National Fossil Day Art Contest 2010

National Fossil Day (in the United States) is coming up on Wednesday, October 13, 2010.  What I was not aware of until reading David Orr's informative blog, Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs, September 25, 2010 entry is that there is also an art contest. 

One entry per person and its due by October 5, 2010.  See all the info about the contest at this web site.

Fossil Prepping Update on Trilobites

The Calymene trilobite that I documented over the weekend has more of its left cheek exposed.  I have suspended work on it as the needle tool handle has blistered my hand making it painful to use.  Once my hand heals up, I will continue to try and reach the bottom ridge line of the cephalon.

Kenny has finished prepping the Trimerus trilobite pygidium.  It looks great!

Progress on Calymene

Over 400 million years ago, the muddy seafloor stirred below a deep tropical sea.  Slowly, the armored headplate of a multi-segmented creature emerged from the muck.  Today the fossilized remains of that creature is slowly emerging from its stony grave... behold the Calymene trilobite.

Yesterday, the matrix with this fossil was profiled today more of the remains are revealed.  Using a dissecting needle, toothbrush, water, and gentle prodding the matrix is slowly being removed to expose more thorax and cephalon detail.  The pygidium is hanging over the matrix so pressure applied there could snap it off.  That section will need to be abrasive cleaned.  Trilobite is a little over 5 cm long.

Here is a close up of the cephalon section.