Trilobite (Irvingella species B) - Bull River Valley, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

For those looking for something quite unique here is a relatively new (to science) trilobite called Irvingella (species B). It has not yet been fully described - hence the odd name - and I have several to pick from.  This trilobite has recently been collected from the Upper Cambrian McKay Group in the Bull River Valley, east of Cranbrook and Fort Steele, BC.

This plate shows a well-preserved and mostly complete example still embedded in slate (metamorphosed shale). This species has pronounced spines along the sides of the animal; the genal spines emanate from the head (cephalon) while the slightly shorter pleural spines protrude from the lower part of the body (thorax). Note that one of the genal spines is missing and the tip to one pleural spine is damaged. The trilobite, black in colour, is 1.5 cm long and contrasts nicely against the slightly brown matrix. The rock at this locality is very hard and often fractures at an angle across the original bedding. I have seen many specimens unfortunately ruined after trying to split the rock trying to reveal them. In this example, the trilobite was spared but the matrix did require repair to ensure the fossil was not damaged.

British Columbia fossils are illegal to sell, except under special circumstances. I represent a team that has claims on several trilobite localities in BC that have been legally grandfathered into older legislation. This allows them to legally excavate, prepare and sell fossils from these particular claims, including this specimen. Mostly, they collect for themselves and only sell specimens to fund their collecting expenses. They simply love fossils and field collecting. Additionally, they have done a terrific job allowing the scientific community and local fossil clubs and school groups onto their claims for research, collecting and education. In my opinion, they are going above and beyond any legal requirements. As the Star Wars character The Mandalorian says, this is the way. 

For those interested in learning more about the trilobites of the McKay Group I recommend the following scientific paper: Furongian (Upper Cambrian) trilobites from the McKay Group, Bull River Valley, near Cranbrook, southeastern British Columbia, Canada (2016) by Brian D. E. Chatterton and Stacey Gibb in Palaeontographica Canadiana No 35. It is jointly published by the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (now known as the Canadian Energy Geoscience Association) and the Geological Association of Canada.

Fossil: Trilobite
Species: Irvingella (species B)
Age: Upper Cambrian
Formation: McKay Group
Locality: Bull River Valley, East of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Dimensions: Trilobite size: 1.5cm long
Plate size: 13 x 13.5 cm