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Fossils Saved by Fool’s Gold
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Journal Article
Fossils Saved by Fool’s Gold
2025
Overview
The glint of the mineral known as fool's gold used to be a blow for miners searching for the real thing. But for fossil hunters, this glimmering mineral, iron pyrite, is a priceless treasure. Under the right conditions, an organism's remains can be mineralized in pyrite, creating a fossil that is remarkably detailed and durable, providing nuances of extinct animal anatomy that are rarely seen. A new pyrite fossil discovery, combined with advanced imaging techniques, has identified a previously undiscovered species that could help elucidate the evolution of arthropods, particularly of the antennae and mouthparts of insects, crustaceans, and spiders. The set of five shimmering fossils was found in New York State at a famous site called Beecher's Trilobite Bed. The ocean floor there at the time these creatures died was low-oxygen and iron-rich, allowing for fast mineralization of the delicate tissues of these organisms. Sulfate-reducing bacteria break down organic material in these low-oxygen environments, producing hydrogen sulfide.
