Detailed Bundenbach Parisangulocrinus Crinoid

Description: Well-preserved example of the Cladid crinoid known as Parisangulocrinus . This family name is derived from the dendritic pattern formed by the branching arms, clearly seen here. The Hunsruck slate is famous for its fossils, many of which have pyritization present. Rapid burial and pyritization was what led to the many wonderful examples of early Devonian life from the region. The chemistry of the silt was such that low organic content and high levels of iron and sulfur allowed the pyrite to diffuse into the tissues rather than be deposited in the sediment. The mudstones were metamorphosed into slate during the Carboniferous. The slate was quarried for roofing tiles, and the quarrymen would save the fossils for later sale. Now that the quarries are no longer open, future supplies of these wonderfully-preserved benthic organisms will only come from existing collections. It is complete with a portion of attached stem, something not often seen in an animal that quickly disarticulated after death.