Agatized coral is beautiful and gem-like, and in many ways it belongs alongside fine minerals such as tourmaline, aquamarine, quartz, and other crystals. However, there are a few important distinctions to note, distinctions that ultimately led us down a new path for how coral species should be labeled and documented.
This Video is an example of the final DigDiveDiscover specimen tag.
Agatized coral is not just a mineral composed of silicified quartz; it is also a fossil, and a rare one that is still the subject of ongoing research. The Dig Dive Discover team works closely with professionals and researchers from multiple institutions and has donated specimens to several notable museums. Even so, there is still much left to study. Many species from the Deep Ocean Pocket site remain unnamed and unclassified. Because of this, maintaining proper specimen records is critical. One of the greatest threats to any fossil collection is dissociation, the loss of locality and other essential data when specimens are separated from their contextual information.
Early on, we realized we had a responsibility to properly label specimens from this new pocket to support future research. Traditional fossil labeling methods, however, felt inadequate for material of this beauty and caliber. After all, the standard approach, a dab of white paint with handwritten data, did not align with the quality or long-term preservation standards these specimens deserved.
Over the course of several years, we tested numerous methods for permanently recording important data without compromising the natural beauty of each specimen. Our goal was a solution that would stand the test of time: a truly archival process that could last hundreds of years, remain legible, and meet museum-quality, research-based preservation standards.
We ultimately chose an engraved stainless steel tag, affixed like fine jewelry to a forged eye screw. This is attached using an archival adhesive that is permanent under proper conditions but can be dissolved if ever required, leaving the specimen unaltered, or altered so minimally as to be negligible.
Our first tag was applied in late 2024. Today, any top-quality specimen with potential scientific significance receives a proper tag, along with a certified fossil record card printed on archival paper using archival ink. Locality and brand information are permanently recorded, and additional detailed records are maintained under the specimen’s serial number. This ensures that future researchers can access full data when needed, and, no matter what, the locality information is never lost.
We also believe this process increases the value of each specimen by establishing a clear, permanent record of its origin. Proper tagging and documentation ensure that future admirers, owners, and institutions can trace each piece back to its source with confidence, preserving not only its scientific relevance but also its provenance as a Dig Dive Discover specimen.
-Rick