Trilobite molds!

5 months ago
24

The fossil in the image appears to be another trilobite mold. Trilobites are extinct marine arthropods that lived from the Cambrian to the Permian periods (about 521 to 252 million years ago). The white, curved lines and circular patterns on the rock surface are characteristic of a trilobite's cephalon (head) and thoracic segments, preserved as a mold or cast. The concentric, eye-like structure on the right side is likely part of the cephalon, possibly showing the outline of the glabella (the central raised area of the head) or even the eye region, which is prominent in some trilobite species.
The overall shape and the way the segments are outlined suggest this could be a mold of a trilobite like Phacops or Dalmanites, both of which have well-defined cephalic features and are common in Paleozoic rocks. The white material filling the impressions is likely a mineral like calcite that precipitated into the mold after the trilobite's exoskeleton dissolved. This type of preservation is common in sedimentary rocks where the original organic material has been replaced or eroded away, leaving an impression.
Given that you’ve also shown tabulate and rugose corals from the Paleozoic era, as well as another trilobite, this specimen likely comes from a similar geological context, possibly the Devonian period (419 to 358 million years ago), where trilobites and corals were often found together in marine environments.

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