photo credits: Craig Chesek © American Museum of Natural History

Phil Fraley, (left), museum preparator, applies a coat of latex to a section of cliff face. After several layers are applied, forming a thick coat, the latex is allowed to dry. Next, members of Research Casting International's crew (below) carefully peel the latex layer from the outcrop. Later it will be reinforced to create a mold which will be used to create a final cast of this cliff face.