin carborundum wheel. The latter is useful for sharpening needles as well as for cutting specimens out of the rock. An additional useful item is a percussive device such as a mechanical engraver fitted with a chuck which will hold an old fashioned steel phonograph needle. This instrument is described in detail by Palmer (this volume, chapter 20). A dish of water and a fine (00000) camel's hairbrush are necessary to move the specimens, once freed, to a slide or other receptacle. A rock trimmer is useful for reducing large blocks of fossiliferous rock into pieces that can be handled under the microscope, although with some collections this can be done with a hammer and cold chisel. Some paleontologists prefer to crush their samples and then pick through the chips to find specimens; however, this technique tends to break spines and frills from highly ornamented forms and is not recommended unless the microfauna is known to consist mostly of smooth species. Most of the equipment mentioned above can be found in catalogs such as that of the Edmund Scientific Co., 101 E. Gloucester Pike, Barrington, N.J. 08007.
