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Hello all, I've been a fossil admirer for many years and finally pulled the trigger to get a few pieces of my own this week at the Denver show. Regrettably, I didn't do any research into fakes beforehand - didn't even cross my mind, as this is an organized and seemingly reputable event. I bought two trilobite fossils and one brittle star. Each was from a different vendor, all of whom were from Morocco. When I started doing some reading to try to confirm their species after I got home, I found many resources about fake fossils including this forum. I now suspect that all three of my fossils are fakes, as I can see what appear to be pinholes from resin bubbles on them. I've attached some photos. The larger trilobite I got from a guy who had tons of different-sized trilobites in various positions on different bits of stone, and it has visible cracks where it's been reassembled. However it seems to have clear pinholes across its head. The brittle star seems like the most obvious fake after learning more about fakes, given the color and shininess plus the couple of pinholes. I'm not really sure what to do at this point - I still admire these pieces and find them quite beautiful. If they're casts of real fossils they retain some of their interest for me. But it feels really bad to have been duped, potentially three times, in my first foray into fossil collecting. I have half a mind to go back and confront the vendors (I paid two of them with zelle and have their names and information) but I'm not sure what would be gained. Is there some way I could notify the venue so that other buyers don't get swindled? Curious to hear people's thoughts on whether these are indeed all fakes, and what you would do in my place. Currently I'm leaning towards considering it a lesson and keeping them as pieces of art, but the bad taste does linger. Thanks for your time!

Hi dear friends, I am thinking of purchasing a brittle star fossil like this. But the majority of brittle star fossils I have seen are orange color . So I am not sure why this one is in pink color. Do you think it is natural and genuine (why it is pink)?☺️thank you for your help in advance!

Largest find of Jurassic starfish and relatives ever discovered in the UK excavated by Natural History Museum British Natural History Museum Part-time adventurers’: amateur fossil hunters get record haul in Cotswolds More than 1,000 scientifically significant specimens taken from former quarry after discovery. Miranda Bryant, The Guardian, July 20, 2021 Yours, Paul H.