Fossil Preparation Videos of Crinoids and Trilobites

Here are two YouTube videos showing trilobite preparation lab back in 2005. That is an amazing plate they quarried so many crinoids and the other plate showing so many intact trilobites and a starfish. The location is Erfoud, Morocco. The trilobites shown in the video are Selenopeltis bucci, Asaphus, Onnia and Bornstrella.

The second shows more of the lab. They have quite a fossil inventory there!



Videos from YouTube user ajmiller82 and their web site is http://www.ancientearthtradingco.com/

Flexicalymene granulosa Trilobite

This picture shows what appears to be a Flexicalymene granulosa trilobite fossil. It was found in the Kope Formation (Eden Group) of Carroll County, Kentucky, USA. It dates to the Ordovician Period. This trilobite differs from the Flexicalymene meeki in that has a smooth surface on the cephalon while the F. granulosa has a gritty surface texture.

Darwin's Treasure Chest Kickstarter Campaign

Here is an interesting Kickstarter campaign that has do with a hot new technology and ancient creatures that existed before the dinosaurs. Two art related individuals, Chris Sloan and Ricky Lim have teamed up to create the Darwin's Treasure Chest project. The project is teach people about creature that lived before the dinosaurs by allowing them to create a replica of a selected group with a low cost 3D printers. Their focus is helping teachers create these models for their classrooms.

Their plan is to create 15 models from the time before the dinosaurs. The Proterozoic Era (Dickinsonia and fosssil tracks), Paleozoic: Cambrian (Anomalocaris, Pikaia, and conodonts), Ordovician (Jaekelopterus and Orthoceras), Silurian (Hemicyclaspsis and Nostolepis), Devonian (Coelacanth and Titaalik), Carboniferous (Hylonomus and Gerrothorax), and Permian (Dimetrodon and Youngina).

Later they will produce dinosaur and mammal models.

People who donate money at certain levels can get pledge rewards. See the Kickstarter site for details: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/920123593/darwins-treasure-chest-3d-printable-learning-model

Here is a link to their press release: http://sciencevisualization.org/?page_id=235

Seems like a great idea and wish them well on this venture.  If you want to donate, act soon as the funding period is from October 31, 2013 to November 28, 2013.