Pyritized Triarthrus eatoni Trilobite

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 pyritic 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 lateral mode with the edge of the exoskeleton in fine bas relief with the legs somewhat more centered over the axial lobe, as opposed to splayed out in the same plane as the exoskeleton. What make3s this one even more unusual is the fact that some of the internal structure, most likely part of the digestive tract, can be seen in the few spots where the exoskeleton is missing..