Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Compared to 2014, this season has been a bit of a disappointment as far as finding complete trilobites. True, I found a couple nice Greenops at Deep Springs Road, including one at the TFF gathering last spring. Figuring I had one last chance to make good before winter snows hit, I traveled up to eastern Madison County in Central Upstate New York to an exposure of the Middle Devonian Skaneateles Formation, part of the Hamilton Group. It was my second time there this year and the last time produced one of my best Dipleura dekayi cephalons. I hoped to do at least as well on this, what is likely, my final trip there of the season. I arrived before ten in the morning. Day was crisp- high thirties to low forties, sunny. There were a number of sandstone blocks lying at the foot of the exposure I didn't recall seeing the last time I was there. I proceeded to split these and the second block yielded this: the thorax and pygidium of a Dipleura, the best Dipleura thorax/pygidium I've found so far this year. Soon after I found a partially exposed cephalon of another Dipleura. A little careful chiseling and repair work I was able to expose the whole thing: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Later I climbed the steep talus slope to the base of a small cliff where I excavated last time I was there and found the complete cephalon. A friend of mine had found two complete individuals there on an earlier trip. Patiently I dug into the siltstone but I wasn't finding much, a few scattered bivalves and brachiopod pieces, an occasional isolated Dipleura thorax segment. After almost two hours I stopped and took a break, wandered around the talus searching for a possible better place to excavate. Not finding anything looking more promising I returned to my original dig spot and there it was lying there right below where I had just been digging. Couldn't believe my eyes- a complete juvenile Dipleura: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 I imagine this must have popped out unseen while I was removing slabs. It is only about an inch and a half in length. Adult Dipleuras can reach lengths of eight to ten inches. One of my cephalons is three inches across. Some other finds of the day: Bivalves: Cornellites fasciculata Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Paracyclas rugosa And these Bembexia gastropods: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 And so it turned out to be one of my best days collecting this year. Left the site before 2PM and got back in time to make dinner for my daughter and take her to her dance class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manticocerasman Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 great finds Jeffrey P , Thanks for sharing. growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Thanks Kevin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Very nice! A great way to close out the season. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Jeff, Congratulations on a great day of collecting! Glad you were able to get such fantastic fossils. They are just rewards for your patience and perseverance. Great report and pictures. Thanks for posting this. 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...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Thanks Tim. This came after many trips that were less fruitful. Keep the faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Nice fossils; I am particularly smitten by the pattern and detail of the Cornellites. "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...
PaleoWilliam Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Nice finds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khyssa Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Wonderful finds and a great last hunt of the year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiggieCie Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 A great finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Way to go, Jeff! You sure deserve those nice finds. The Dipleura pieces are difficult finds and that complete juvenile is wonderful. I also like the look of that well-preserved Cornellites. You even made it home in time. Well done. I'm looking forward to getting together for another hunt next year. Mike Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymig Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Large, complete Dipleura are elusive but Im sure you will find one. Many times I've wondered how much there is to know. led zeppelin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velociraptor99 Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Wow nice trilobites man! Can't wait till spring when I can go hunting again! So I say to you, Ask and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and door will be opened for you. -Jesus Christ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Very nice! A great way to close out the season. Don Thanks Don. I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Nice fossils; I am particularly smitten by the pattern and detail of the Cornellites. Thanks. Cornellites are abundant at that site, but rarely as complete and well preserved as this keeper. All in all I think they're a really cool bivalve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Nice finds! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Wonderful finds and a great last hunt of the year! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 A great finish. I agree. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Way to go, Jeff! You sure deserve those nice finds. The Dipleura pieces are difficult finds and that complete juvenile is wonderful. I also like the look of that well-preserved Cornellites. You even made it home in time. Well done. I'm looking forward to getting together for another hunt next year. Mike Thanks Mike. Definitely love to get together next year and resume the quest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Large, complete Dipleura are elusive but Im sure you will find one. Thanks for the encouragement, Mike. A large complete Dipleura would be very cool, but until then I'll take the well preserved complete juvenile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Wow nice trilobites man! Can't wait till spring when I can go hunting again! Thanks and good luck with your quest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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