Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Hello all. Back in March, I posted a topic about Spotted Trilobites I had found last year, in the Middle Devonian Windom shale in the Buffalo, NY area. I was interested in why they had spots, and some recent studies have concluded that they were chromatophores, used to change the color of the trilobites exoskeleton for camouflage purposes. Pretty cool. Well, I was fortunate enough to hit the same site this past July, with my buddy Carmine. (xonenine) I did fairly well, and had lots to bring home and prep. I have recently prepped out a bunch, and have added quite a few spotted ones to the two I had previously. Prepping consisted of some work with an engraver (not powered) to remove some of the larger pieces of matrix, and then a turn or two through my blasting cabinet, for a dolomite shower using my Harbor Freight Central Pneumatic Air Eraser. I think that, despite the fragility of these pieces, that they came out rather well. I thought I'd show them off, here. I think it is interesting how different the patterning and density of the spots is on each specimen. Hope you like them. Thanks for looking. A nice 3/4 bug: A large cephalon (1 1/4inch wide): An enrolled specimen: A nice little double: A partial: Another partial: and the rest are rollers... probably not complete, however . Continued..... 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...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 (edited) ... And one last roller. Also - the ones from the original post - That rounds the lot out . Thanks for looking. Regards, Edited August 12, 2013 by Fossildude19 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...
piranha Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 ...Hope you like them. What's not to like? Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trilobiteruss Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Very nice! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 What's not to like? Congrats! Thank you, Scott. I agree. Regards, Very nice! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for the compliment, Russ! It's my pleasure to show them to the forum. 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...
Pagurus Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Beautiful. Really beautiful. Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDudeCO Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 those look amazing. I'm not so familiar with trilobites, how many of them come out rolled up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Beautiful. Really beautiful. Thank you, Mike. You have any time free on the weekends in the near future? Hope to hear from you soon. Regards, those look amazing. I'm not so familiar with trilobites, how many of them come out rolled up? Hello Sully, Thanks for the compliment. At the site these are from, I would say 85% of the trilos I find are enrolled to some degree. 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...
Mediospirifer Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Those are amazing! I've never heard of trilobites being spotted before, let alone having chromatophores. Very cool! Windom shale, you say? Now I'll have to go looking through the trilo-bits I've collected from that formation over the years... Excellent prep work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Now that is much more than cool!! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonenine Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 (edited) more terrific examples Tim, with great preparation, I will be sending you mine to prep soon I think you really narrowed down the location / source of these white trilobites, at this creek at least. I am still going to save that area till we collect it together again...they will be waiting for you Any more thoughts on the composition/mineralization process? Edited August 10, 2013 by xonenine "Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Those are amazing! I've never heard of trilobites being spotted before, let alone having chromatophores. Very cool! Windom shale, you say? Now I'll have to go looking through the trilo-bits I've collected from that formation over the years... Excellent prep work! Thank you Mediospirifer. I only noticed the spots myself after prepping them with air abrasives. I think they are pretty cool. And yes, they are from a certain area within the Windom shale, from my experience. Regards, Now that is much more than cool!! Thank you, Roger. 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...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Here are a few links that go into more detail about the spots... Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 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...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 more terrific examples Tim, with great preparation, I will be sending you mine to prep soon I think you really narrowed down the location / source of these white trilobites, at this creek at least. I am still going to save that area till we collect it together again...they will be waiting for you Any more thoughts on the composition/mineralization process? Carmine, Thanks, buddy. I'll prep anything you want to send me. I still have not found an explanation for the white trilobites source of their unique color - I am guessing it may have to do with the diaganetic process, and possibly with the nearness to pyrite in some instances. 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...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 lovely spoils! Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 lovely spoils! Thank you, Dan. 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...
TMNH Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Wow those are awesome finds Tim! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Fantastic! Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 Wow those are awesome finds Tim! Thanks for sharing! Thank you, Joe. I'm happy with them - glad you enjoyed seeing them. Regards, Fantastic! Thank you Roz. 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...
piranha Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 ...I think you really narrowed down the location / source of these white trilobites, at this creek at least. I am still going to save that area till we collect it together again... In other words: you guys have spotted the spotted trilobites! Hopefully a complete example will be found soon.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 "Spotted the spotted trilobite spot" "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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 In other words: you guys have spotted the spotted trilobites! Hopefully a complete example will be found soon.... Ha ha,... Scott, I'd love to find a complete prone one, (or several, but I'm trying not to be greedy) but won't be back that way for another year. Maybe my luck will hold out. Regards, "Spotted the spotted trilobite spot" Too funny, Chas. Spot on, ... we have spotted the spot wherein lie the spotted trilobites. 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...
t-tree Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Good finds and well prepped. John Be happy while you're living for you're a long time dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 Good finds and well prepped. John Thank you John. I appreciate the compliment. 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...
lmacfadden Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Amazing photos! These little critters are so fascinating! ~Lise MacFadden - Arkona, Ontario, Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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