Pyritized Triarthrus Trilobite With Appendages - New York

The localities that preserve trilobites with soft bodied preservation can probably be counted on one hand. One of these localities is the historic Beecher's beds in the Lorraine Group of NY. Less than a decade ago a new locality was discovered a short distance away that has produced amazing, soft bodied preservation of trilobites and other organisms. Because of the rapid burial of the trilobites, in an anoxic environment the soft body parts were replaced by pyrite preserving details not typically seen.

This specimen is .58", preservered ventrally and very detailed. The legs and fossilized antenna can be seen easily and are laid out nicely.

Preparation of these soft bodied specimens is an immensely time consuming task. It is done under high magnification using extremely low pressure air abrasion. A specimen like this would have taken many hours to complete.

As a side note there is currently a paper in the works of the first confirmed discovery of trilobite eggs, still in place from some of the trilobites at this locality.