4-5% restoration. Heliopeltis are VERY rare trilobites from Morocco, and seldom offered. Presented is a sanblasted prepared masterpiece, a must have for demanding collectors. This is, for sure, one of the most beloved trilobites from Morocco, from the, also mythical, Issimour mountains. Extremely rare, very difficult to extract and very difficult to prepare in such detail as this specimen. Its ball of huge spines is a perfect sophisticated example of predator protection in the evolutionary story of the trilobites group. The pygidium turned to be spiny by itself too. Amazing display, with all thoracic, pygidial and cephalic spines prepared individually. See the images for all details. The freestanding displays of the spines is a laborious and very skilled work of dozens (or hundreds) of laboratory hours, just accessible to very few people in the world. Dimensions of the specimen: 5,4 x 5,4 cm; Dimensions of the matrix: 11,5 x 9,5 cm. Finding locality: "Quadrops couche", Issimour Mountains, Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Taxonomy: Species: Heliopeltis johnsoni Family: Styginidae; Order: Corynexochida; Class: Trilobita. Geological Period: Devonian, from Paleozoic Era. Besides the intrinsic scientific value of this item, as a piece of Natural History, you are acquiring a rare specimen, whose preparation (in specialized laboratories using micro sandblasters, air scribes and other micro tools under stereoscopic microscopes) is a difficult task that takes dozens (or hundreds) of hours. These skills are only available to very few people in the world. Fossils, trilobites and other premium items are, nowadays also a way of investment as their value will just raise. They are also increasingly being used as decor and luxury items, taking advantage of the mysterious beauty and framing that they can provide in appropriate spaces. What you need to know about trilobites preparation. The differences between repairs, reconstructions and composites: - Repairs: trilobites come from the quarries normally in pieces or blocks - broken rocks that must be repaired. The ones that don't need any kind of repair are very rare. For instance, the 3D Devonian trilobites, normally found in cross-section, must be glued back together. Just then it begins the work of preparation in specialized laboratories, using micro sandblasters, air scribes and other micro tools. Making a correct repair, nearly impossible to detect, is a work that only enhances the value of a specimen. Just the best preparators can do it: prepare a difficult, spectacular specimen than left the mountain in a puzzle; - Restorations: this is different from a normal simple repair. Not just gluing the pieces back together, but reconstructing part of a fossil that was missing or damaged. A missing shell crack, a spine, etc. When well done, in small amounts, to add fossils aesthetics, it is acceptable. A perfect specimen with no restoration is much more valuable than a specimen with a restoration as it's significantly rarer. As fossils, by definition are not perfect, and many collectors prefer not to have a spine missing or a hole in the exoskeleton, we accept residual restorations as a good practice. Our policy, as a long-time collectors and traders of trilobites, is to tell upfront about any restoration, specimen per specimen; - Compositing: Compositing and remounting is taking a specimen and, for example, attaching it to a piece of a matrix on which it did not originally reside. Or trying to create the “perfect” trilobite from pieces of many different fossils. This is not an acceptable practice if we are talking about top-grade fossils. All our trilobites suffered repairs when broken at the settlement (they were glued at the lab). The vast majority don't suffer any reconstruction (=restoration) or composition. That's something we are proud to maintain as a philosophy in our work. If so, we'll tell you for sure right here. Registered shipping with tracking number. Do not hesitate to ask any questions. We will be more than happy to provide any additional details. You can consult our feedback, studies and other fossils here: https://www.mediterranic.com/