 Description:
Presented is a superb brown Rhadocrinites calyx and stalk, aesthetically
surrounded by one complete white Pachylocrinus with stalk, and one
partial Pachylocrinus. The aborral cup, arms and pinnules are all
exceptionally well preserved. Note that the specimens are fully
3D. They are resting in a most aesthetically pleasing configuration.
These are very rare species of crinoids. Le Grand crinoids are renowned
for the various colors and hues of the individual species. This
association plate is an excellent example of that.
Background:
Recently a portion of the collection of Lowell Loudon was
acquired and prepared with modern air abrasion techniques. Loudon
was a contemporary of Dr. Burnice Beane, the academic who first
discovered the wonderful fauna of the Le Grand quarry site. This
collection dates back to the 1930’s. Only about eighty specimens
were acquired. These specimens are quite valuable, as not only do
they have historical provenance, but also the quarry itself has
been closed to collecting for decades. Fossils from this area are
only available when old collections become available. This is a
unique opportunity to obtain one of the specimens from the Loudon
collection. I obtained a total of eight specimens.
For
more detailed background and history please reference these web
sites:
http://bcrc.bio.umass.edu/crinoid/
http://www.iowahistory.org/museum/exhibits/flowers_iowa_seas/flowers_page8.htm.
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