Fossil-Hound Posted April 17, 2017 Author Share Posted April 17, 2017 @Peat Burns I just found this article: https://penndixie.org/2017/04/13/bellacartwrightia-a-singular-specimen/ It's about the discovery of Bellacartwrightia and these are extremely rare. So rare that this nearly one inch complete prone: Is going for an incredible $1500. Contrast that with a one inch Greenops going for $200: Then contrast that with this Eldredgeops on Ebay going for $130: You get the idea. Complete Eldredgeops that have no broken segments are still rare as oftentimes you'll find a good specimen with a missing pygidium or cephalon. You really have to put in the work to get out the good stuff, but it's worth it! So back to Bellacartwrightia. The likelihood of finding one would be near to the recovery of 1000 (or more) pristine, prone E. rana and we all know how difficult that task would be. In fact I believe that this is the only Bellacartwrightia recovered from the site. I would imagine such a feat would be akin to Sisyphus in Greek mythology, who was condemned to pushing a boulder uphill and then watching it roll back down the hill for all eternity. Great Greek mythology story that correlates to the near impossible difficulty of this task. You get the idea. @Fossildude19 found a very rare trilobite segment at PD last Friday. I forget the scientific name for it. @Fossildude19 when you get a moment please take a picture and re-ID your rare trilobite segment. 2 Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Soooooo jealous! Those are some gorgeous finds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 7 hours ago, jsnrice said: @Peat Burns I just found this article: https://penndixie.org/2017/04/13/bellacartwrightia-a-singular-specimen/ It's about the discovery of Bellacartwrightia and these are extremely rare. So rare that this nearly one inch complete prone: Is going for an incredible $1500. Contrast that with a one inch Greenops going for $200: Then contrast that with this Eldredgeops on Ebay going for $130: You get the idea. Complete Eldredgeops that have no broken segments are still rare as oftentimes you'll find a good specimen with a missing pygidium or cephalon. You really have to put in the work to get out the good stuff, but it's worth it! So back to Bellacartwrightia. The likelihood of finding one would be near to the recovery of 1000 (or more) pristine, prone E. rana and we all know how difficult that task would be. In fact I believe that this is the only Bellacartwrightia recovered from the site. I would imagine such a feat would be akin to Sisyphus in Greek mythology, who was condemned to pushing a boulder uphill and then watching it roll back down the hill for all eternity. Great Greek mythology story that correlates to the near impossible difficulty of this task. You get the idea. @Fossildude19 found a very rare trilobite segment at PD last Friday. I forget the scientific name for it. @Fossildude19 when you get a moment please take a picture and re-ID your rare trilobite segment. Interesting. And I thought the work:success ratio for finding a Eurypterus at Ridgemont Quarry across the border was bad: 10 hours of hard labor for every Eurypterus (according to @Malcolmt). What makes that site more grueling is that there aren't any other fossils to entertain you while you search for Eurypterus... Unfortunately, that estimate is "on average" and I never got a complete one (but lucky @jgcox finds one just about every time he goes...). I have enough parts to make a Frankenstein remipes, tho (hey, they do it with dinosaurs all the time ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted April 17, 2017 Author Share Posted April 17, 2017 @Peat Burns I would absolutely love to find a complete Eurypterid. Those are so stinking hard to get too! I've heard that they have to reveal themselves and you can't really tease them out because the rock is generally so hard (sticky) and they are so fragile. @Malcolmt has certainly put in his time to get them and they are gorgeous. I would have to quit my job to find some good Eurypterids! Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 The last few years at Ridgemount the hours to find has skyrocketed. It is probably in the 20 to 30 hour range now. The area in which you are allowed to dig now is far to small and not the most productive. Hopefully they will move some of the gravel piles and let us get back to the more productive areas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I think I have a better chance of a Eurypterid finding me than I do of finding one of them at this point, lol. Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 2 minutes ago, DevonianDigger said: I think I have a better chance of a Eurypterid finding me than I do of finding one of them at this point, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Nice to see you diggers in living color. Thanks to Deb for the pics. The results of your work speak for themselves so far. Let's wait and see what the final chapter brings. By the way, for those who haven't already noticed, my trilobites are Greenops widderensis from Hungry Hollow. 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 13 hours ago, jsnrice said: @Fossildude19 found a very rare trilobite segment at PD last Friday. I forget the scientific name for it. @Fossildude19 when you get a moment please take a picture and re-ID your rare trilobite segment. Sorry - I can't photograph the specimen I found. I donated the fragment to Penn Dixie, and gave it to Devonian Digger (Jay) The fragment of the ultra rare Trilobite is a bit of Dipleura dekayi. Funny, while they are rare to find at PD, at other places in Central New York, they are fairly common. Regards, 2 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...
Max-fossils Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 17 hours ago, ischua said: All those trilobites are amazing! And it seems like some incredible finds were made! And the cephalopod is cool too. But for me, it's this spirifer that stole my heart But that's probably because I'm a seashell lover Max Derème "I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day." - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier Instagram: @world_of_fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Just got home and going through buckets. Plenty to still sort through, prep, etc. Just a pic of some rollers, semi-prone, and distorted E. rana. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Bellacartwrightia? It has a fairly prominent spike. Can anyone confirm the ID? ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Just a funny one: trilo looks like he's wearing a mask ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Some prep to do! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Closeup of a few prones in that mix. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Fairly clean full one with pygidium tucked underneath, and perhaps some rollers to tease out. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 So as not to give off a trilobitocentric vibe, plenty of brachs, too. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Crinoid calyx, horn coral with calcite crystals, and three playtceras. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Deb found this little Spyroceras with nicely articulated chambers. ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Black on brown ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 3 minutes ago, Kane said: Black on brown Kane, The brown ones are the ones that typically show the chromatophores. Some careful prep may expose that. Quite the haul there, Fella. Well done. 2 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...
Malcolmt Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Looks like you got a great haul and had a great time. Wished I could have joined you but it was not to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 4 hours ago, Kane said: So as not to give off a trilobitocentric vibe, plenty of brachs, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umbro Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Very nice finds guys! Brother and I are heading up on thursday to PD. It will be our first time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 4 hours ago, Kane said: Crinoid calyx, horn coral with calcite crystals, and three playtceras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now