[meteorite-list] Off Topic- Trilobite question

From: Charlie <moonrock25_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:41:11 2004
Message-ID: <16150-3A92393D-7747_at_storefull-135.iap.bryant.webtv.net>

Hello Rob,

I've collected trilobites for some 30 years now.
The Moroccans are notorious for "doctoring" their fossils, especially
trilobites. Things got to the point where collectors like myself
refused to even consider acquiring any trilobites from Morocco. Many of
the giant Accadoparadoxides sp. trilobites from the Middle Cambrian
were, and still are, complete fabrications, or works of "art". But in
recent years, things have improved, with "state of the art" labs set up
in Morocco, and locals taught how to use air-abrasive tools to prep-out
the fossils, rather than relying on the "hammer-and-nail" method. The
prep work is not as good as professional preparators in the West are
capable of, but not bad either. In general, if you spot a bug that all
but glows in the dark, it HAS been painted over to hide bad prep work,
but is not necessarily fake. It takes a practiced eye to spot
restoration on these things and it's best for newcomers to the hobby to
stick with reputable dealers such as Steve Hess of Extinctions.com or
Bill Barker of Tucson, who goes by the handle Docfossil on eBay. Check
out Steve Hess's selection at Trilobites.com for what natural color
should look like on trilobites whose shells are replaced by
mineralization, and not improved with a paintbrush.

Best wishes,
-Charlie Devine
Received on Tue 20 Feb 2001 04:30:37 AM PST