Search the Community

2018 was the year that I finally took some time to explore Ordovician aged sites in Southwestern Wisconsin and Eastern Iowa. Inspired by past forum posts (special shoutout to Caleb Scheer who was unfortunately taken from this world way to young) along with an invite from a fellow Fossil Forum member, I was able to make several trips into the fossil rich Platteville and Maquoketa formations. I was mainly focused on finding some of the amazing trilobites that these formations are known for. I also collected some nice representative examples of the various other fauna. Most of my experience collecting Ordovician fossils has been in the Cincinnatian of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. For those not familiar with collecting in the Cincinnatian, the vast majority of trilobites that you will find are Flexicalymene meeki along with lots of bits and pieces of Isotelus. One of the things that struck me right away in the Platteville and Maquoketa was the quantity and diversity of trilobite types that are readily found. While almost all of the trilobites will be fragments, occasionally you get lucky and find something complete. There is definitely a learning curve sorting through the various trilo-bits and learning to recognize the various species. Forum member Piranha was always willing to help out with identifications. My first trip out was in late Winter. I spent a day with forum member Fossilized collecting a few roadcuts in both Wisconsin and Iowa. The first relatively complete trilobite that I came across that day was also possibly my rarest find of the year. It is a very rare Cheirud: Acanthoparypha sp. Unfortunately the cephalon was gone but still an impressive specimen.

I think that I found a small crinoid in the Ordovician aged Platteville Formation of Southwestern Wisconsin. i know there is not much to go on but am hoping someone can confirm that it is a crinoid. Any idea on species would also be appreciated. The specimen measures around an inch.

Locally, I find quite a few large cephalopods. Here is an example: Unfortunately this specimen was deteriorated. and I collected only it's exposed siphuncle. After gluing it back together, I noticed definite narrowings that I do not understand. Other siphuncles I have found have raised areas on them, not narrowings. Any ideas on this anatomical aspect??? Here is another cephalopod I found that day. Love the crystals inside.

This fossil is from the Platteville formation in southern Wisconsin, which is Ordovician in age. It does not seem to be a compress spiral, but rather composed of separate pieces or plates that alternate on either side. At the tip there are two sections that are positioned in the middle rather than on either side like the rest of the sections seem to be. I put it under the microscope but there is not much finer detail besides the individual grains, so it does not seem to be a Bryozoan or Coral. If anyone has any leads they would be much appreciated. The scale is in centimeters.

Hi everyone. Haven't posted in a long long time. Been trying to get back out there to some sites in the upper Midwest. Took a day trip recently to several sites within the Platteville formation of western Wisconsin. Did a lot of research and looked at some previous posts by other members here - but I was going in pretty much blind to the various roadcuts in terms of where I should be looking. Took a while but started to have some luck. A second trip would probably turn out far more productive as I have a better understanding of the what is in the different rock strata now. I found a number of brachiopods and minor pieces, a few trilobite heads of rough quality. I did turn up a few pieces that I wasn't fully sure on - was hoping to turn it over to the community to comment. #1. Possible Gonioceras? Fossil is in pretty rough shape and a piece was broken off when I found it. What are your thoughts? Underside of the broken piece showing texture. #2 - No idea all all. Possible a "nothing". If I look at it long enough I imagine some kind of segments, but I think that's my imagination... hoping others have seen something like this.

My father was an artist who did quite a bit of sculpture in wood and stone. Unfortunately I did not inherit his ability to draw and sculpt. He always said that he basically knew what was hiding in the piece of wood or soapstone from the time he saw it. He said the animal or abstract work was always in there it was just waiting for him to take the crud off what was obstructing the view. Well prepping trilobites is very much like that . You need to figure out the best way to present the bug really before you start the prep. You need to visualize the end product. Here is a Platteville isotelus that I received from a client in a 2 to 3 pound hunk of matrix. Not a lot to see at first but definitely a bug that is just screaming "Let me out of here"..... Also a bug that is desperately in need of a prep. Any time you can see an eye or better yet two eyes on an isotelus you pretty much know that there is a good chance that it will be complete I started by trimming the matrix down to a size and shape that would be condusive to prepping and wound have a nice asthetic shape when complete. I wanted the bug to be 3D when complete so I use a dremel to make a grid pattern around the fossil. These pedestal islands then just pop off with my ARO scribe leaving a matrix that is not just square edges. Square edges look horrible on a complete fossil, just not natural looking. This takes all of 5 minutes as opposed to perhaps a good hour if I had used just a scribe. I also minimize the potential for the matrix to fracture through the fossil by doing it this way. Just be careful not to cut too deep As per usual this was prepped under a scope using a comco MB1000 unit and a variety of scribes (Aro, Seally, 9361 and a Pferd) The abrasion material was previously used 40 micron dolomite with mostly a . 030 and . 018 nozzle tip. This is about 45 minutes into the prep The extra pygidium on the bug was removed and will be added back beside the bug at the end of the prep. Progress is being made about an hour into prep About 15 minutes later it is starting to get 3D Almost done at this point Pretty much finished except for adding that extra pygidium back beside the bug then final cleanup to remove any tool marks and packing up to ship There is zero restoration or gluing on this trilobite, although the right eye is dis-articulated it is 100% complete. Total time invested ... about 2 hours ...............cost to client $45 US plus shipping. Original estimate was $50 so pretty close. The finished bug is 35 mm long from nose to end of pygidium. The matrix now weighs about 1 1/2 pounds which is always important to watch out for. Anything over about 4 pounds is stupid expensive to ship from Canada. The suture on the right side of the eye has dis-articulated a bit from the bug but it is all there and shows how clean the sutures can come apart.

Hello, bug lovers! I found some pretty cool trilobites this last Sunday at my favorite road cut in Wisconsin. Since I'm a bit of a noob with bugs I'd appreicate some help on IDs and a confirmation on the formation. I think this is the Platteville formation. But it could be Decorah.....? @piranha Sorry for the pics in advance. Lol Found as is. After a bit of prep. Gabriceraurus mifflinensis? Ceraurinella scofieldi (possibly more thorax)? Continued..........

Here are a handful of trilobite fragments Mifflin Group, Platteville formation of Ordovician. Most are very tiny, my son and I pick them out with a loupe then I photograph them @ 1X1. Here is my son, Alan on a search. He is almost 11 years old, his eyes are getting to be noticeably better than mine (43). So for the trilos, I'll start with a couple pygidia. Pic # 1 Pic # 2 This is a real question, I don't even know what it is. The texture looks trilobitish, at the very least is definitely not consistent with bryozoan or mollusc, so ? Pic #3 Here is an individual thoracic segment. Pic # 4 Thanx for any help. I have thoughts on these, but would really appreciate any more input. Matt/Al

Last weekend took advantage of beautiful weather after a week of rain to check out the Platteville formation in SW Wisconsin. Here are some of my finds..please let me know if any of these ID's are incorrect.. Sinuites, extremely common . Ordovician sea floor Beloitoceras, measures 1.5" continued....

My father turned 60 on Nov. 2nd so to celebrate we went fossil collecting. Not that we need a reason to go collecting, but it's always fun when we can find one. I had been down in SE Wisconsin last weekend but was only able to hit one site so we decided to go back and collect some that we hadn't been to since spring. Our first stop was at an Amish farm pit. After getting permission we walked into the pit trying our hardest to avoid the "horse apples". It was a little difficult traversing the pit floor but I almost immediatly found an Amphilichas sp. cephalon. Shortly after my father found an Amphilichas sp. hypostome and that made a great start to the day. We left the site with only a couple parts and a partial Ceraurinella scofieldi which is always a treat to find. The rest of the day was pretty dry until our second to last stop when my father found what may turn out to be a nice Gabriceraurus sp. After a while longer crawling around I found a Sceptaspis lincolnensis which made my day. With the Gabriceraurus and Amphilichas parts I think my father was quite happy with how his 60th b-day turned out. Pictures of the Amphilichas parts and Gabriceraurus to come. Sceptaspis lincolnensis Hash plate with a Calyptaulax plattevillensis hypostome Hash plate with a rare Hypodicranotus sp. cephalon/close-up of the cephalon Bumastoides milleri with a free-cheek attached. When the free-cheeks are attached there is a decent chance it may be complete so a little prep will need to be done to see.