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Georgia Cambrian Trilobites


Nimravis

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Well I did not have much luck opening Mazon Creek concretions today, so I figured that I would try something about 190 Million years older, so tonight I was whacking Conasauga shale matrix from Murray County, Georgia, looking for Cambrian Aphelaspis brachyphasis trilobites. I did not go through much matrix tonight, but I did find a few trilobites, but the ones that I found do not represent the quality of trilobites that come from that location. As I continue to go through this matrix, I guarantee that I will find some pretty specimens and I will post my finds.

 

Here is what I found tonight-

 

IMG_2867.jpg.70846d2365f2aa6d3d7bf552177b32f9.jpgIMG_2868.jpg.9f6b76dea1beff82ea8a0aa76a056835.jpgIMG_2869.jpg.9b95e29f221454392e0609f257e447fe.jpgIMG_2870.jpg.b4ba53e577f481d2672d3d2aac2066f9.jpgIMG_2871.jpg.ca7ce13fa52aae14379e665333fc44e7.jpgIMG_2872.jpg.b353a3bc1037a63b02cd72b285ca6538.jpgIMG_2873.jpg.006f7c3a94cc7b9a8b23f6da1cc8b7c5.jpgIMG_2874.jpg.1c1647433962b109ed17c0143ad23212.jpgIMG_2875.jpg.34fa9a39544bae16a23101e008d55e89.jpgIMG_2876.jpg.b689d28fa1cd59e9430d8149fd0a9d68.jpgIMG_2877.jpg.98c649b1618a0a97f3d296f847babdb7.jpgIMG_2878.jpg.20266ab03f75f0bbf7747d9a3c71eab9.jpgIMG_2879.jpg.97388359a6d316148861547d9ad96378.jpgIMG_2880.jpg.494e0a21e5df91df5e200818583b006e.jpgIMG_2881.jpg.99a3172f42d93f63f40e948f8cc14a82.jpgIMG_2882.jpg.72dc98167f198e565d473337984826eb.jpg

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I have got a few pieces that  I need to split. I thought that someone mentioned in a previous thread, that if you soak this matrix in water they would be easier to split. Is that correct?

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Dipleurawhisperer5.jpg

I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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Great finds, Ralph!

I really enjoy seeing these.

Thanks for posting them.  :) 

 

I'll have to get some of mine photographed and posted.

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    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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2 hours ago, Darktooth said:

I have got a few pieces that  I need to split. I thought that someone mentioned in a previous thread, that if you soak this matrix in water they would be easier to split. Is that correct?

That is correct- I always use a hammer first and if nothing presents itself, it soak it and it splits nicely. The problem with the soaking is that sometimes the pieces can be really thin. After soaking, I put it off to the side and it will dry hard again.

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I love these trilos and this matrix. 

It's great fun to work with and always some nice bugs to be found. 

Great fun. :)

Life's Good!

Tortoise Friend.

MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160-1.png.60b8b8c07f6fa194511f8b7cfb7cc190.png

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8 hours ago, Nimravis said:

That is correct- I always use a hammer first and if nothing presents itself, it soak it and it splits nicely. The problem with the soaking is that sometimes the pieces can be really thin. After soaking, I put it off to the side and it will dry hard again.

Thank-you

Dipleurawhisperer5.jpg

I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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Here are some finds from today, the super tiny ones are always my favorite- these are all Aphelaspis brachyphasis.

 

30450262-C68F-4165-9C1A-DA17898B0557.thumb.jpeg.b02983c394c5eeaa10cf4a34a3bf3c58.jpeg45F46902-973A-4DE9-87E3-3B8ACEF4F256.thumb.jpeg.9e40df082253f8c7cb74ae3e72efd846.jpeg5575F5C6-66B1-4A4C-B222-3F56BFA11445.thumb.jpeg.06d7741dc5f1751e2930a5b61108c0cc.jpeg80B0C98D-820A-4CA7-B700-26254EF18339.thumb.jpeg.d1b6d20e63e8bbe74ba384a97b999826.jpegF181A9C2-BA63-41AE-AE5C-8A84F1FF50DC.thumb.jpeg.e16115957608223b05c771266153b99e.jpeg0F8B07C9-E071-4055-9747-3CA7D9A0781A.thumb.jpeg.489f430c3cd714c8fdeef616ecc28269.jpeg

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33 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said:

Fantastic I love them . The contrast from the bug to matrix is beautiful. :wub:

I agree Bobby, that is one of my favorite things with these bugs.

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@Darktooth Today I soaked some smaller pieces after I used a hammer looking for trilobites. I only had these soaking for about 1/2 hours.

 

03FD9EB5-9977-444C-A768-E6FB8AB76737.thumb.jpeg.ffe205f9e012656fd199b6e97b2ac1f0.jpeg

 

The pieces split very easily, if nothing is found with these initial splits, I toss it.

 

7412FDC9-5221-467C-8890-7C58A2949C1A.thumb.jpeg.4691924730289df91ef39abacc7b2933.jpeg

 

Here you see how think some of the pieces are after the soaking split. Can there be fossils still in these pieces? Yes, but this is as far as I go with them. I do not use a razor blade or knife, I just pull them apart with my fingers.

 

546F84B1-961C-455D-A85B-7278E289C9C1.thumb.jpeg.fc689cbeb74c92a00a2e1886cfde3935.jpeg

 

Here are a couple finds from this process- the first one has the classic halo that surrounds some of them.

 

016C8200-27A1-4B34-AEC4-8B3F33FA3FEC.thumb.jpeg.741cd58e4fd47eab9a70b642d41137f0.jpeg2336AEFC-24DD-451A-824B-482E4401A20F.thumb.jpeg.57368600df476ce63686abcc03df0772.jpegE294EE90-5C75-48DA-A21A-A28B84E693E1.thumb.jpeg.e5e0df643e098983aebbc7ad811ed233.jpeg

 

Here is another one-

 

2A52096B-5457-4DA4-9D27-B646289A9E8C.thumb.jpeg.d395a740e2403f5a1002090f86a28888.jpeg

 

So with the soaking process, I came away with two trilobites, one that is really nice.

 

 

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Thanks for sharing these. I visited the site this past Friday and brought a bucket of shale home. The pieces were already drying out yesterday, and did not split well. I'll try soaking and see what I can find. :trilosurprise:

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"Don't force it, just use a bigger hammer"

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31 minutes ago, Paciphacops said:

Thanks for sharing these. I visited the site this past Friday and brought a bucket of shale home. The pieces were already drying out yesterday, and did not split well. I'll try soaking and see what I can find. :trilosurprise:

Good luck and post what you find.

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10 minutes ago, Nimravis said:

Good luck and post what you find.

Will do. I found some nice trilos already, but some of the calcite is a bit leached so far. Still need to get pics. The very first rock I picked up and split was this one from just above the water. I think this is a negative (with shell) of a complete agnostid trilobite about 3 mm long. I could not find the positive. I did not see any other pieces of agnostids at all, but they are tiny and hard to see.

 

 

Agnostid.jpg

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"Don't force it, just use a bigger hammer"

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Here are my finds from today- The first piece was found after soaking matrix that I already try to split with a hammer.

 

IMG_3009.jpg.f40fd585f620292e560f19b151216251.jpg

 

When going through this matrix you really need to have a sharp eye, as some of the trilobites that are found at this location are the smallest that I have ever seen, here are some examples.

 

An Agnostid portion (Red) and a Glabella from an Aphelaspis brachyphasis triloblite (Blue).

 

IMG_3027.jpg.63e95a0b8e2c087166c75c053c8c6d7a.jpg

 

Close-Ups-

 

IMG_3011.thumb.jpg.cd3e48e318210e50565ae126b3ea0bf1.jpgIMG_3012.thumb.jpg.31e927596501c5785f2bd50259d01d08.jpg

 

Another small one-

 

IMG_3024.jpg.13378d1194157f069d93e688374216cd.jpgIMG_3026.thumb.jpg.473815fe69b5ea4b42537ac1d7ff75b0.jpg

 

 

And another one, it is located at the upper end of the pieces on the left. The Right shows the zoomed up pic.

 

 

IMG_3022.jpg.aa23e6488628bc3aae43ed205ccbc3d3.jpgIMG_3023.thumb.jpg.23a9d674dd35fc5a09cdefecf91051b0.jpg

 

 

Here are some more finds-

 

 

 

 

IMG_3013.jpg.48a81a63710aee6ea4460e555d3dc52a.jpgIMG_3017.jpg.ea889157895fa77553f8716b294e62b5.jpgIMG_3020.jpg.779e42a6f0d03bd036e0b4739b937438.jpgIMG_3018.jpg.4295a9252391771775f0e3e2723212b0.jpgIMG_3019.thumb.jpg.6d9731b81b3a8887540c08f405913665.jpg

 

 

At this location, you can find a lot of "Free Cheeks" and Glabella's.

 

IMG_3016.jpg.174041dfce52263f63dec1dd2b439b2f.jpgIMG_3021.jpg.6687ec142d923819329a746d119d7ef0.jpg

 

 

 

 

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Some bugs in this last set are nice and big, relatively speaking. :trilosurprise:

 

I tried splitting some of my Conasauga matrix after soaking in water for a couple of hours, and the splits were even worse than the drier matrix. As a test, I soaked a couple of pieces for several days, and those split cleanly and easily yesterday. I'm now soaking more, so I'll see how they turn out after a few days.

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"Don't force it, just use a bigger hammer"

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1 hour ago, Paciphacops said:

Some bugs in this last set are nice and big, relatively speaking. :trilosurprise:

 

I tried splitting some of my Conasauga matrix after soaking in water for a couple of hours, and the splits were even worse than the drier matrix. As a test, I soaked a couple of pieces for several days, and those split cleanly and easily yesterday. I'm now soaking more, so I'll see how they turn out after a few days.

As an FYI, some will not split with fingers after soaking, but most do. As a further FYI, I take them out of the water and split with my fingers right away, if I find nothing I toss. And yes a couple have been big.

 

Below is what I am looking for, but complete, this is the only portion I have found and I exposed it by soaking.

 

148576E7-A456-4A4C-8A08-00299A3AA055.thumb.jpeg.80036f797d176edd9e86677b89d5aa58.jpeg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well since it is snowing in the Chicagoland area (expecting 6-12” tonight), I decided to go through some Conasauga matrix looking for trilobites, here are my finds. I know that they are not the sexist trilobites, but I do love being able to cut thru the matrix with a hacksaw.

 

38E4DFA1-2923-4FFB-8C10-62F1E68D54D5.jpeg.190f1862e7f52f8197cc3b2884d297ef.jpeg4164DDC2-80A7-4A92-938F-D3395F230B1B.jpeg.1a75c54ab037301143663a1bdf8de761.jpeg4AB48A7D-7F42-459A-A016-9BBA491A146F.jpeg.ee9d79359ad30a13ffe42a16a723e8c2.jpegA23DF750-26A1-48F3-9C10-D793E79C7999.jpeg.338f74662158785d4cbe5091280c1e17.jpeg194FD24E-6B03-436B-88AA-5C71EDB80533.jpeg.577daa7fc050611e11aa4d7218262a7b.jpeg9BA8E47B-C734-4861-81BE-D51E716D6C88.jpeg.690e9a61204463a96d7462324c4c2251.jpeg85894951-FFCA-4775-B7C3-A8B24F7D4B62.jpeg.41455c1cc1255a96ba7b3949e7029a2d.jpeg09ECFBC0-C3CE-4D6C-8084-1D8B100052F5.jpeg.dc0ed634f402ae9e68fc0bd04fd74417.jpeg49B4AC23-5749-4CA7-AB33-83B00AF09690.jpeg.313c4f3329450e6e119a1bc7f8a761cd.jpeg8DCF18C1-476C-4D61-A827-B675E2816EBC.jpeg.3efdbefdc7142f8be4ed1a0365bcaad0.jpegF4971BD9-C4A3-4D0C-8490-36C0DD6787E8.jpeg.5d7fad2810767d2f0ac2694c3f532521.jpeg34823B89-BE14-4CF7-A99B-B9930AC1AFD5.jpeg.85490b18c76c29a6e367f8c6fa690747.jpeg

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On 11/4/2018 at 4:50 PM, Nimravis said:

@Darktooth Today I soaked some smaller pieces after I used a hammer looking for trilobites. I only had these soaking for about 1/2 hours.

 

03FD9EB5-9977-444C-A768-E6FB8AB76737.thumb.jpeg.ffe205f9e012656fd199b6e97b2ac1f0.jpeg

 

The pieces split very easily, if nothing is found with these initial splits, I toss it.

 

7412FDC9-5221-467C-8890-7C58A2949C1A.thumb.jpeg.4691924730289df91ef39abacc7b2933.jpeg

 

Here you see how think some of the pieces are after the soaking split. Can there be fossils still in these pieces? Yes, but this is as far as I go with them. I do not use a razor blade or knife, I just pull them apart with my fingers.

 

546F84B1-961C-455D-A85B-7278E289C9C1.thumb.jpeg.fc689cbeb74c92a00a2e1886cfde3935.jpeg

 

Here are a couple finds from this process- the first one has the classic halo that surrounds some of them.

 

016C8200-27A1-4B34-AEC4-8B3F33FA3FEC.thumb.jpeg.741cd58e4fd47eab9a70b642d41137f0.jpeg2336AEFC-24DD-451A-824B-482E4401A20F.thumb.jpeg.57368600df476ce63686abcc03df0772.jpegE294EE90-5C75-48DA-A21A-A28B84E693E1.thumb.jpeg.e5e0df643e098983aebbc7ad811ed233.jpeg

 

Here is another one-

 

2A52096B-5457-4DA4-9D27-B646289A9E8C.thumb.jpeg.d395a740e2403f5a1002090f86a28888.jpeg

 

So with the soaking process, I came away with two trilobites, one that is really nice.

 

 

Isn't the halo due to the soft tissue decomposing and slightly changing the chemistry of the surrounding sediment?

Each dot is 50,000,000 years:

Hadean............Archean..............................Proterozoic.......................................Phanerozoic...........

                                                                                                                    Paleo......Meso....Ceno..

                                                                                                           Ꞓ.OSD.C.P.Tr.J.K..Pg.NgQ< You are here

Doesn't time just fly by?

 

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