Looking for help identifying and prepping a cephalopod fossil.

[Neurodynamic]

Hello, I am an amateur fossil hunter whos level of knowledge is pretty limited. I love going out and hunting but my ability to identify and prep what I find is quite limited. I found this cephalopod fossil near Cincinnati Ohio a couple of years ago and it is by far my best find ever. I'm typically fine picking at or grinding away with a Dremel trying to prep my finds as they are usually small bits. Nothing I'm worried about ruining. This is something different and I'm pretty apprehensive about working on it. I read there isn't much harm in gluing it back together and I attempter this. It looks ok but 2 pieces didn't take so it's still in 2 pieces. There are also many very thin pieces of shell that came off the back when I dug it out. There also appears to be a small trilobite in the underside of the rock.

 

What I would like to know is more information on the species it is, as well as if there is a person or place I can send it to get prepped. For identification purposes here is what I know. The area it was found in Cincinnati Ohio in a bed known for Cambrian era fossils. Estimated age is 450-500 million years. 

 

I am not a rich man so I cannot afford to spend too much on prep but it is the best fossil I've found so far. I would be willing to spend as much as my budget allows on getting it cleaned up and put back together. I do not know what to expect price wise so if anyone has a guestimate please let me know.

 

Thanks ahead of time to anyone that can help me out.

[Ludwigia]

@Ptychodus04 ?

[Fossildude19]

Moved to FOSSIL ID.

 

Actually,  the area around Cincinnati is Ordovician in age. 

See Geologic map below: 

 

 

As far as preparation is concerned, people can PM  @Neurodynamic with any offers. 

 

Brightened and enlarged: 

 

[GemCityHippie]

My first guess as to ID would immediately be some type of Orthocone Cephalopod. 

 

I found an old thread from @minnbuckeye that has some more info about them. 

[minnbuckeye]

Yes, a Orthocone Cephalopod from the Ordovician as others have said. My opinion is little will be gained with any prepping. If you would purchase an engraving dremel, around $20.00, the matrix stuck on the tail could be worked free. These nataloids are usually fractious and break apart often, usually with gaps between the split pieces. In such cases, I have used gorilla glue with good success as it fills the gaps decently. If there is a tight fit, super glue works fine. By the way, nice discovery! 

 

Mike

[Ptychodus04]

8 hours ago, Ludwigia said:

@Ptychodus04 ?

Thanks Roger. PM sent to the OP.

[Neurodynamic]

14 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

Moved to FOSSIL ID.

Actually,  the area around Cincinnati is Ordovician in age. 

See Geologic map below: 

 

 

As far as preparation is concerned, people can PM  @Neurodynamic with any offers. 

Brightened and enlarged: 

Interesting. Locals in the area told me all the beds there were Cambrian. That would explain why I had such difficulty finding any info on it, I was looking in the wrong place. Thanks for the help.

[Neurodynamic]

9 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

Yes, a Orthocone Cephalopod from the Ordovician as others have said. My opinion is little will be gained with any prepping. If you would purchase an engraving dremel, around $20.00, the matrix stuck on the tail could be worked free. These nataloids are usually fractious and break apart often, usually with gaps between the split pieces. In such cases, I have used gorilla glue with good success as it fills the gaps decently. If there is a tight fit, super glue works fine. By the way, nice discovery! 

 

Mike

Very cool, thank you. I've never been more excited than when I was pulling it out piece by piece. Really wish I could have found the tip but that was probably lost long ago.