Pioche Olenellus chiefensis Trilobite

Description: Lower Cambrian Pioche Shale trilobites of this level of preservation have become exceptionally difficult to obtain in the last few years. Olenellus chiefensis are one of the most recognizable of the trilobite fauna list found in the Uppermost Lower Cambrian of Nevada. Above the extinction zone from which these species were collected the Ollenids are no longer in existence. What a shame, they were amongst the most beautiful of trilobites, true butterflies of the sea.

This is a mid-sized and well-preserved positive/negative specimen of this species. The positive is fully prone and well preserved. Unfortunately the genal spines and tips of the macrothoratic spines are missing, as well as the tail spine. In the negative the genal and macrothoratic spines are present. The plate also displays a host of well-preserved dendrites, which are associated with fossils found at this location.