IMMENSE Pyritized Triarthrus Trilobite with Soft Tissue Preservation

Description: With only about a half dozen localities known, trilobites with soft tissue preservation are rare. A well-known site in the United States is Beecher’s Trilobite bed where examples of Triarthrus, Cryptolithus, and Cornuproetus are known. In 2005 a new location in Lewis County was discovered which will take its place in this select group as a site containing Triarthrus eatoni with preserved appendages. These trilobites were buried rapidly, resulting in an anxonic environment which allowed for infilling with fine-grained pyretic deposits that preserved the details seen here. The rich gold color is a striking contrast to the deep black matrix, making for a dramatic specimen available in very limited quantities. This fine example is preserved in ventral aspect showing perfect lyriform antennae, spines, gill filaments, and tripartite claws due to its large size.. Note the fine detail to the head, with the antennae abductors and mandibles in evidence. There is a second smaller more complete speciken off to the side, and yet another can be seen beneath the titanic specimen’s left side. Such a specimen takes hours to prepare as a very fine grit must be used to preserve the delicate details as seen here. I am sure you will agree that the effort is well worth it. Were it no for the fact that the major specimen is a partial, this piece would have commanded upwards of $4000. It should be noted that these photographs were taken by the preparator with the specimen immersed in xylene to improve contrast and minimize glare off the framboidal pyrite crystals.