Wv Fossil Hunt

[kirk]

Stopped in Eastern West Virginia on the way to a family service back in the Mountains. Spent an afternoon and morning hanging off the side of a hill splitting shale and digging out rocks. The heat and humidity was high, but found an exposure that was mainly in the shade.

First rock I split.

Moved around till I found a likely spot and went to work. Found lots of bits and pieces and just a few whole trilobites. The shale was very soft and the preservation of the fossils poor overall.

Hoping the head was there, but when I finished spiting it, another headless tribobite.

Fuzzy shot of the rock exposure.

Had a lot of fun and brought home a good selection of trilobites to practice prepping on.

[Nandomas]

Very interesting report, thanks for sharing those fossil bugs. Any idea about the species and the formation

[piranha]

Definitely phacopid trilobites and if I had to place a wager, it looks just like the mix of fossils / matrix from the Needmore Formation (Lost River, WV): LINK

[kirk]

Spot on. Not a secret spot. Hate to be to specific on the internet, but just doing some basic searches is how I found this spot. Worked hard for what I found and to be honest moved around some and only found one small area that produced for me.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

been there, found a few, good times!

[piranha]

The trip was well worth the effort with your extraordinary split-pair phacopid and coral association. This trilobite represents undisturbed elements of a recently exuviated cephalon and thoracopygidium. Attached is a diagram showing Eldredgeops in the same stage after popping its head off to facilitate exuviation.

Congrats on the incredible trilobite with a remarkable story to tell and easily the find of the day!

[Nandomas]

thanks, those seem the same trilos i found in a location from the Jasper Burns book