Triarthrus
eatoni
Trilobites
Order
Ptychopariida, Family Olenidae
Geological
Time: Late Ordovician
Size (25.4
mm = 1 inch): Trilobite is 32 mm long with 11 mm antennae on a 130 mm
by 90 mm matrix
Fossil Site:
Lorraine Group, Whetstone Gulf Formation, Lewis County, New York
Code: E016
Price: Sold
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 anoxic 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 dorsoventral aspect with limbs and antennae preserved. Note the
long string like structure. This is a fecal trail which shows that
all forms of organic material were capable of pyritization. These
trilobites are prepared using a very fine 50 nanometer powder in
order to preserve the pyrite. At the Tucson Fossil Show this year
the discoverer of this site and preparator of this exceptional specimen
had something new to offer: trilobites with preserved eggs. This
is the first known instance of preserved eggs of the species, and
most likely represents an early stage in the development of the
eggs which were formed in the head and subsequently released into
the environment. This was the largest and best example available
this year, and I am pleased to offer it to my discerning collectors.
See my other offerings for another, more affordable Triarthrus
specimen.
Reference:
Geology, 45(3), 2017, pp 199-202.
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