Fletcher Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 These two were both purchased at souvenir or rock shops, and I don't have much information on them so I'm looking mostly for...whatever information you can give me about these. Not expecting any miracles! I believe the trilobite is Elrathia, but not 100% sure on that. It might have been bought in Europe - is E. kingii still likely then, or is there a European equivalent? The cephalon is damaged, but I think at least one of the triangular bits on the top left is likely to be from this individual. Haven't had much luck with the ammonite, but maybe one of you can at least get me in the ballpark based on the size and the sutures that are visible where the living chamber seems to have broken off. This one I believe was purchased in a rock shop in Washington state, but whether it was a local find or not I can't say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bguild Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 The trilobite appears to be Elrathia kingi. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 I agree with Elrathia kingi for the trilobite. Probably from the Wheeler Shale. Not sure on the ammonoid, but likely from Madagascar. 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...
JohnBrewer Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Your E. Kingii is a molt, the 'shell' that has been shed as the trilobite grew larger. You can see in your example that it doesn't have its cheeks. If you find E. Kingii on this page http://www.amnh.org/our-research/paleontology/paleontology-faq/trilobite-website/gallery-of-trilobites/cambrian-period-trilobites/cambrian-trilobites-of-the-united-states-alphabetized/ you will see the middle trilobites have their cheeks and the two either side are molts 1 John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletcher Posted July 19, 2016 Author Share Posted July 19, 2016 This is a late reply, but thank you guys for the help! That's interesting about the molt, I knew that a lot of trilobite fossils were molts rather than the 'full' organism but the only identification tip I'd heard was that occasionally in molts the cephalon is reversed. I imagine a lot of the molts look whole, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guguita2104 Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 Hi! IMO, the trilo is E.kingii.About the ammonoid, I think it belongs to Ammonitida order (flower-shaped suture lines). Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigHyatt Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) Could you do me a favor and take a couple more photos of that ammonite and penny? 1. A view of the "back" of the ammonite with the opening resting on the penny. 2. A view of the "front" of the ammonite with the back resting on the penny. It's for a little research project. Thanks very much. :-) Example using the only ammonite I have and a quarter. 1. 2. Edited July 19, 2016 by CraigHyatt Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeseF Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 The ammonite reminds me of pyritized ones from Russia and the Czech Republic; I will hunt down similar pieces I have to compare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletcher Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 Craig, I'll try to remember to get those pictures up after work today! Reese, I'm not sure I see pyritization in the ammo but I don't have much experience with these things - what looks pyritized to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Example using the only ammonite I have and a quarter. That's the only ammonite you have? You live in Texas, man! Get busy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigHyatt Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) That's the only ammonite you have? You live in Texas, man! Get busy! I give fossils away to any little kid I see. ;-)We do have tons of them here. Just sitting on the ground waiting to be picked up. ;-) Edited July 22, 2016 by CraigHyatt Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletcher Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Could've sworn these were in focus when I took them... I'll try getting some better ones later, if you'd like. The lighter bits are iridescent if held at the right angle to the light; am I right in thinking this is shell material, or would that be something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeseF Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) Hello, Here is an example of an ammonite of mine that is from Russia: It is very similar to yours in color/preservation Edited July 22, 2016 by ReeseF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 (edited) I hate to say this, but without any information as to the place and the stratigraphical layer where your ammonite was found, it's going to be practically impossible to identify it, since there are hundreds of sites around the world at many different stratigraphical levels which produce ammonites with this type of sculpture and preservation. It's also just part of a phragmocone, which makes it even more difficult. Edited July 22, 2016 by Ludwigia Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I give fossils away to any little kid I see. ;-) We do have tons of them here. Just sitting on the ground waiting to be picked up. ;-) Could you give one to me ? I am a very, very little kid. "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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