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Sorry this report is late, but I wanted to wait until prep was complete as I always show unprepped finds lol. Back in May, Laura and I made an impromptu trip to Grant County Wisconsin for some trilobite action. We had spent nearly five hours hunting with only partials and some hash plates uncovered. I decided to sit in the middle of the site and take a break and let Laura search. Being bored, I started to pick up pieces of rock and brush off the dirt and broken pieces of matrix. To my utter shock, I brushed off some dirt and saw a cephalon emerge, with what looked like thoracic segments. I finished brushing off the dirt and was in shock. My first complete Ceraurus mifflinensis (Demott1987). I was not prepared at all and my wife said I sounded like a five year old opening every Christmas present I've ever wanted. Well here she is, Gabi in all her beauty. It was truely amazing to be the first human to see such a magnificent creature. Prep was completed by David Comfort July 1st. Thank you @piranha for connecting me with the world renowned prep master. Now prepped

I bought this from a store in my area, it is labeled Licuites Iii. I think it's real but I'm weary, especially since there was a "Made in China" sticker on the back. If it is real, is the ID correct? on the bottom it appears that some fossils have been cut through, and on the end part of the orthocone there is a faint circle in the rock, suggesting it's three D. Assuming it's real, can it be prepped? Thanks for any information!

Ive been looking over some Platteville plates for a trade with a member, but I am having issues with finding access to some images or papers. The image or paper i'm looking for is on a middle ordovician foram, Reophax blackriveranus n. sp. thats found in the Platteville formation- Mifflin member. Papers on other forams found in this formation would also be appreciated. If anyone is able to assist, I would be grateful. Thanks! Best regards, Paul

My wife and I took a trip to Grant County here in Wisconsin on 9-11 as a tribute to the anniversary of the day that affected us all. We left around 6:30am-ish and arrived at our destination a little past 8am. It had been raining the past several days so our chances were good that slides had exposed new rock and washed away dirt from old. Upon inspection, the site looked fantastic, but the insects were out in full force. I began by just a quick walk around scouting and picking up pieces here and there; a few brachiopod plates and corals. Throughout the day we found many partials, but these were of specimens we did not currently have in our collection. I had intended to visit a few sites I had been to before. The site we were at was our first time there and the finds just kept coming so we stayed there the length of our hunt. Here are some pictures of the site and our trilobite finds. These were all found at one site in the span of 6 hours. I have tried to identify them the best I could so if I made an error feel free to correct me. Id rather have the correct name on the label than not. Mffln mbr-Platteville Formation Middle ordovician SW-Wisconsin Measurements are in centimeters Hermiarges aff. H.paulianus (Clark-1894)-Cephalon(On Right) Sceptaspis lincolnensis (Branson-1909)Pygidium(On left) Thaleops sp. With cephalopod and brachiopod association Ceraurinella templetoni n. sp. Amphilichas sp. Bumastoides milleri (Billings-1859) continued on next page...

The following graptolites were collected at two Luster’s Gate locations east of Blacksburg, Virginia, one on VA 723 (UTM 17S 556351.49 4121426.16) and the other on VA 785 (most likely, UTM 17S 556851.28 4122155.54). I remember the second location as being just north of a sharp bend in the road and I wish Google Earth would run a street view down VA 785 so I could verify it. The locality on VA 785 has been listed as having exceptional preservation (lagerstatten) but I had never considered it so, until I found Specimen # 6. Anyways, I’ve photographed and scanned six specimens and I am having problems pinning down any type of assured ID other than graptolithina. I’m not well versed in graptolite taxonomy and I realize the preservation is somewhat poor, so I would expect speciation unlikely. But, maybe someone in the FF familiar with the taxa and/or the site can verify my lame attempt at taxanomic placement of some of the specimens and make a generic or family/group determination on all. That would be most helpful. Also, is anyone aware of where I might obtain a copy of the following thesis/dissertation other than the VPI library? J. Duval Shultz, 1919. The Graptolites of the Luster's Gate Locality, Montgomery County. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 18p. Specimen#1 Specimen #2

I see these every once in a while, but I can't seem to locate any information on them. The shape is fairly consistent involving a tapering "cone" with a bulbous end. I'm hoping with such a distinct shape, someone with knowledge of Byrozoa may be able to assist me with a possible genus or family. Middle Ordovician, Blackriverian (similar in age to the Bromide Formation of Oklahoma) Platteville Formation, Mifflin member Southwest Wisconsin All pictured measure around 3cm These are 3 different specimens on the same hash slab: Thanks, Caleb