A view into the interior of a well-preserved brachiopod dorsal valve. The shell remained sediment-free after burial, but was secondarily coated on the inside by tiny quartz crystals. The delicate spiralled lophophore supports (spiralia) have also been "silicified" -- best seen on the left in this image. The valve is 24 mm (just under 1 inch) in width.

Coming in late for #FossilFriday with a lovely little early #Silurian (~436 MYA) spirifirid #brachiopod, Meristina obtusa. Interior view of dorsal valve showing preserved spiralia on left & partial drusy quartz cement infill. Width of valve = 24 mm. Attawapiskat Fm, #Akimiski Is, #Nunavut 🇨🇦

A highlight of my many years of fieldwork in northern #Canada 🇨🇦 -- multiple opportunities to observe these magnificent animals across a range of summer habitats. #InternationalPolarBearDay #PolarBearDay #HudsonBay #JamesBay #Manitoba #Akimiski #Nunavut