PaleoTex is a full-service commercial paleontology company founded by paleontologist Andre LuJan in 2016. They focus on providing professional services and research specimens to institutions worldwide, as well as vocational paleontologists and independent researchers.
PaleoTex is the number-one full-service paleontology services company in the state of Texas, offering the highest quality preparation and mounting services. The company houses a full prep lab with state-of-the-art equipment and tools. They’ve assembled the most professional and efficient team for ethical fossil collection, high-quality preparation, excavation, scouting, mounting, and exhibit installation.
The company has been featured in numerous news articles, including The New York Times, as well as on television programs such as Dino Hunters on the Discovery Channel and Pawn Stars on the History Channel. PaleoTex is also the exclusive ranch paleontology team for Ox Ranch, a fair chase hunting resort in Uvalde, Texas.
Field Work
PaleoTex frequently explores new localities and partners with scientists in the field to improve their understanding of ancient life. Additionally, they own and lease rich bone beds and fossil sites across the United States; this accessibility means PaleoTex can regularly offer unique and rare specimens to museums and researchers both in the U.S. and abroad. Their fieldwork expertise is also available to assist those in need of paleontological services, which include consultations, mapping, excavation, heavy machine work, and logistics.
Services Lab
The PaleoTex lab space is fully equipped to provide services for fossil and mineral preparation, restoration, molding, casting, and mounting. They also offer no-contact, structured light 3D scanning, which allows for the digitization, replication, modification, inspection, or reverse engineering of an object with exceptional scan accuracy of 0.04 mm. Museums around the world feature examples of their restorative work and mounted projects. PaleoTex’s preparatory work has also been published in prominent scientific journals, including Nature. “We pride ourselves,” says LuJan, “on consistently offering high-quality results for our clients and continuing to evolve as a competitive company.”
Guided Fossil Hunts
Collect your very own fossils in dinosaur-rich dirt. PaleoTex offers the only guided fossil hunts in Texas, led by a professional paleontologist, on privately owned land in the Big Bend region of West Texas. Possible finds include dinosaur bones, teeth, claws, giant crocodile and turtle fossils, and more! Families with children are welcome. Subject to available dates and seasons. Contact PaeloTex to book your personal hunt! The cost is $200 per person per two hours and includes keeping your finds (up to the price of the hunt). Hunts do not include lodging or meals.
You can typically find PaleoTex at major industry shows, such as the annual Denver Gem & Mineral Showcase in September and the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase in January and February. Stop by their booths or email them to find out more about available specimens, services, guided fossil hunts, and apprenticeship opportunities. For PaleoTex contact information and details on upcoming gem shows, visit their company profile page on the Xpo Press website.