Malcolmt Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 (edited) Just a quick post because this is somewhat of a rarity. About three weeks ago I was hunting fossils in my favorite Ordovician location up here in Ontario Canada with a few friends including Northern Sharks and I found my first ever cyclocystoid. I cannot tell you how many 1000s of crinoid stems I have thought for a split second might be a cyclocystoid or edrioastroid. Finally picked up the real thing...... not an imposter. The segmentation in the ring is the giveaway. This one is in quite a good state of preservation and has had an initial prep under the scope with air abrasion. (40 micron dolomite 22 PSI and .018 nozzle). I may still clean up the center a bit more at a lower PSI and use finer abrasive (22 micron and a smaller nozzle .010) . The fossil is 14mm across. I have not seen one of these found at that locality in person but am aware of two other specimens. One of the other specimens was slightly smaller than this one. A very experienced collector at that site indicated that this was one of the rarest fossils to come out of that location. I am quite pleased with it and it will become part of my personal collection as this is a new species for me at that location. Edited August 28, 2014 by Malcolmt Link to post Share on other sites
FossilDAWG Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Wow, that one is really in a great state of preservation. You can clearly see the outer ring of small plates, and the structure of the central region. Generally you're lucky to just get the main ring of larger plates. That one is a real prize! Don Link to post Share on other sites
jgcox Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Malcolm, That is museum quality-looks like right out of the textbook!!! Congrats. Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Malcolm Check out this link and see how much they can go for on ebay http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Extremely-Rare-Fossil-Cyclocystites-Ordovician-Trilobite-Crinoid-Age-GEM-/261569109188?ssPageName=ADME:B:FSEL:CA:1123. Very nice find Link to post Share on other sites
nala Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 (edited) Wow!now you are the new Lord of the Rings Malcolm! Edited August 28, 2014 by nala Link to post Share on other sites
RyanNREMTP Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Pretty cool. Link to post Share on other sites
Auspex Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Congratulation on finding such a nicely preserved specimen of an extremely rare fossil! Link to post Share on other sites
Malcolmt Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 I saw that sale on eBay, it is in fact the slightly smaller specimen that I mention in my post. Link to post Share on other sites
BobWill Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Typical for ebay. They're calling it a trilobite Link to post Share on other sites
Malcolmt Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Actually I know the seller of that fossil on eBay quite well and he is very knowledgeable about the invertebrate species from the Ordovician of Ontario, Canada. His post on eBay says trilobite / crinoid age. He generally describes things that way as people put trilobite and crinoid in their eBay searches so he comes up more often in their results that way. It clearly states that it is a cyclosystoid "Up for bid is the rare echinoderm cyclosystites". He sells quality fossils , nicely prepped which are always clearly described. He did well on this auction, he generally has no reserve and the price ends up where it ends up. I have seen him get $9.99 for trilobites and echinoderms that should have gone for well over a $100, but that is the chance you take when you put something up for a no reserve auction. Link to post Share on other sites
squalicorax Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 That's a stunner malcolm Link to post Share on other sites
fossilized6s Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Very nice! Another one crossed off the ol' bucket list. Congrats! Link to post Share on other sites
Pagurus Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 (edited) What a beautiful ring. Cyclosystoids are forever. (Who needs diamonds?) Edited August 28, 2014 by Pagurus Link to post Share on other sites
piranha Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 On 8/28/2014 at 8:05 AM, Malcolmt said: ...It clearly states that it is a cyclosystoid "Up for bid is the rare echinoderm cyclosystites"... Â Â That pricey auction listing is incorrect in any event, 'Cyclocystites' has never been a valid genus in the Cyclocystoididae. The correct genus is Cyclocystoides. The definitive work on these incredible echinoderms is this 100+ page monograph. Please send me a PM and I'll be happy to send it for you. Â Smith, A.B., & Paul, C.R.C. (1982) Revision of the class Cyclocystoidea (Echinodermata). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 296:577-679 Â Congrats on finding such a spectacular example! Â Â 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Shamalama Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Wow! Outstanding specimen to find and what superb preservation. Was this from the new digging or down below? I gotta get back up there, hopefully in late September. Your prep work is outstanding as well, nicely done Mr. Malcolm. Link to post Share on other sites
Malcolmt Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Dave, it was found in the bottom of the pit. The top area we were hunting last season is pretty picked over. We are eagerly waiting some new blasting in the top section. Link to post Share on other sites
fossilized6s Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Malcolm, invert of the month, possibly? Link to post Share on other sites
Shamalama Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Dave, it was found in the bottom of the pit. The top area we were hunting last season is pretty picked over. We are eagerly waiting some new blasting in the top section. Man, that is two really nice Echinoderms that you've found at the bottom of the pit. No wonder Jabali likes it there. Link to post Share on other sites
Xiphactinus Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Cool fossil. That's something I'd not heard of before. Beautiful.... Link to post Share on other sites
Ludwigia Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Cool fossil. That's something I'd not heard of before. Beautiful.... I'll second that. This creature is also new to me. Congratulations on a great find! Link to post Share on other sites
Malcolmt Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Roger, we will have to find you one if you get over in the fall!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
crabfossilsteve Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Hey Malcomt Wow like everyone else has said, that is one beautiful example of those guys. I've seen a few from up there over the years and I can say that is the best. I haven't collected up there since the two main local quarries closed to collectors some years ago. I really miss it even if it was a long trip from down here. I take it came from the Dick quarry? Way to go. Link to post Share on other sites
Ludwigia Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Roger, we will have to find you one if you get over in the fall!!!!!! I'll place my order now! Link to post Share on other sites
Brewcuse Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Sweet find, what an amazing looking fossil! Link to post Share on other sites
erose Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Outstanding specimen. Link to post Share on other sites
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