It has been an active number of weeks with a lot of exploration and rock splitting. Not being able to share sites and finds is challenging when one is running a fossil blog, but I can be selective even if it means presenting the less exciting adventures. I'm hopeful I can reveal much more once the season is over. Suffice it to say, I have added five new field-collected species to the trilobite collection. But here we are ankle deep into the season. I've certainly tapped many of my very local spots in a continuation of confirming trilobite fauna in the Dundee Formation. I've been able to verify some species across many deposits. At one site that is only accessible in March/April and October/November, some neat fragmentary finds: To the left is a fragment impression of Coronura aspectans. This we can tell by the dimpled texture (of all the trilobites in this sandier, large-grain facies, this is the only species with this feature). What is of interest is that we can see the very tall eyes specific to this genus, and can almost do a lens/file count. To the right is a partially buried cephalon of the new and undescribed Odontocephalus. I have yet to do a full prep to expose more of it (including the diagnostic denticles on the anterior rim of the cephalon). That will prove a challenge given the crystalline and silicified nature of the matrix. However, the presence of most of the eye allows for a diagnostic lens count, so I'd be prepared for anyone who is currently wishing to formally describe these. Gifts are always nice. This is an Ogyginus sp. from the Ordovician of Morocco. It is somewhat comparable to O. forteyi hammondi, but I'll leave it unspecified for now. This partially enrolled asaphid would measure 12.5 cm in prone projection. This one is a real treat. Hemiarges paulianus is a small lichid that is tough to find, and even tougher to find anywhere near complete in Ontario's Ordovician. So, here is one, barely over a centimetre long. Contained in the morphology here are the telltale signs of just where lichids will go by their final hurrah in the Devonian: the spinose occipital ring, the distinctive stout body similar to Acanthopyge, and the pronounced/swollen glabellar lobes. I also acquired some prep projects. To the left is an exciting slab of seven Ceraurus from Trenton Falls, NY. To the right is something I'll reserve until my skills and tools are a bit better: a Comura bultyncki already "mohawked" so that it will be very long and excruciating hours of trying to free stand the spines. I won't be rushing into that one anytime soon. Not pictured is a Koneprusia that will prove even harder. But of the acquired prep projects, I did get a start on one. This one is special, and I happen to know the digger/researcher. Yes, it is indeed a Paralejurus, and those appear regularly on the market, but the typical ones that do appear are P. dormitzeri and P. spatuliformis. This one appears in the Walliserops horizon and so is a much less common P. elayounensis. The species was described by Shraut based on a single pygidium, and so could use an update on the description. Uncovering it took about 10 hours, which is not bad (and given some issues with my tools as of late). My process usually starts with exposing the axis and working down, doing mostly scribe work and eventually bouncing between scribe and abrasion until it is solely abrasion work. The matrix is suitably Moroccan, but a touch softer. This is not always great as it means less separation from the shell. Unfortunately, the shell is extremely thin in some spots and even with the most delicate care some shell fragments will pop off. This has meant having to glue down some of the bits, but also some restoration. To my credit, I only managed to put two very tiny dings in the shell that are not detectable by the naked eye. Still some finishing touches to do such as removing tool marks around the trilobite. The restoration areas are temporary and will be replaced by something more suitable with paint matching.
And that's about all I can show for now. There will certainly be more adventures on the horizon, be those in the field or at the bench. I'm pretty much done grading for the semester, about to put it to bed. That means I'll be out and about. My only recent "adventure" was a day struggling with the Horrible Hungry Hollow with nothing much to show for it. The only two bits I felt worth bringing home. I was hopeful the one on the left from Hollow would have been an Eldredgeops iowensis southworthi, but after a quick look-see with the abrader it lacked the pustulose palpebral lobe. All smooth, so just a big E. rana. We are talking about 3.5 cm wide if it was complete. The one on the right was the result of pounding the hard encrinal layer. Fossils in there come out nice and inflated, but usually only display as fragmentary steinkerns. Still, I find those harder rocks don't get enough attention. I don't foresee spending all that much time in Arkona this year as most of its best days are behind it now.
So, where am I going? Everywhere. Could you be more specific? Nope. When are you going? Soon, often. Will I be posting great trip reports? Unlikely! I will post finds from places I am not worried about being discovered by others, but discretion is the better part of valour this year. There really is a lot to do, and a lot of road to cover. I might be able to share once the season is over, so don't mistake my silences here as me just sitting out the season -- I couldn't in good conscience do that! Now is the time to rock and roll! |
Kane Faucher
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February 2024
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