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 is a very detailed, ventrally preserved specimen with legs and antennae. It is .58" long which is about average size for trilobites from the locality.

Preparation of these soft bodied specimens is a 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.