Caleb Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) On Sunday, Oct. 27 I decided to hit a site in the Platteville formation in Southwest Wisconsin. I arrived at around 9:30am and the weather had just broadcasts that it was a balmy 32°F/0°C. While being a bit chilly, I came prepared with a coat and gloves which I was very thankful for. My wife was having a baby shower and with a 2hr drive I knew I should be back to help load/unload her haul at 2:00. This left me with only about 2.5hrs of collecting time and limited me to one site. My main goal was trilobites, but I also know someone who is working on the cephalopods of the formation so I kept a keen eye out for those as well. I only found one potential trilobite, but if it turns out to be complete it will be my first of this species which is quite exciting for me. Here come the photos, only one on this post and then the rest in the next two posts... This is my "hopefully" complete trilobite. Calyptaulax plattevillensis Edited October 29, 2013 by Caleb Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) This was a very fine Calyptaulax plattevillensis cephalon. Gabriceraurus mifflinensis hypostome Gabriceraurus sp. pygidium 2 cephalopods, names to come Edited October 29, 2013 by Caleb Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 And the last of the bunch. Liospira gastropod Worm burrow with "scratch" marks Clathospira gastropod A clam of some type, name to come soon. I usually don't pick these up, but it was nice and will prep easy. And finally a nice hash plate that I couldn't leave. Full of trilobite and crinoid pieces, gastropods, bryozoa, and a few other things. Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 This hash plate is just amazing. Never saw such a variety of marine life on a single rock. And the last of the bunch. Liospira gastropod 6.jpg Worm burrow with "scratch" marks 7.jpg Clathospira gastropod 8.jpg A clam of some type, name to come soon. I usually don't pick these up, but it was nice and will prep easy. 9.jpg And finally a nice hash plate that I couldn't leave. Full of trilobite and crinoid pieces, gastropods, bryozoa, and a few other things. 10.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Nice calyptaulax, keeping our fingers crossed for you that it is complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 This hash plate is just amazing. Never saw such a variety of marine life on a single rock. It is quite the assemblage of stuff. From what I can tell there are pieces representing species from: 6-8 trilobites(6 for sure, 8 possibly with a little prep) 3 bryozoa 3 brachiopods 2 gastropods 2 crinoids 1 ostrocod and maybe even a sponge Nice calyptaulax, keeping our fingers crossed for you that it is complete. Even if it's not complete, it would still be the first partially articulated specimen I've found in the 15years of collecting this formation. Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Good trip report, and nice variety of finds, Caleb. That hash plate is quite visually appealing. Thanks for posting these. 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...
JimB88 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 good stuff as always! And if your wife is expecting congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgehiker Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Super hash plate. Neat how its symmetrical without having to saw it. Always my favourite type of specimen. Those brachs are exquisite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyT. Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Caleb, hope you will repost the hash plate later (when you have time) with labels on the trilos and other marine creatures. Look forward to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted November 1, 2013 Author Share Posted November 1, 2013 good stuff as always! And if your wife is expecting congrats! Thanks! Super hash plate. Neat how its symmetrical without having to saw it. Always my favourite type of specimen. Those brachs are exquisite. That was another reason I picked it up, it's like a 3cm thick fossiliferous brick. Caleb, hope you will repost the hash plate later (when you have time) with labels on the trilos and other marine creatures. Look forward to it I've started on it, but then got busy at work. It will be coming. Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Congrats on the GREAT finds! Also looking forward to seeing the hash plate labeled! The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Here is the hash plate with the trilobite parts and some other things labeled. There are a lot of trilobite parts scattered throughout the plate so instead of IDing each one I just labeled one of each type(except Ceraurinella which had a cephalon and pygidium on the plate). 1 Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Paleo gumbo: awesome plate! "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...
PennyT. Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Caleb, many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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