About the Western Trilobite Association (W.T.A.)

Who we are: We are a group of dedicated amateur and professional trilobite collectors whose focus is on western North America (western U.S.A. and western Canada). States and Provinces included (so far) are Nevada, California, Utah, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, Colorado, Arizona, British Columbia and Alberta. Our group includes teachers, academics, professional and non-professional palaeontologists and others from a host of varied backgrounds and careers.

Mission statement: The organization has a variety of interests and goals.  First and foremost is the activity of the recreational collection of trilobites and associated fossils from the Palaeozoic of our region. Through our explorations we hope to understand and add to the knowledge base of this fascinating and still under-explored geological and palaeontological region. One of our goals, with the assistance and encouragement of academics, researchers and scholars is to find new species, add to the knowledge base, and help survey new areas.

Another goal is the accumulation of a western regional web-based trilobite database of photos, specimens, professional research papers etc.

The W.T.A. also has a practical interest in land use policies of the B.L.M. (Bureau of Land Management) and other governmental entities whose interest lies in the use of public lands.  Our belief is that public lands of non-national or state park status remain open for the recreational use of amateur fossil collectors.

Projects:  Ongoing projects such as our trilobite data base are augmented with collecting field trips, lobbying and correspondence with the palaeontological academic and research community.

Site Evolution: This site cannot evolve without the generous contributions of all amateur and professional palaeontologists involved. Please feel free to comment on the site, point out any additions or corrections, contribute photographs of species not yet up, or add a faunal list for a formation in your area.

Comments: We try to keep up to date, but it is certainly impossible to keep up with all the taxonomic name changes and new species being discovered. This page is merely a first guide for the trilobites found in many of the Formations. Mistakes will be frequent, but we will try and update any new changes that are sent to us (please include the reference). Some changes will be posted on the Synonomy page, but not necessarily on all the faunal lists.

Visitor Services and Contributions:

1. This site cannot evolve without the generous contributions of all amateur and professional palaeontologists involved. Please feel free to comment on the site, point out any additions or corrections, contribute photographs of species not yet up, or add a faunal list for a formation in your area.

2. Do you use this page as a resource? Print out faunal lists, species lists, references etc.? Identify your species? If so, please tell Richie.

 Board of Administration:  

Richard Kurkewicz - Chief Administrator - Communications Director

Kevin Brett - Web Coordinator - Archivist - Consulting Paleontologist
Roger Perkins - Western Trilobite Association & Virtual Fossil Museum Webmaster
George Ast - Secretary - Collections Coordinator
Perry and Maria Damiani - Fieldtrip and Research Coordinators

Contributors:

Dr. Linda McCollum - contributing Paleontologist
Dr. Fred Sundberg - contributing Paleontologist
James Cook - contributing amateur Paleontologist

Sam Gon III - contributing amateur Paleontologist & his remarkable
Guide to the Orders of Trilobites

Dr. Shanan Peters - contributing Paleontologist
Dr. Bruce Lieberman - contributing Paleontologist

John Adamek from Fossil Mall & Tethys Fossils
- contributing amateur Paleontologist
Brent Lewis - contributing amateur Paleontologist

White Mountain Research Station
Dave Comfort - contributing amateur Paleontologist
Steve Marley - contributing amateur Paleontologist

© WTA

Site designed and maintained by Kevin D. Brett and Roger Perkins