Wanted to ask advise on a find of trilobite?

[fossil35]

I had a shale piece split that has 2 trilobites in it close by, 1 about 1 1/2in. and other just under 2in. Both are missing cheeks and I haven't tried cleaning them up yet. Shale is about 8 1/2in. long and 4in. in wide in widest part. Shale is about 1 to 1 1/2in. thick in different spots.

 

The question would be with the shale still being thick and having cracks all over, would most try to split it more? Or should try glue cracks on sides and try save it as 1 piece. If as 1 piece only got starbond glue and elmer's glue.

 

(Top with trilobites)

 

(top closer)

 

(bottom)

 

(side 1)

 

(side 2)

 

(side 3)

[minnbuckeye]

I am a splitter! Think about a little consolidant on the trilobite side before splitting. From the looks of it, splitting should be fairly easy. I have found some of my best fossils when splitting matrix on a piece that has a fossil on it already.

[Darktooth]

3 minutes ago, minnbuckeye said:

I am a splitter! Think about a little consolidant on the trilobite side before splitting. From the looks of it, splitting should be fairly easy. I have found some of my best fossils when splitting matrix on a piece that has a fossil on it already.

But you could very well destroy the fossils already exposed and wind up with nothing. So choose your destiny.......

[FossilDAWG]

Wheeler shale trilobites?  They look like Asaphiscus wheeleri.

 

I’d be very careful about splitting that piece.  You would be unlikely to find something better than the specimens you would be risking.  Better to get fresh shale to split.  I think you can order boxes of shale.

 

Don

[connorp]

Wheeler Shale doesn’t often split in nice planes. That is a pretty thin slab. Try and split it and you will almost certainly destroy the trilobites you’ve already found.

[fossil35]

Thanks for the replies. Had get some things done yesterday. By the time was done, came back to check and the cracks had all grow all over and odd ways. Will have to decide sooner next time. I think the shale piece being in the middle (of bigger piece) may have still had a bit of moisture.

 

Good and bad news. The piece was falling apart as picked up. So the 2 trilobites are no longer together. The smaller one didn't crack but the matrix under the head is very thin. The big one didn't crack as well but a part up near the head looks as could come off. I don't see anymore cracks on the pieces but a hair line, maybe 1/4in. on the bigger one. Some hopefully ok now. I did try to clean them up. The orange like stuff didn't come off well but seem ok.