Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian Outings

[Kane]

Over the last month or so, I've managed to get out to a few places. Although I can't say I've made stellar finds, I made out okay.

 

In order of geologic sequence, I'll start off with the Ordovician. I have a spot in the Cobourg/Lindsay Fm that is typically very high energy, and so complete trilobite specimens are scarce. A few Isotelus parts, a Pseudogygites latimarginatus pygidium, a Ceraurinus marginatus glabella, and what may turn out to be a complete Flexicalymene senaria prone (to be determined after prep).

 

[Kane]

Sadly, I never could find that complete Thaleops I was hoping for, settling for a pair of cephalons. Some obligatory gastropods that I tend to pick up along the way, to be placed in a box with more of their spirally kind. 

[Kane]

The best finds during my four hours at the site were this mostly complete and enrolled Pseudogygites latimarginatus with some unfortunate exfoliation (it was found free in the talus) and a pretty good semi-enrolled Flexicalymene senaria that should clean up nicely.

[Kane]

Onward to the Silurian and the farther north where the leaves have already fallen. I spent 20 hours splitting for not much to show for it. That is typically the way in the fickle Silurian of Ontario, though. 

 

A plate of Rielaspis elegantula pygidia that I am going to clean up for fun. There is always a chance a complete one may be lurking, so it is a good idea to take it home instead of leave it in the field and never know. The other image is of a plate of the macroalgae, Thalassocystis striata, which preserves as carbonaceous films with a bit of thickness, and that can run fairly deep throughout the strata. 

[Kane]

The first photo is a cephalic fragment of the bumpy encrinurid, Distyrax sp. I always hope for completion, but I am doubtful. Still, prep will reveal all. 

 

As Ekwanoscutellum ekwanensis is among the rarest trilobites in this material, I tend to pick them up when I see them. The second piece is a bit unclear, but I have the counterpart, and so this shows sediment covering a good section of the ventral shell.

[Kane]

The best finds were somewhat underwhelming in their way, but not terrible. 

 

About half of the other of the rarest trilobites from this material, a Stelckaspis perplexa. I've included a line drawing from Ludvigsen. The other piece is a complete prone Rielaspis elegantula that I will need to glue the counterpart on and prep, so it looks just awful in its current state. 

 

[Kane]

The upshot is that, although I do not have complete specimens of all the Thornloe trilobites, I do have at least fragmentary examples of them all after four visits.

 

On to the Devonian, and a somewhat stingy facies of the Bois Blanc Fm. Not much there to be had, but what will turn out to be a complete (but exfoliated) phacopid, a placoderm part, and some obligatory big brachiopods. A completely chertified cephalon of Anchiopsis anchiops photobombed the shot.

[Kane]

Just to close it all off, the other good find -- this one from the erratics not far from my house. I've already shown this in my dedicated prep thread, but here it comes again: a complete and plump Eldredgeops rana roller in very unfriendly material. As for some of the other items above, those will be keeping my tools busy once the snows hit.

[Top Trilo]

When I read, "I can't say I've made stellar finds", I knew that meant there were a few good trilobites about to follow!

 

Awesome selection of trilobites Kane! The prep on that last roller is fantastic!

[Jeffrey P]

Excellent prep on that Eldredgeops. Your other finds are very interesting and I am anxious to see those prepped too. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

[FossilDAWG]

The Eldredgeops is sweet, but so far I like the 3D enrolled Pseudogyites best.  The "unfortunate exfoliation" just gives it character IMHO.

 

Don

[Kane]

Thanks, all.  Always nice to come back home with something rather than nothing.  

The Pseudogygites roller was a bit of a bucket list item for me, as I long wanted to find a complete 3D one as opposed to the flattened ones I would find as a kid in the shales of Ottawa (my very first trilobites).