Description
A stunning 5 cm purple Olenellus gilberti with healed injury and exceptionally preserved and highly detailed antenna. The scarcity of this specimen cannot be underestimated as it combines a clear healed injury, soft tissue preservation of antenna and high contrast color all in an otherwise epic, textbook example of the species. Both part and counterpart are included here, with positive side being outlined, and the negative retaining the original calcified skin of the trilobite. Calcified remains of the trilobites from this formation are rare. The purple color is the ultimate expression of Iron, aluminum and magnesium contained within the rocks of the Combined Metals Member of the Pioche Shale.
Healed Injury: The healed injury occurs on the right side of the trilobite, on the 3rd thoracic segment (macro pleural segment). The majority of the segment is missing and the edges of the injury are rounded and folded over indicating the area was healed at some point. While this appears to be the result of predation, likely from a larger arthropod or annelid, the injury could also be growth related or more likely a problem that occurred during molting. Modern arthropods commonly have frequent injuries related to imperfect molting. Regardless, the injury tells a story unique to this individual that lived some 520 million years ago.
Preserved Antenna: Soft tissue remains on Olenellus trilobites from the Pioche Formation in Nevada are rare and often poorly preserved. The preservation on this antenna is truly exceptional with clear segmentation visible to the naked eye. It is best preserved on the negative piece as the calcified skin is preserved there. A faint partial impression of the antenna is present on the positive as well but not nearly as striking.
Olenellus gilberti is an iconic North American trilobite species from the Lower Cambrian of the Great Basin.
Age: Lower Cambrian
Species Name: Olenellus gilberti
Order / Family: Redlichiida / Olenellidae
Locality: Lincoln County, Nevada
Formation: Pioche Shale
