A Sad Day For Trilobites, But Still A Good Day Collecting

[Caleb]

After a day working around the house, my lady and I decided to hit the rocks on Sunday, Sept 16th. We ventured down to Southeast Wisconsin once again to pick around the Platteville Formation. Our goal, as usual, was the wonderful and diverse trilobite. While the weather was perfect the trilobites stayed hidden. We came close quite a few times, which is a bit frustrating, but went home empty handed in terms of complete bugs. In the list of "What if" and "If only" finds were: Gabriceraurus sp, Ceraurinella scofieldi, Encrinuroides rarus, Isotelus simplex, and Bumastoides milleri. The only one which was never complete was the Bumastoides which was a headless molt. All the rest showed evidence of being complete prior to being destroyed by excavation/time.

Gabriceraurus sp., you can see the tips of the thoracic segments trailing behind where it's broken.

Ceraurinella scofieldi, yup those black dots behind the beat up cephalon are more thoracic segment tips.

Encrinuroides rarus, parts of the cephalon are outlined on the chipped area.

Bumastoides milleri, this is just a molt so it was never complete.

On the plust side, we did find some nice parts:

Amphilichas sp. We are always looking for Lichid parts so this was a nice treat. I also picked up part of a pygidium and a thoracic segment.

Bufoceraurus(Ceraurus) herrmanni. It's just a free-cheak, but this is one cool and very rare bug. And it is only about an inch away from the Amphilichas cephalon.

Basiliella barrandi cephalon. I'm interested to see how much of it is there and how well it will prep out.

[trilobiteruss]

There are days like those Caleb, but at least it was awesome weekend! Wish I had collecting sites like yours that close to even try!

[Caleb]

We also picked up some decent Cephalopods including a very uncommon coiled one.

Beloitoceras sp. This is one of the more common ones, but still a beauty when prepped.

I have been told that this one is currently in the process of being described, so no official name for it yet.

And here's the coiled one. I will have to look up the name on this one, I can't think of it off hand. It's not very well preserved, but it shows that it was kind of all there.

There's 2 more kinds that I have yet to photograph. It was a good day for Cephalopods, but a bad day for complete bugs. Maybe next time!

[Malcolmt]

You certainly have the potential for some spectacular finds in your hunting area. But then again you have done extremely well this year from the posts of your past trips......

[Caleb]

Thanks Malcolm, one nice thing about finding these not-so-nice bugs is it give me prep practice which I desperately need.

[Quarryman Dave]

Its tought to find incomplete trilobites especially when most of it was found in mint condition. Welcome to the club! It happens to the best of us, but am still happy to be able to find them regardless

Cheers! caleb