I was able to get out and hunt a new Ordovician spot today. A full trip report is coming, but I’m too curious about this one to wait.
In the field I grabbed this thinking it was a large trilobite genal spine. After getting it home and doing some quick cleaning and research, I am less convinced. I’m not even sure that any trilobite from this time period/formation would have spines this size (still researching).
From a quick glance at a Kentucky Geological Map it looks like I was in the Grant Lake Limestone (Upper Ordovician).
I’m probably way off base here. Trilobites (and bits) are barely in my wheelhouse. What do you all think?
I have outlined the general shape of the whole specimen in the below photo as it is obscured by overlying matrix, and a brach, towards the wider end. It has striations running the length and is flat for the most part, but the inside of the “spine” appears to be more rounded.