Olenellus terminatus Trilobite Gem

Description: A sharp eye and in depth knowledge are prerequisites to figure out the complicated geology and stratigraphy of the Nopah Range in California. The range has a long tortured geological history of up-lift and faulting. There are plenty of trilobites to be found, though, the preservation is almost always distorted, fragmented and compressed. It takes a tremendous amount of diligent digging into the hard limestone to find the very rare complete well-preserved specimens.

This Olenellus terminatus is the most pristine one I have yet seen. It is about as perfectly preserved as is possible from Pyramid Shale. All the genal and thoratic spines are in place. Of particular note is the exceptionally long tail spine. It is nearly the same length as the body. The Cambian specialist collector will surely appreciate this trilobite gem.