Moroccan Trilobites are great collector fossils. A whole mining and preparation industry has been established around them. Since they are mined rock has to be broken. Unfortunately in the layers of the hardy Devonian rocks, fossils appear in all directions. Once the rock is broken in the mining process, the fossil is discovered. Due to the nature of these rocks and the position of the fossil, the fossil is broken too. Experienced Preparators take on the task to glue them back together and to chisel or grind them out. In general cracks and some preparation marks are not avoidable and show that the fossil is real and not faked.

The availability of pneumatic and air abrasive tools makes the work of the preparation even more efficient and qualitative upgraded. Features of the eyes, the body markings (pores etc.) and spines can be easier prepared out of the hardy rocks.

Moroccan Trilobites are often master pieces of preparation art. Mining of fossil and their preparation is a great source of income for the people, that live in the oasis of the Sahara desert. Whole villages depend on it. Some of the Trilobites processed take up to 100 hours of preparation.

As everywhere where money can be made, there is some fake Trilobites out there as well. These are not abundant and often easy recognized. Questionable fossils are not posted and sold here. I do X rays and closed examinations also involving a hot needle at suspicion. It will not damage a real fossil but an acrylic one. Damage, repairs or other alternations will be stated in the text.

There is also a great statement from the AMNH about collecting of fossils here:

https://www.amnh.org/research/paleontology/collections/fossil-invertebrate-collection/trilobite-website/the-trilobite-files/curating-a-trilobite-collection

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