TMNH Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) While exploring a recently exposed embankment at my favourite hunting locality in the late Ordovician Georgian Bay Formation, I came across a piece of Isotelus maximus doublure sticking out from the shale. Fragments of this trilobite are not uncommon and often quite large, but intact specimens are rare occurrences. I decided to take a chance and excavate around the fragment. As I worked, I found that not only did the doublure continue well back into the riverbank, but the hypostome and tips of the pleura were present as well. Only then did I realize what I had most likely found (1st picture is what it looked like at this point). Over the next two hours, I proceeded to work around and under the area where I assumed the rest of the specimen could be. The shale was wet and extremely prone to breaking and crumbling, so I essentially scooped out a large portion of the bank and carried it all back to the lab (picture 4). Then I started the prep work. Gluing the numerous pieces back together was the first step (pictures 5-6). The main body came together quite rapidly, but the cephalic and pygidial borders were a pain. At some point I became distracted from the project, so not much progress was made for several months. I finally got back to work over the Christmas holidays. Part of the right side of the trilobite had been encased in a layer of limestone adjacent to the shale and the exoskeleton on the pleura had come detached on the negative impression of the trilobite (picture 3). I glued the pleura back and prepped off the limestone. I also exposed the hypostome, which was partially cover by matrix (picture 2). When I was finished with that, I glued a few more small bits and pieces on where they belonged. There are still some fragments that need to be reattached, but I this point I would say the specimen is pretty much finished. This was probably the biggest preparation project I have ever undertaken, and the final product is one of the largest fossils in my collection. Photos of the complete trilobite coming Edited January 9, 2014 by TMNH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Very cool! Quite the repair project there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMNH Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 This is what the specimen looks like now. It is 295 mm in length, making it at least as big as the largest one previously found in the formation, to my knowledge. It matches nicely with the largest fragments that I have found previously. I also saved and reassembled the negative impression. The right free cheek is detached along the facial suture, presumably something that must have happened before fossilization, but other than that and the tips of the pleura it is pretty much all there. I have also included close-ups of the left eye, right pleura and pygidial border. Now that I'm finished with this I can finally move on to some other projects. I don't know where I'm going to display this yet (it's too big for my case!), but it will certainly be a centerpiece in my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Congrats on another big bug! Mr. Isotelus strikes again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMNH Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thank you Kansas Fossil Hunter and Scott! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Whoa! What a bug! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Amazing detail was preserved! You did an incredible job of reconstruction! CONGRATULATIONS! The more I learn, I realize the less I know. BluffCountryFossils.NET Fossil Adventure Blog Go to my Gallery for images of Fossil Jewelry, Sculpture & Crafts Pinned Posts: Beginner's Guide to Fossil Hunting * Geologic Formation Maps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 What a monster! I nominate it as a candidate for IPFOTM. 1 Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMNH Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thanks Scylla, Bev and Missourian! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Very nice work..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Terrific fossil, hard-earned and worth it! "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 January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Fantastic job there, Joe! I second the IPFOTM nomination. Great display of determination and skill. 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...
lissa318 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Wow that is huge!!! Congrats and great prep! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 What a beast!!!! Amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Rick Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Really great job at putting this monster back together ...... true talent Joe - bravo !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sseth Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 What an amazing trilobite! _____________________________________ Seth www.fossilshack.com www.americanfossil.com www.fishdig.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMNH Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thank you for your comments Malcolm, Chas, Tim, Lissa, Xiphactinus, Rick and sseth! It is great to finally be able to show all of my work from the past months! I had a great 2013 for Isotelus collecting. I though you guys would enjoy a shot of the others big ones I found this year. The black one in the centre is the 7"er I found back in March. Most of them are just fragments, but I still enjoy collecting the big ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Fantastic reproduction work! The superlatives are tumbling over each other here. Congratulations on the new addition to your collection! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Your going to have to let us in on the secret of where you are finding these guys!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Your going to have to let us in on the secret of where you are finding these guys!!!!!!! The Isotelus King tells no tales! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMNH Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thanks Roger! Malcolm, a magician never tells his secrets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 ...Malcolm, a magician never tells his secrets Well played by the Isotelus illusionist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUAN EMMANUEL Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 OH MY GOSH !!! A spectacular find indeed!!! I ponder on how you managed to find it, considering how the ground around Toronto and the GTA is encased in ice !!!!! You have the eyes of a hawk, TMNH !!!! Congrats on finding the specimen !!!!! I cant wait to go back hunting again when the annoying ice melts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMNH Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thanks Juan! This was collected back in September, just finished the prep now. I have tried collecting in winter despite the snow, but it doesn't work out very well. I too look forwards to collecting again once it melts. The only good thing about winter is that the ice and resulting spring runoff tend to expose new fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Mario Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 ...I envy you....all I ever seem to come across of Isoletus down here are "pieces parts"... 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