PRK Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 (edited) I traveled to china (hunan mining district) with a mining advisory group back in the '80s. I was with a group on how to improve mining techniques. As I am not a mining specialist, I just tagged along in a paleo capacity, and to be a tourist. Although we did tour many mines, including the famous antimony mine where those spectacular stibnite crystals are found 600ft underground. So deep it was uncomfortably warm. As it was a working mine,it was a look don't touch situation, but lots of massive antimony pockets, however i didn't see any of those lovely crystals that day. On this particular day we ended up at the small museum in a mining school. They had some eye popping fossils on display, including huge mass mortality plates (some were 3x4ft) of giant trilobites, 4or5 giant trilos to a plate, some trilos were over a foot in length, with smaller 3or 4in trilos scattered in between. I had never before seen anything like them! when it was time for our group to leave, one of the chinese overseers tapped me on the shoulder and took me aside. Remember we could not communicate(Chinese). however we did seem to communicate thru fossils. He then shoved a wrapped package into my hands, and let me know, somehow, this was a friendship gift from the school, so don't open it till later. When I got back to the "hotel", I peeked. Wow! unexpected! it was a beautiful single 11in trilo. needless to say, I hand carried my new treasure back on the train, then on the plane, home. ill treasure it, with that story forever. It all seemed to happen so fast, with so many unfamiliar distractions, 25 yrs later, I don't even remember exactly WHO or WHERE! Even with my notes. Edited March 24, 2013 by PRK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Very nice......... unexpected gifts are always more special...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 ??? ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I just want that job of tagging along in a paleo capacity. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 From the Mazon fossils to your nice productive bug site to this, I think you have been lucky (right place at right time) besides all the time/effort you have put in over the years. PICS PLEASE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRK Posted December 29, 2012 Author Share Posted December 29, 2012 (edited) Believe ME!.ive put my time in, and I've paid my dues. Were talking 45 yrs, ive put in a LOT of time, studying, and effort, into building a good understanding of fossils. I know how to take full advantage of the few and far between breaks I get. remember, I don't talk about all the HUNDREDS of dead ends and closed doors I encounter Edited December 29, 2012 by PRK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Sure I have pics. But I've been advised I'm posting too many, and I should back off, and wait for more responses I'm not sure that makes any sense but for the sake of this topic at least one photo would certainly be appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 (edited) I don't think there is such a thing as posting too many pics on this forum. So long as a thread states it is pic heavy for any dial-up or satellite users who may have slow bandwidth, I don't see an issue with posting pics. Regards, Edited December 29, 2012 by Fossildude19 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 ...I've been advised I'm posting too many, and I should back off, and wait for more responses WHAT? "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelhead9 Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 OK, so I'm going to get killed for this, and don't get me wrong, I'm all for it, but explain to me why, other than possibly the scale, this is any different from what Eric Prokopi did with the tarbosaurus. Still Life Fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 OK, so I'm going to get killed for this, and don't get me wrong, I'm all for it, but explain to me why, other than possibly the scale, this is any different from what Eric Prokopi did with the tarbosaurus. This is non-commercial, for one thing, and might not have involved a fraudulent customs declaration. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Another distinction is invertebrates do not have the same scrutiny as vertebrate fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgrilusHunter Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 (edited) OK, so I'm going to get killed for this, and don't get me wrong, I'm all for it, but explain to me why, other than possibly the scale, this is any different from what Eric Prokopi did with the tarbosaurus. Hi Steelhead, For me there are many differences but to name just a few: it was a gift between friends, it was not sold for profit, he likely didn't lie on a customs manifest, he is not involved in the black market smuggling of museum quality, culturally significant, fossils. The list could go on. I feel bad for Eric and his family, but he made some pretty poor decisions that resulted in him being charged as he was, none of those decisions are comparable to a gift of friendship between acquaintances. Hi PRK, Can't wait to see you trilo! Sounds like a nice specimen. A fossil you found yourself or a gift from friend always has the most meaning. Edited December 30, 2012 by AgrilusHunter "They ... savoured the strange warm glow of being much more ignorant than ordinary people, who were only ignorant of ordinary things." -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Steelhead, I'd also point out that PRK received his gift back in the 80's, when there were no restrictions on exporting invertebrate fossils from China. One can hardly expect people to anticipate laws that might be passed 30 years in the future. PRK, I'd like to add my vote to those who would like to see a photo. Thanks for your many informative and entertaining posts, and keep 'em coming please! Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRK Posted December 30, 2012 Author Share Posted December 30, 2012 (edited) Firstly no money was ever exchanged involved with this fossil, it was a gift, this fossil is NOT for sale. 2nd, fossildawg hit my knee jerk argument spot on. 25yrs ago, there were no such things as laws concerning the exchange of fossil inverts until 1992. It after all was a rock, not an antique or archaeological piece. Edited December 30, 2012 by PRK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeriderdon Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 OK, now that all that is out of our systems, could we see this trilobite now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 My goodness, you have tiny hands! Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Wow - nice gift. Any idea on the ID? Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Great Googly Moogly! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgrilusHunter Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 (edited) Wow - nice gift. Any idea on the ID? Regards, Piranha posted one that looks a lot like PRK's in the Favorite Trilobites thread, post number 27, and he has it identified as Xiangxiia yongshunensis. Edited December 30, 2012 by AgrilusHunter "They ... savoured the strange warm glow of being much more ignorant than ordinary people, who were only ignorant of ordinary things." -- Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Wow! So THAT's what a nicely prepped, non-bondo Chinese trilobite looks like! Beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Piranha posted one that looks a lot like PRK's in the Favorite Trilobites thread, post number 27, and he has it identified as Xiangxiia yongshunensis. Thanks John! Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelhead9 Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 My apologies PRK. I hope I expressed that I was totally on your side about this, although I certainly see why it could have disturbed you. I also don't want to open the Eric can of worms. I think I am disturbed at how unfair I feel towards what happened to Eric. Obviously, what he did was on a scale that could never be compared to you, but technically, the same laws he broke (if you can call it that) are broken every day on ebay and elsewhere. Guess I should learn to keep my feelings to myself. Awesome trilobite, by the way. Still Life Fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeriderdon Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 PRK, that is AWESOME! Very nice piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Piranha posted one that looks a lot like PRK's in the Favorite Trilobites thread, post number 27, and he has it identified as Xiangxiia yongshunensis. OK, so I might as well add the Chinese trilobite gifts I received... from myself The larger trilobite is 9'' and by the smaller juvenile is a dwarf by comparison at only 4" PRK: Congrats and thanks for posting (finally). Most of these I have seen over the years are poorly preserved and prepped so it's always nice to see a spectacular specimen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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