Excellent, 3" Cambropallas Trilobite - Not Restored

This is a very nice, 3" long Cambropallas trilobite from the Jbel Wawrmast Formation of Morocco. While the Internet and fossil shows are flooded with fake examples of this species, real ones and particularly good examples like this are fairly rare. This one is nicely prepared and has no restoration. The bright orange coloration is due to the oxidization of iron pyrite.

Cambropallas is one of the most faked trilobites out there. Nearly all (99%) of the specimens of this trilobite on the market are either completely fake, or very heavily restored. The fakes are typically created using resin in a mold which is then inlaid into a piece of sandstone. Even the real ones will usually split out with part of the trilobite on each side of the rock. So often, they damaged areas will be crudely restored.