Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:52,068 --> 00:00:55,413
Narrator: restaurant dinnerware
Brings a lot to the table.
2
00:00:55,413 --> 00:00:57,827
It's known
For rugged good looks,
3
00:00:57,827 --> 00:00:59,551
It holds up to heavy use
4
00:00:59,551 --> 00:01:02,448
And repeated cleaning
In commercial dishwashers,
5
00:01:02,448 --> 00:01:05,103
And its design reflects
The restaurant's theme
6
00:01:05,103 --> 00:01:07,137
And adds presentation value
To the food.
7
00:01:12,482 --> 00:01:14,448
Most people
Appreciate the effort
8
00:01:14,448 --> 00:01:16,172
That goes into a fine meal,
9
00:01:16,172 --> 00:01:18,137
But they may not give
Much thought to what it takes
10
00:01:18,137 --> 00:01:21,896
To make the actual plate
The food is served up on.
11
00:01:21,896 --> 00:01:24,862
Making ceramic dinnerware
That's restaurant-quality
12
00:01:24,862 --> 00:01:26,689
Is an intensive process --
13
00:01:26,689 --> 00:01:30,000
One that starts with
A master die made of gypsum.
14
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,068
This worker then makes
A production version
15
00:01:32,068 --> 00:01:33,413
Of the master.
16
00:01:33,413 --> 00:01:34,827
To do this, he pours gypsum
17
00:01:34,827 --> 00:01:38,034
Into a wire-mesh frame
Above the master.
18
00:01:38,034 --> 00:01:40,137
There's tubing attached
To the mesh frame,
19
00:01:40,137 --> 00:01:41,896
And he pumps air through it.
20
00:01:41,896 --> 00:01:44,000
This causes the water
In the gypsum
21
00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,586
To bubble out and evaporate.
22
00:01:46,586 --> 00:01:48,068
It dries and solidifies
23
00:01:48,068 --> 00:01:50,482
Into a mirror image
Of the master --
24
00:01:50,482 --> 00:01:52,620
In this case, a platter shape.
25
00:01:52,620 --> 00:01:54,586
The tubing
Inside this production die
26
00:01:54,586 --> 00:01:56,034
Will be used again later
27
00:01:56,034 --> 00:01:58,379
To gently blow off the platter
When formed,
28
00:01:58,379 --> 00:02:01,137
Releasing it from the die.
29
00:02:01,137 --> 00:02:04,344
Another worker adds the ceramic
Ingredients to water.
30
00:02:04,344 --> 00:02:07,310
They including
A plasticizer, silica sand,
31
00:02:07,310 --> 00:02:11,655
Different clays,
And minerals like alumina.
32
00:02:11,655 --> 00:02:14,103
Once the clay mix
Has been thoroughly blended,
33
00:02:14,103 --> 00:02:16,448
They drain it
Onto a vibrating sieve
34
00:02:16,448 --> 00:02:19,758
To screen out large
Mineral chunks and impurities.
35
00:02:19,758 --> 00:02:21,896
The clay-based liquid
Flows through the screen
36
00:02:21,896 --> 00:02:23,310
Into a holding tank.
37
00:02:25,068 --> 00:02:27,310
They pump it
Through this filter press.
38
00:02:27,310 --> 00:02:30,034
It compresses
Fabric-covered plastic plates
39
00:02:30,034 --> 00:02:31,827
To squeeze out moisture,
40
00:02:31,827 --> 00:02:34,482
Turning the clay liquid
Into putty-like slabs.
41
00:02:39,137 --> 00:02:42,551
With this consistency,
It can now be shaped.
42
00:02:42,551 --> 00:02:44,655
A worker breaks up the slabs
43
00:02:44,655 --> 00:02:47,379
And feeds the pieces
To a pug mill.
44
00:02:47,379 --> 00:02:50,482
The mill shapes the clay
Into a long cylinder,
45
00:02:50,482 --> 00:02:53,000
And, in the process,
It sucks out air
46
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,586
So dinnerware made from it
Will be less prone to cracking.
47
00:02:57,586 --> 00:03:00,241
He slices the clay cylinder
Into small wads,
48
00:03:00,241 --> 00:03:02,137
Using a wire cutter.
49
00:03:02,137 --> 00:03:06,310
Each of these clay wads
Will be shaped into one plate.
50
00:03:07,448 --> 00:03:12,068
They place each wad onto molds
On a revolving platform.
51
00:03:12,068 --> 00:03:14,241
The mold spins up
To a metal tool,
52
00:03:14,241 --> 00:03:18,655
Which presses the clay into the
Shape of the plate mold below.
53
00:03:19,344 --> 00:03:21,344
The tool also forms the back
54
00:03:21,344 --> 00:03:24,758
So the plate will sit evenly
On a table.
55
00:03:27,586 --> 00:03:31,344
A nozzle lubricates the metal
Tool between pressings.
56
00:03:31,344 --> 00:03:33,206
A cutter at the side
57
00:03:33,206 --> 00:03:36,689
Trims the rims of the plates
As they're formed.
58
00:03:36,689 --> 00:03:38,482
Unlike the platter die,
59
00:03:38,482 --> 00:03:41,793
These molds don't have tubing
Inside to blow off the plates.
60
00:03:41,793 --> 00:03:46,551
Instead, the heat from the dryer
Separates them from the molds.
61
00:03:46,551 --> 00:03:49,896
Once out of the molds,
The plates spin on pedestals
62
00:03:49,896 --> 00:03:54,068
Past a sponge
To smooth the edges.
63
00:03:54,068 --> 00:03:55,586
To make coffee mugs,
64
00:03:55,586 --> 00:03:57,793
The pug mill presses out
A narrower cylinder,
65
00:03:57,793 --> 00:04:02,586
And a knife at the exit point
Slices it into precise wads.
66
00:04:02,586 --> 00:04:05,206
The wads fall
Into coffee-mug molds,
67
00:04:05,206 --> 00:04:08,310
And a tool spins the clay up
Against the walls of the molds
68
00:04:08,310 --> 00:04:10,482
To shape it into mugs.
69
00:04:10,482 --> 00:04:12,689
A blade at the top
Trims the excess
70
00:04:12,689 --> 00:04:14,344
From the lip of the mug.
71
00:04:14,344 --> 00:04:18,000
They pass under a long sponge
To smooth the rims.
72
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,000
And now for the handles.
73
00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:21,862
They make them in two-part molds
74
00:04:21,862 --> 00:04:24,448
And dry them
Under an infrared light.
75
00:04:24,448 --> 00:04:27,034
The handles must have precisely
The same moisture content
76
00:04:27,034 --> 00:04:30,034
As the mugs -- around 16%.
77
00:04:30,034 --> 00:04:32,172
A worker dips the ends
Of each handle
78
00:04:32,172 --> 00:04:36,448
In a clay-and-glue mixture
And presses it to the mug.
79
00:04:36,448 --> 00:04:37,862
The mugs go into a dryer,
80
00:04:37,862 --> 00:04:41,275
And the moisture content
Drops to 4%.
81
00:04:41,275 --> 00:04:45,000
Next, they douse the mugs
With glaze inside and out
82
00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,379
And bake them
In a super-hot kiln.
83
00:04:47,379 --> 00:04:49,275
This will make the mugs
Chip-resistant
84
00:04:49,275 --> 00:04:54,241
And will strengthen the bond
Between the handle and the mug.
85
00:04:54,241 --> 00:04:58,137
They paint the dinnerware
By hand, using a ceramic stain.
86
00:04:58,137 --> 00:05:00,413
The stain will enable it
To hold up
87
00:05:00,413 --> 00:05:03,241
To repeated rigorous cleanings
In restaurant dishwashers.
88
00:05:09,034 --> 00:05:12,931
For a different look, they apply
Decals to some dinnerware.
89
00:05:12,931 --> 00:05:14,724
This artwork has been produced
90
00:05:14,724 --> 00:05:18,551
Using the same hard-wearing
Ceramic stain.
91
00:05:20,862 --> 00:05:22,379
The plates
Then head into the oven,
92
00:05:22,379 --> 00:05:25,793
And the heat fuses
The decorative touches to them.
93
00:05:30,310 --> 00:05:32,517
From a liquid clay mix
94
00:05:32,517 --> 00:05:34,448
To tableware
You can dine out on.
95
00:05:34,448 --> 00:05:37,793
The process has taken
About 24 hours.
96
00:05:37,793 --> 00:05:41,000
It should serve you well.
97
00:05:51,862 --> 00:05:54,896
Narrator: air-brake tanks are
Part of powerful brake systems
98
00:05:54,896 --> 00:05:57,586
On tractor trailers and buses.
99
00:05:57,586 --> 00:05:59,862
When the driver
Depresses the brake pedal,
100
00:05:59,862 --> 00:06:01,896
The tank releases
The compressed air
101
00:06:01,896 --> 00:06:03,793
To activate the brakes
102
00:06:03,793 --> 00:06:07,862
So the big wheels slow down
And stop turning.
103
00:06:12,310 --> 00:06:16,413
The energy used to stop
A big rig comes from air.
104
00:06:16,413 --> 00:06:18,827
It's compressed and stored
In the brake tanks
105
00:06:18,827 --> 00:06:21,620
So there's always
A ready supply.
106
00:06:21,620 --> 00:06:24,379
They make air-brake tanks
From industrial-grade steel
107
00:06:24,379 --> 00:06:27,551
That's about as thick
As a typical magazine.
108
00:06:27,551 --> 00:06:30,379
A press forces the steel
Around a dome form
109
00:06:30,379 --> 00:06:34,620
And shears the edges
To produce the tank's end caps.
110
00:06:34,620 --> 00:06:38,241
It also punches a hole
In each cap for a fitting.
111
00:06:38,241 --> 00:06:40,793
The cap's dome shape
Is critical.
112
00:06:40,793 --> 00:06:42,310
It will allow it to withstand
113
00:06:42,310 --> 00:06:45,586
The air pressure
Inside the tank.
114
00:06:47,172 --> 00:06:49,862
The tank caps now ride
A conveyor under sprayers
115
00:06:49,862 --> 00:06:55,103
That wash away residual oil
From the pressing process.
116
00:06:55,103 --> 00:06:58,206
More steel sheeting
Feeds into another press.
117
00:06:58,206 --> 00:07:01,862
It's twice as thick as the steel
Used to make the end caps.
118
00:07:01,862 --> 00:07:05,034
This press is punching
And forming brackets
119
00:07:05,034 --> 00:07:08,172
For attaching the air tank
To the trailer undercarriage,
120
00:07:08,172 --> 00:07:12,896
So these connecting parts
Have to be extra-strong.
121
00:07:16,620 --> 00:07:19,275
It takes six punches
To shape the flat sheet of steel
122
00:07:19,275 --> 00:07:22,103
Into the curved brackets.
123
00:07:22,103 --> 00:07:26,517
Here's an example
Of the six formative stages.
124
00:07:27,862 --> 00:07:30,758
Machinery now flattens and cuts
Bigger sheets of steel
125
00:07:30,758 --> 00:07:33,172
For the tank body.
126
00:07:33,172 --> 00:07:36,206
Mechanized clamps
Grip the sheet along the edges
127
00:07:36,206 --> 00:07:39,896
And position it
Under another punch press.
128
00:07:39,896 --> 00:07:43,241
It perforates the steel where
Fittings are to be installed.
129
00:07:43,241 --> 00:07:45,206
It also stamps the company name
130
00:07:45,206 --> 00:07:48,620
And other manufacturing
Information onto it.
131
00:07:48,620 --> 00:07:51,310
They feed the sheet to a roller
132
00:07:51,310 --> 00:07:55,172
That curls it into
The cylindrical tank shell.
133
00:07:56,896 --> 00:07:58,862
The rolling is precise,
134
00:07:58,862 --> 00:08:00,344
And the dimensions
Of the cylinder
135
00:08:00,344 --> 00:08:03,172
Don't need any adjusting.
136
00:08:03,172 --> 00:08:05,689
The worker clamps it
Into a fixture.
137
00:08:05,689 --> 00:08:08,172
A carriage
Moves a welding torch overhead
138
00:08:08,172 --> 00:08:12,379
To join the ends
And create an airtight seal.
139
00:08:13,241 --> 00:08:16,862
A worker inspects the weld.
140
00:08:16,862 --> 00:08:18,827
The next worker welds fittings
141
00:08:18,827 --> 00:08:22,931
Onto the holes punched
Into the tank shell earlier.
142
00:08:22,931 --> 00:08:24,517
Two of the fittings
Are for attaching valves
143
00:08:24,517 --> 00:08:27,724
That control the flow
Of compressed air.
144
00:08:27,724 --> 00:08:30,068
The third fitting will be used
To connect a line
145
00:08:30,068 --> 00:08:33,896
For draining water
Formed during air compression.
146
00:08:33,896 --> 00:08:37,827
He reinforces the fittings
With large collars
147
00:08:37,827 --> 00:08:42,068
That help the connections
Withstand any bumps on the road.
148
00:08:44,206 --> 00:08:45,827
He places the brackets
And end caps
149
00:08:45,827 --> 00:08:48,655
In an automatic welder
And activates it.
150
00:08:48,655 --> 00:08:51,275
It fuses the bracket
To the cap --
151
00:08:51,275 --> 00:08:54,758
One for each of the air tank's
End caps.
152
00:08:55,448 --> 00:08:57,241
With both bracketed end caps
153
00:08:57,241 --> 00:08:59,413
Now installed
On the cylindrical shell,
154
00:08:59,413 --> 00:09:02,862
It's time to seal this air tank.
155
00:09:02,862 --> 00:09:05,068
The tank turns
On a welding lathe
156
00:09:05,068 --> 00:09:09,827
As automated welders
Bond them to the shell.
157
00:09:09,827 --> 00:09:12,896
The air-tank structure
Is now basically complete.
158
00:09:12,896 --> 00:09:16,551
It's time to put it to the test.
159
00:09:16,551 --> 00:09:18,758
After plugging
The open fittings,
160
00:09:18,758 --> 00:09:22,034
They pump highly compressed air
Into the tank --
161
00:09:22,034 --> 00:09:24,034
More than it would
Usually handle.
162
00:09:24,034 --> 00:09:28,827
If it can take all the pressure,
It's deemed structurally sound.
163
00:09:28,827 --> 00:09:31,931
They bring the pressure
Down a bit and check for leaks.
164
00:09:31,931 --> 00:09:33,310
Bubbles in the water around it
165
00:09:33,310 --> 00:09:35,655
Would indicate
Air is seeping out,
166
00:09:35,655 --> 00:09:38,241
But in this case,
There are only a few ripples
167
00:09:38,241 --> 00:09:41,448
From the action
Of placing it in the water.
168
00:09:41,448 --> 00:09:43,344
After a cleaning,
The airtight tank
169
00:09:43,344 --> 00:09:46,862
Heads into
A powder-coating station.
170
00:09:46,862 --> 00:09:50,620
Sprayers apply the powdered
Resin coating to the tanks.
171
00:09:50,620 --> 00:09:52,758
The particles
Are positively charged,
172
00:09:52,758 --> 00:09:54,482
And the tanks
Are negatively charged
173
00:09:54,482 --> 00:09:57,413
For an instant attraction.
174
00:09:57,413 --> 00:09:59,689
The black powder
Clings to the tanks
175
00:09:59,689 --> 00:10:03,586
As they now travel
Through a gas-fired oven.
176
00:10:03,586 --> 00:10:05,137
The heat melts and bonds
The coating
177
00:10:05,137 --> 00:10:07,379
To the surface
Of the air-brake tanks,
178
00:10:07,379 --> 00:10:10,310
Forming a tough skin
That's rust-resistant.
179
00:10:12,965 --> 00:10:14,793
After the tanks cool,
180
00:10:14,793 --> 00:10:17,034
A worker inserts
A long, thin paint gun
181
00:10:17,034 --> 00:10:18,275
Through one of the fittings
182
00:10:18,275 --> 00:10:21,551
To spray a rustproof coating
On the inside.
183
00:10:23,793 --> 00:10:26,344
He then inserts plugs
Into all the fittings
184
00:10:26,344 --> 00:10:28,241
To protect the threads
From damage
185
00:10:28,241 --> 00:10:32,448
Until they're ready to make
All the necessary connections.
186
00:10:32,448 --> 00:10:36,034
It's taken about five hours to
Produce these air-brake tanks,
187
00:10:36,034 --> 00:10:39,655
And it's now time
To put on the brakes.
188
00:10:50,379 --> 00:10:52,896
Narrator: frosted cereal
Originated in america
189
00:10:52,896 --> 00:10:54,379
In the 1950s,
190
00:10:54,379 --> 00:10:56,275
And today,
You'll find versions of it
191
00:10:56,275 --> 00:10:58,206
On breakfast tables
Around the world.
192
00:10:58,206 --> 00:10:59,586
It's one of the first things
193
00:10:59,586 --> 00:11:01,448
Some people reach for
In the morning.
194
00:11:01,448 --> 00:11:04,758
The sugary coating complements
The flavor of the grains.
195
00:11:04,758 --> 00:11:08,551
It's one way
To awaken the taste buds.
196
00:11:12,103 --> 00:11:14,517
This particular blend
Of frosted cereal
197
00:11:14,517 --> 00:11:17,344
Is a combination
Of wheat flakes, corn flakes,
198
00:11:17,344 --> 00:11:19,689
And granola clusters.
199
00:11:19,689 --> 00:11:22,379
Half the flakes are frosted,
And half aren't.
200
00:11:22,379 --> 00:11:25,689
There's honey, rolled oats,
And rice in the granola.
201
00:11:25,689 --> 00:11:27,206
The mix of the ingredients means
202
00:11:27,206 --> 00:11:31,896
There are still a few surprises
In the frosted-cereal box.
203
00:11:31,896 --> 00:11:35,310
To make the corn flakes,
They start with corn grits.
204
00:11:35,310 --> 00:11:36,827
They measure out
A specific amount
205
00:11:36,827 --> 00:11:39,000
And release it
Into an industrial version
206
00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,000
Of a pressure cooker.
207
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,689
The operator locks the lid,
208
00:11:43,689 --> 00:11:45,931
And the system pipes water
And flavorings
209
00:11:45,931 --> 00:11:48,827
Directly into the cooker.
210
00:11:48,827 --> 00:11:51,344
It rotates for
An even distribution of heat
211
00:11:51,344 --> 00:11:54,103
And an even cooking
Of the grains.
212
00:11:54,103 --> 00:11:56,379
After about three hours,
213
00:11:56,379 --> 00:11:58,896
The kernels have absorbed
Moisture and softened.
214
00:11:58,896 --> 00:12:00,827
As the corn flows
Out of the cooker,
215
00:12:00,827 --> 00:12:04,655
A screw-conveyor system
Moves it towards a dryer.
216
00:12:04,655 --> 00:12:07,068
They cook a measured amount
Of whole-wheat kernels
217
00:12:07,068 --> 00:12:09,448
In water and flavorings.
218
00:12:09,448 --> 00:12:13,551
They only need an hour
In the rotating pressure cooker.
219
00:12:13,551 --> 00:12:15,482
Like the corn, the whole wheat
220
00:12:15,482 --> 00:12:18,827
Absorbs a significant amount
Of water during cooking.
221
00:12:18,827 --> 00:12:20,862
The kernels
Are about 30% moisture
222
00:12:20,862 --> 00:12:23,172
When they exit the cooker.
223
00:12:23,172 --> 00:12:26,172
They now merge with the corn
En route to the dryer.
224
00:12:26,172 --> 00:12:28,482
The drying time will bring
The moisture content
225
00:12:28,482 --> 00:12:30,655
Down to about 19%,
226
00:12:30,655 --> 00:12:32,724
Making the kernels
The right consistency
227
00:12:32,724 --> 00:12:36,000
To be transformed into flakes.
228
00:12:36,689 --> 00:12:39,379
The grains now flow into a mill.
229
00:12:41,827 --> 00:12:44,413
The mill
Has two big, heavy rollers,
230
00:12:44,413 --> 00:12:47,034
Similar to the kind used
To pave roads.
231
00:12:47,034 --> 00:12:49,655
The kernels fall
Between these rollers.
232
00:12:49,655 --> 00:12:51,655
The rollers
Exert tons of pressure
233
00:12:51,655 --> 00:12:55,482
To flatten each individual
Kernel into a flake.
234
00:12:56,724 --> 00:12:59,827
In the process,
The wheat flakes turn whiter
235
00:12:59,827 --> 00:13:02,793
And the corn turn more yellow.
236
00:13:02,793 --> 00:13:05,000
At this point, the flakes
Are still quite soft
237
00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,206
And not really tasty.
238
00:13:08,206 --> 00:13:10,137
A trip
Through a long toaster oven
239
00:13:10,137 --> 00:13:14,586
Will give it
That crispy cereal consistency.
240
00:13:14,586 --> 00:13:17,413
It's a high-temperature toasting
241
00:13:17,413 --> 00:13:21,344
And reduces the moisture content
To 3%.
242
00:13:22,620 --> 00:13:26,275
Here, you can see the flakes
Before toasting...
243
00:13:26,275 --> 00:13:28,862
And after.
244
00:13:28,862 --> 00:13:31,965
The toasting not only makes the
Corn and wheat flakes crispy --
245
00:13:31,965 --> 00:13:34,586
It also enhances
The color and flavor.
246
00:13:34,586 --> 00:13:38,551
A ride on a conveyor
Cools them down.
247
00:13:38,551 --> 00:13:42,793
Along the way, they split
Into two different streams.
248
00:13:42,793 --> 00:13:44,655
One stream of the mixed flakes
249
00:13:44,655 --> 00:13:48,827
Travel towards
The sugar-coating station.
250
00:13:48,827 --> 00:13:52,275
The other heads into
A flavoring drum.
251
00:13:52,275 --> 00:13:55,241
The drum revolves
To gently toss the cereal
252
00:13:55,241 --> 00:13:58,896
As a sprayer applies
A granola kind of flavoring.
253
00:14:00,379 --> 00:14:02,862
The other stream
Of wheat and corn flakes
254
00:14:02,862 --> 00:14:05,068
Enters the sugar-coating drum.
255
00:14:05,068 --> 00:14:07,344
A sprayer disperses
A sugar-and-water mixture
256
00:14:07,344 --> 00:14:10,689
As the drum tosses the flakes.
257
00:14:10,689 --> 00:14:12,689
Then they travel
Through a dryer,
258
00:14:12,689 --> 00:14:15,586
And this cures the frosting
To the flakes.
259
00:14:15,586 --> 00:14:17,758
The frosted
And the flavored flakes
260
00:14:17,758 --> 00:14:20,241
Flow onto the same conveyor.
261
00:14:20,241 --> 00:14:24,379
It bounces the flakes around
To blend them together.
262
00:14:24,379 --> 00:14:28,310
To boost the nutrition content,
They add honey-flavored granola.
263
00:14:30,965 --> 00:14:34,103
The granola clusters
Flow onto a conveyor.
264
00:14:34,103 --> 00:14:38,068
They'll merge with the frosted
And flavored flakes.
265
00:14:39,517 --> 00:14:42,862
The feeder pipe showers granola
Onto the flakes.
266
00:14:44,137 --> 00:14:48,758
This frosted cereal is now ready
For store shelves.
267
00:14:49,586 --> 00:14:53,827
Machinery dispenses specific
Amounts into a plastic sleeve,
268
00:14:53,827 --> 00:14:57,586
And a mechanism heat-seals
And severs it at both ends.
269
00:15:01,517 --> 00:15:05,034
Mechanical arms
Then pick up boxes, open them,
270
00:15:05,034 --> 00:15:07,551
And deposit them on a conveyor.
271
00:15:11,241 --> 00:15:13,689
Push rods shove the bags
Of cereal into the boxes.
272
00:15:13,689 --> 00:15:16,000
The "Best before" date
And other information
273
00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,068
Have been printed
On the outside of the boxes.
274
00:15:19,068 --> 00:15:21,827
Nozzles apply glue to the ends,
275
00:15:21,827 --> 00:15:26,241
And the boxes brush by a side
Barrier that closes them.
276
00:15:26,241 --> 00:15:29,241
Producing and packaging
This frosted-cereal blend
277
00:15:29,241 --> 00:15:31,448
Has taken about five hours,
278
00:15:31,448 --> 00:15:34,827
And if the breakfast crowd
Is hungry, it won't last long.
279
00:15:34,827 --> 00:15:38,758
Its time on the table
Could be short and sweet.
280
00:15:51,068 --> 00:15:53,724
Narrator: a fossil is a remnant
Of prehistoric life
281
00:15:53,724 --> 00:15:55,034
Embedded in rock --
282
00:15:55,034 --> 00:15:57,517
Either the actual remains
Of an animal or plant
283
00:15:57,517 --> 00:16:00,103
Or an impression left
By decayed remains.
284
00:16:00,103 --> 00:16:03,000
Most fossils are hundreds
Of millions of years old
285
00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,931
And remind us
That humans have been around
286
00:16:05,931 --> 00:16:09,586
For a small part
Of the earth's existence.
287
00:16:11,344 --> 00:16:13,448
Fossils are made by nature
288
00:16:13,448 --> 00:16:16,034
But collected and preserved
By man
289
00:16:16,034 --> 00:16:20,241
For display in museums, as well
As in private collections.
290
00:16:20,241 --> 00:16:22,551
One of the world's
Richest fossil deposits
291
00:16:22,551 --> 00:16:26,620
Is located in the southwestern
Part of the state of wyoming.
292
00:16:26,620 --> 00:16:30,827
50 million years ago,
The area was a freshwater lake.
293
00:16:30,827 --> 00:16:33,344
With climate changes,
It gradually dried out,
294
00:16:33,344 --> 00:16:37,724
Leaving wildlife and flora
Buried under layers of sediment.
295
00:16:37,724 --> 00:16:41,413
Over time, that sediment
Hardened into sheets of rock
296
00:16:41,413 --> 00:16:45,517
Containing fossils
Of those former life forms.
297
00:16:45,517 --> 00:16:47,793
To find fossils in what were
The shallower edges
298
00:16:47,793 --> 00:16:49,551
Of the prehistoric lake,
299
00:16:49,551 --> 00:16:52,827
They drive thin blades
About 4/10 of an inch deep
300
00:16:52,827 --> 00:16:55,689
To loosen and separate sheets
Of rock.
301
00:16:55,689 --> 00:16:57,206
In this part of the deposit,
302
00:16:57,206 --> 00:17:00,931
The fossil is often split
Between two layers of rock,
303
00:17:00,931 --> 00:17:03,758
Which is why they call
This particular dig area
304
00:17:03,758 --> 00:17:06,655
"The split-fish quarry."
305
00:17:07,862 --> 00:17:11,413
They repeat the process,
Excavating several layers.
306
00:17:11,413 --> 00:17:13,103
They typically find fossils
307
00:17:13,103 --> 00:17:17,206
Of smaller herring-type fish,
Plants, and insects.
308
00:17:17,206 --> 00:17:19,620
They carefully separate
The large rock sheets
309
00:17:19,620 --> 00:17:22,137
Into smaller pieces
So that it's easier
310
00:17:22,137 --> 00:17:26,068
To transport their haul
From the quarry to the workshop.
311
00:17:26,068 --> 00:17:28,758
This sedimentary rock
Is oil shale --
312
00:17:28,758 --> 00:17:31,689
A substitute
For conventional crude oil.
313
00:17:31,689 --> 00:17:35,586
Scratch the surface,
And it smells, and it'll burn.
314
00:17:35,586 --> 00:17:38,724
However, there's not enough
Actual oil in this deposit
315
00:17:38,724 --> 00:17:41,965
To make extraction viable.
316
00:17:41,965 --> 00:17:43,482
In the company's second quarry,
317
00:17:43,482 --> 00:17:48,620
They blow away surface debris to
Make it easier to spot fossils.
318
00:17:48,620 --> 00:17:52,655
Recovery is more difficult here
Because this part of the deposit
319
00:17:52,655 --> 00:17:56,103
Was the deep center
Of the prehistoric lake.
320
00:17:56,103 --> 00:17:59,793
Wildlife was buried
Under far more sediment.
321
00:17:59,793 --> 00:18:01,827
It takes a highly trained eye
322
00:18:01,827 --> 00:18:04,103
And the low angle
Of morning sunlight
323
00:18:04,103 --> 00:18:05,551
To see the slight shadow
324
00:18:05,551 --> 00:18:08,413
Which a fossil's ridges
Cast on the ground.
325
00:18:08,413 --> 00:18:10,413
After outlining their find,
326
00:18:10,413 --> 00:18:13,931
They use a saw with a diamond
Blade to cut around it.
327
00:18:13,931 --> 00:18:16,103
They've removed
The surrounding rock
328
00:18:16,103 --> 00:18:19,344
To be able to slide
Their thin blades underneath...
329
00:18:21,896 --> 00:18:24,758
...Then gently extract
Their treasure.
330
00:18:24,758 --> 00:18:26,931
This is a tricky procedure.
331
00:18:26,931 --> 00:18:30,000
One wrong move,
And the fossil shatters.
332
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,689
In the workshop,
Under five-times magnification
333
00:18:33,689 --> 00:18:36,275
And using a variety
Of sharpened tools,
334
00:18:36,275 --> 00:18:38,724
They carefully scrape away
The surface
335
00:18:38,724 --> 00:18:43,310
Until the dark color
Of the fossil shows through.
336
00:18:43,310 --> 00:18:45,758
To fully reveal
A fossil this size
337
00:18:45,758 --> 00:18:50,586
Takes 30 to 40 hours
Of tedious and meticulous work.
338
00:18:53,310 --> 00:18:55,793
As for the rock sheets
From the split quarry,
339
00:18:55,793 --> 00:18:57,793
They saw the fossils apart,
340
00:18:57,793 --> 00:19:01,517
Neatly framing each one
Within a rectangle.
341
00:19:06,448 --> 00:19:10,103
Layers flake off more easily
From split-quarry rock
342
00:19:10,103 --> 00:19:13,758
Than from the harder rock
Of the other quarry.
343
00:19:19,379 --> 00:19:22,000
Once a fossil
Is completely exposed,
344
00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:23,862
They seal and protect
The surface
345
00:19:23,862 --> 00:19:25,862
With a light coat
Of spray-on acrylic.
346
00:19:30,206 --> 00:19:32,689
When exposing a fossil,
It's critical
347
00:19:32,689 --> 00:19:37,517
To keep sharpening the tools
On a diamond file,
348
00:19:37,517 --> 00:19:38,931
And, for visibility,
349
00:19:38,931 --> 00:19:42,172
To repeatedly clean the work
Surface with an eraser or brush.
350
00:19:48,896 --> 00:19:52,448
How many layers of rock
Have to be scratched off varies.
351
00:19:52,448 --> 00:19:55,413
A fossil can be sitting
Right on the surface
352
00:19:55,413 --> 00:20:00,379
Or be buried a fraction
Of an inch or so beneath it.
353
00:20:03,827 --> 00:20:06,758
This freshwater stingray,
A rare find,
354
00:20:06,758 --> 00:20:10,000
Is about as intricate
As a fossil gets.
355
00:20:13,862 --> 00:20:17,000
This fellow took
More than a month to prepare.
356
00:20:19,724 --> 00:20:23,206
The detail of this large
Palm-leaf fossil is astounding.
357
00:20:23,206 --> 00:20:26,931
You can actually see
Insect bites.
358
00:20:26,931 --> 00:20:30,172
And as this leaf fossilized
On the prehistoric lake bed,
359
00:20:30,172 --> 00:20:32,482
So did the fish
Swimming around it,
360
00:20:32,482 --> 00:20:34,862
Producing an incredible
Stone snapshot
361
00:20:34,862 --> 00:20:39,034
Of life 50 million years ago.
362
00:20:45,275 --> 00:20:48,275
--captions by vitac--
Www.Vitac.Com
363
00:20:48,275 --> 00:20:51,275
Captions paid for by
Discovery communications
364
00:20:51,275 --> 00:20:53,655
If you have any comments
About the show,
365
00:20:53,655 --> 00:20:56,344
Or if you'd like to suggest
Topics for future shows,
366
00:20:56,344 --> 00:20:59,172
Drop us a line at...
29651
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.