| 1 | Liaoning Bird-and-Dinosaur Specialist | Western Liaoning, including the Jehol Biota area | Small theropod remains, bird fossils, fish, insects, plants, and finely laminated shale specimens | Required Locality or formation reference, acquisition date, chain of custody, old collection references where available, and high-resolution pre-preparation photographs | Recommended: Petrographic thin section, X-ray diffraction where mineral alteration is suspected, and microscopic inspection of bone–matrix boundaries | Reversible consolidants, visible disclosure of reconstructed areas, no artificial feather or skin impressions, and a preparation report showing filled gaps and retouched surfaces | Written ownership history, Chinese cultural-property review where applicable, customs classification, commercial invoice, packing list, and export authorization if required | Reject specimens with unusually sharp relief, uniform surface coloration, or undocumented “complete” soft-tissue details |
| 2 | Yixian Formation Matrix Supplier | Yixian and adjacent counties in Liaoning Province | Fossil-bearing volcanic ash-rich shale containing vertebrates, plants, and invertebrates | Formation name, precise county-level origin when legally shareable, quarry or collection permit information, previous owners, and dated photographs before restoration | Matrix comparison under magnification; petrography to distinguish natural ash-rich sediment from modern filler; SEM-EDS may assist with suspicious repairs | Stable support frame, documented mechanical preparation, compatible adhesive, clear separation between original matrix and added substrate, and no concealed plaster backing | Export review by the responsible Chinese authority, ownership declaration, non-protected-status statement where applicable, and destination-country import review | Ask for a cross-section or edge photograph because laminated shale can conceal joins and composite slabs |
| 3 | Inner Mongolia Dinosaur-Bone Supplier | Selected Cretaceous exposures in Inner Mongolia | Fragmentary dinosaur bone, teeth, eggshell fragments, and sediment blocks from terrestrial deposits | Collection locality, stratigraphic context, land-access evidence, excavation date, collector declaration, and a specimen-specific inventory number | Density and texture comparison, ultraviolet inspection for modern resin, and thin-section or micro-CT review for high-value pieces | Bone surfaces should retain natural porosity; infill must be disclosed; reconstructed sections should be marked on diagrams; avoid excessive polishing or color enhancement | Written confirmation that the material is permitted for commercial transfer, plus export and import documentation appropriate to the specimen and transaction value | Require a repair map and independent review when a long bone is marketed as unusually complete |
| 4 | Sichuan Basin Vertebrate-Material Supplier | Selected Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary areas of Sichuan | Dinosaur bone fragments, teeth, track-related material, and associated sediment blocks | Basin and formation description, collection history, excavation or recovery circumstances, photographs in situ where available, and transfer receipts | Sediment grain-size comparison, polarized-light microscopy, and infrared or Raman screening when adhesive or pigment contamination is suspected | Preserve original surface texture, use minimal stabilization, disclose detached and reattached pieces, and provide before-and-after preparation images | Ownership and lawful-acquisition declaration, customs paperwork, insurance valuation, and written confirmation of any cultural-property restrictions | Trackway-related material requires especially careful documentation because casts and replicas are common in the market |
| 5 | Xinjiang Terrestrial-Fossil Supplier | Selected Jurassic–Cretaceous basins of Xinjiang | Dinosaur bone, teeth, eggshell, and associated terrestrial sediment from remote basin deposits | Geographic coordinates or a defensible locality description, field photographs, excavation permissions, chain-of-custody documents, and export assessment | Petrographic comparison of matrix and adhering sediment; XRD for mineral consistency; micro-CT for internal joins in premium specimens | No undisclosed composite construction; natural weathering should remain visible; consolidated areas and replacement material must be listed separately | Additional diligence for remote-area collection, land access, cultural-property status, export approval, and destination-country customs requirements | Do not rely on locality names alone; require a specimen-specific file and independent geological review |
| 6 | Gansu and Ningxia Bone-Material Supplier | Selected Mesozoic terrestrial formations in Gansu and Ningxia | Isolated dinosaur bones, teeth, fragments, eggshell, and sedimentary blocks | Formation, county, date of recovery, collector or institution transfer record, storage history, and photographs showing the specimen before cleaning | Visual and microscopic inspection, hardness comparison, thin-section analysis for disputed material, and resin mapping under ultraviolet light | Use reversible or conservatively documented consolidants; retain a sample of removed matrix when possible; identify all infilled cavities and color matching | Commercial invoice, packing list, valuation, lawful-ownership statement, and authority review before international shipment | Fragmentary material can be authentic even when taxonomic identification remains uncertain; price it accordingly |
| 7 | Shandong Dinosaur-Egg and Eggshell Supplier | Cretaceous fossil-bearing areas of Shandong | Dinosaur eggshell fragments, egg clutches, sediment blocks, and associated vertebrate remains | Egg or clutch context, excavation photographs, block dimensions before preparation, recovery date, previous ownership, and specimen inventory number | Shell microstructure under microscopy, comparison of shell and matrix mineralogy, and CT imaging for suspected filled or reconstructed eggs | Preserve shell-layer structure, disclose breaks and gap fills, avoid painted “complete” surfaces, and provide a diagram of restored areas | Ownership documentation, cultural-property review where relevant, export authorization assessment, and destination import documentation | A complete-looking egg should be treated as high risk unless the interior, underside, and restoration history are independently documented |
| 8 | Yunnan Vertebrate-Fossil Supplier | Selected fossil-bearing formations in Yunnan | Fish, reptiles, dinosaur-related vertebrate material, and fine-grained sedimentary slabs | Formation and locality record, collector history, original slab photographs, preparation log, and disclosure of any associated specimen separation | Microscopic boundary inspection, petrographic comparison, and XRD or Raman analysis for suspected modern mineral coatings | Keep preparation mechanically restrained, disclose stabilizers, preserve natural slab edges, and distinguish natural impressions from painted or sculpted additions | Written acquisition statement, responsible-authority review, export documentation, and import compliance check in the buyer’s jurisdiction | Fine-grained slabs should be inspected for repeated patterns, tool marks, and modern pigment in apparent soft-tissue areas |
| 9 | Guangdong and Southern China Display-Material Supplier | Southern China commercial preparation and display market | Prepared bone fragments, replicas, educational specimens, and legally documented fossil material sourced from multiple regions | Supplier must identify the original source region, distinguish original fossils from casts, provide acquisition records, and retain photographs before commercial preparation | Independent testing is recommended because preparation-market specimens may combine original material, replica parts, filler, and mounting substrates | Every replacement, cast section, repaired break, paint layer, and mounting component must be itemized; original and reproduction parts should be visibly distinguishable | Product description, invoice, packing list, lawful-acquisition statement, export review, and accurate declaration of replica content | Confirm whether the offer is an original fossil, a partial original, a cast, or a composite display before comparing prices |
| 10 | Institutional and Museum-Release Channel | China-based institutional, educational, or legally documented private collections | Duplicates, legally deaccessioned educational material, prepared fragments, casts, and research-use specimens | Accession number, deaccession or transfer authorization, collection history, institutional condition report, and clear statement of original versus replica material | Review existing curatorial records first; use petrography, CT, or other testing only when identity, restoration, or composite construction remains disputed | Follow museum-style conservation practice: reversible treatment where practical, stable mounting, complete restoration map, and no undisclosed cosmetic enhancement | Institutional authorization, lawful transfer documentation, cultural-property assessment, export permission if required, and destination-country import compliance | This channel may offer stronger records than ordinary commercial listings, but institutional status alone does not prove authenticity |
