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Trilobite with different coloured matrix inside


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I recently bought a pair of Selenopeltis, labelled as Moroccan, and I would really appreciate your opinions on their authenticity.

Unfortunately there was a little bit of a mishap and some of the spines got damaged on the one in the photos (after one spine was damaged on the other one - I love my wife, but she can be a little clumsy!) - she has made an effort to reattach them, but it was her first go at restoration so some of the joins are quite visible. Apologies if anyone is squeamish about these things - they don't look quite as good as when I got them.

However, while reattaching the spines, a small chip of the matrix fell off, revealing much darker rock underneath - this was quite surprising and engendered some doubts in my mind.

The lighter colour does have a soft and slightly waxy feeling - could it just be some kind of coating on genuine darker matrix for presentation?

The trilos themselves are hard, although evidently pretty brittle.

Any thoughts welcome. Thanks for your help.

post-21438-0-06914700-1464559806_thumb.jpg

post-21438-0-66830100-1464559983_thumb.jpg

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The darker under-matrix color is a bit off putting, as I can think of no natural cause for it....

"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!

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I am not feeling good about this one. 2nd picture definitely looks like it is artificial but that is only my opinion

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If it were mine, I would use a carbide needle or similar instrument on the underside of the base. What's there when you dig in? My suspicion (and it is only a suspicion) is that it is entirely fabricated.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See

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Ouch, but thanks.

Will get a carbide needle and have a bit of a probe. What should I be looking for?

Apart from the matrix looking seriously odd, what else is arousing suspicion?

The seller does give money back if anything they sell isn't authentic, and look to be very reputable (based on what else they have sold and to whom), but given the mishaps that have befallen the pieces, I want to be on strong ground before discussing with them.

Thanks in advance for anything further you have to say.

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Please consult the pinned entry on detecting "fakes" at the start of this category. Several articles on this topic are cited. Unfortunately, as the probing of the base I suggested, many of the efforts described may alter/damage the piece.

Caution: the seller may have a condition for return that the fossil be in "original condition."

Enhancements and outright fabrications are well known from Morocco, where such activity is apparently a cottage industry. This factor, I believe, tends to elicit a prejudice against all Moroccan material. This is unfortunate, as Morocco has vast deposits of authentic fossils and bias might give rise to blanket rejection in viewing pieces from that area.

Magnification, may be a non-destructive technique that proves helpful. For example you will find reference to detecting bubbles in the surface of cast pieces.

Lastly, opinions here are just that, opinions/impressions, and from afar. Perhaps you would be well served to let an independent expert have it "in hand" for evaluation. If you are near a University, this might be a resource.

Good luck in your endeavor.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See

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It is possible that the "worked" surface of the pedestal was made to look chalky by the method used, whereas the chip shows the plain surface of the rock the trilobite was found in.

Put a drop of water on the chalky looking area and if it looks darker and matches the chip area color it may be surface abrasion that caused the color difference.

Tony

Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys."

Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough."

 

My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection

My favorite thread on TFF.

 

 

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An airscribe, on its side will make that dark mark almost disappear. But I have to agree with the others. The second I put my eyes on this specimen I thought of a 3 dollar bill. Sorry

RB

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Thanks. I had read the detection pinned entry shortly after buying them and discovering there may be a general problem with fakes from Morocco (normally I research first - I suspect I will be avoiding impulse buys for a while...). No noticeable air bubbles under magnification, and feels right under a tooth test, but the pedestal itself feels odd, and not really like rock; it does feel like it has been coated in something. I am loath to try an acetone bath given the amount of effort my wife put in to reattach the spines. Although she did say that looking at the spines in cross section, some of them had narrow voids running through them, which she thought could be capillaries or some similar anatomical feature.

And yes, the seller has both a 5 year counterfeit guarantee and an as-sold condition requirement, so while the former is good, the latter might be problematic.

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  • 1 month later...

Just an update for completion. A lecturer at a local university was kind enough to inspect the specimen above and its buddy and concluded they were almost certainly fake. Which was obviously unfortunate. Happily, the auction house, while relaying that the seller continued to contend they were genuine, offered me a full refund, notwithstanding the damage that had been done to the pieces. I have accepted their offer.

Thanks to those who replied above and offered their advice. You've got good eyes and really know your stuff.

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Just an update for completion. A lecturer at a local university was kind enough to inspect the specimen above and its buddy and concluded they were almost certainly fake. Which was obviously unfortunate. Happily, the auction house, while relaying that the seller continued to contend they were genuine, offered me a full refund, notwithstanding the damage that had been done to the pieces. I have accepted their offer.

Thanks to those who replied above and offered their advice. You've got good eyes and really know your stuff.

Although it is unfortunate they were fake, I am glad to hear you were able to get a refund!

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