During the spring and summer of 2014, Peter Van Roy, an Associate Research Scientist at the Department of Geology and Geophysics funded by the Yale Peabody Museum, conducted high-resolution photography of large anomalocaridid arthropod fossils in the IPCH Digitization Lab. The fossils that Peter imaged were uncovered during expeditions in southeastern Morocco, a region to which the Yale Peabody Museum has been conducting expeditions since 2009. These anomalocaridid fossils were discovered in the Fezouata formations, which are muddy deposits that date back to the Early Ordovician (ca 480 million years old).

Lateral view of a complete specimen of Aegirocassis benmoulae, a giant filter feeding anamalocaridid from the Early Ordovician (ca 480 million years old). Photography by Peter Van Roy, Yale University

The Fezouata deposits consist of several thousand feet of shales and siltstones that accumulated in relatively shallow waters on the shelf off the ancient paleocontinent of Gondwana over a period of some 8 million years. During the Early Ordovician, the area where the Fezouata formations formed was situated close to the South Pole. The sediments contain an exceptionally well-preserved and diverse fauna, which provide unparalleled insights into the composition and functioning of Ordovician marine ecosystems. The animals that are preserved were rapidly entombed by storm-generated mudflows and include many delicate soft-bodied forms that under normal circumstances would have no chance of fossilization. Because swimming animals could more easily escape these mudflows, the fauna is mainly composed of benthic, or bottom-dwelling animals.

Among the swimming forms that have been discovered are several anomalocaridid fossils. Anomalocaridids are very early representatives of the Arthropoda, which is the most successful and diverse animal group on the planet, and includes, among many others, familiar creatures like horseshoe crabs, scorpions, spiders, millipedes and centipedes, crabs, lobsters, butterflies, ants, beetles, etc. The Fezouata specimens are the youngest unequivocal anomalocaridids that have been found to date; all other anomalocaridid fossils date back to the Cambrian period, with the oldest material being around 530 million years in age. Because they are such ancient creatures, they are of critical importance for understanding the origins and early evolution of Arthropoda.

Complete filter feeding appendage of Aegirocassis benmoulae. Photography by Peter Van Roy, Yale University

To our modern eyes, anomalocaridids look very alien: they have a head with a pair of spinose grasping appendages and a circular mouth surrounded by toothed plates; their elongate, segmented bodies carry lateral flaps which they used for swimming. It was long believed that they only had one set of segmentally arranged flaps on each side of the body, but the Moroccan material has shown they actually possessed two sets, with gills attaching to the upper set – a finding which has important implications for our understanding of how modern arthropod limbs evolved. While most anomalocaridids were predators, the biggest Moroccan specimens were filter-feeders, gently harvesting plankton from the ocean. With a size of at least up to 7 feet, they are true giants, and rank among the very biggest arthropods to have ever lived. Interestingly, they foreshadow the appearance of giant filter-feeding whales and sharks much later, and provide a much older example of massive filter-feeders originating from among a predatory group at the time of a diversification of plankton.

Detailed glimpse of an intricate filter feeding apparatus of Aegirocassis benmoulae. Photography by Peter Van Roy, Yale University

Peter’s high-resolution photography of the Yale Peabody Museum specimens has had an impact beyond documentation. His images facilitated study of the large specimens and have led to discoveries about the construction and morphology of the creature’s lateral flaps and gills. The images also helped inform renowned natural history illustrator Marianne Collins, who worked closely with Peter to bring this ancient, extinct giant back to life through her stunning artistic renderings!

Artistic rendering of Aegirocassis benmoulae filter feeding on a plankton cloud. © Marianne Collins/ArtofFact

For more information about Peter’s findings, please see the Yale News feature http://news.yale.edu/2015/03/11/giant-sea-creature-hints-early-arthropod-evolution Peter’s popular science article https://theconversation.com/fossils-of-huge-plankton-eating-sea-creature-shine-light-on-early-arthropod-evolution-38520#comment_619019 or delve deeper by reading his team’s recent Nature publication http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature14256.html !

In September 2014, the Yale Peabody Museum’s Collections Manager for Mineralogy and Meteoritics, Stefan Nicolescu, brought a very rare meteorite – known as NWA 7325 – to the IPCH Digitization Lab for 3D laser scanning. The unique specimen is thought to be the first Mercurian meteorite ever found! Prior to scanning, it spent nine months on display in a special exhibit at the Yale Peabody Museum entitled “From Mercury to Earth? A meteorite like no other”

Exhibit panel provided courtesy of the Yale Peabody Museum

This meteorite is quite old. Its age has been determined to be 4562.8 ± 0.3 million years! That means the meteorite predates Earth (which boasts an age of ~ 4540 million years) and is only about four to five million years younger than the first solids in our Solar System (estimated to have formed 4567.18 ± 0.5 million years ago)!

After the meteorite was dislodged from its parent body, it is estimated that it spent over 20 million years traveling through the Solar System before eventually falling to Earth. As it fell through the Earth’s atmosphere, the surface of the meteorite melted then solidified, forming a crust. A few thousand years later, in 2012, a meteorite hunter discovered it scattered in 35 pieces.  The largest piece was sliced to generate thin sections and bits for analysis before its owner lent it to the Yale Peabody Museum for display. This piece weighs in at 79.2 grams and measures 3 x 3.5 x 4.5 centimeters.

The meteorite is dark green in appearance, with a light green crust. Over time, while resting on the desert floor in Morocco, terrestrial material precipitated onto its surface.  This precipitate is manifested as areas of yellow-whitish material consisting of calcium carbonate pigmented by iron oxides and hydroxides.

© Stefan Ralew http://sr-meteorites.de/; side of cube is 1 cm

Upon scientific analysis, a telltale extraterrestrial signature was detected –the presence of meteoritic iron, which is quite rich in nickel. In contrast, terrestrial iron is devoid of nickel. This was an immediate indication that the rock was not formed on Earth! The meteorite is a fully crystalized rock; it is quite similar to terrestrial igneous rocks; however, both its mineral composition and chemical signature are dissimilar to any other known rock. The individual minerals are not incredibly unusual; it is simply that their combination has never before been observed in a rock. If the meteorite is not derived from the planet Mercury, it must be from a part of the asteroid belt (located between Mars and Jupiter) that has not yet been sampled!

The meteorite was digitally acquired via NextEngine triangulation laser scanner in the Digitization Lab at the Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) on a Monday. By Wednesday of the same week, Stefan had a scaled 3D print in hand courtesy of the Yale Center for Engineering, Innovation and Design (CEID).

The primary objective of the process was to create a digital surrogate of the meteorite for applications in packaging, exhibition and education.

Visualizing geometry of the 3D model in MeshLab. Snapshot taken with the Lambertian radiance scaling shader applied

Stefan, who was responsible for taking the meteorite back to its owner in Germany, aimed to apply the 3D geometry acquired via scanning for creating stable and sturdy packaging. The 3D print out was used directly to mold clasps to support the meteorite in a custom-made box.

3D print out courtesy of Yale CEID http://ceid.yale.edu/ Image taken by Fred E. Davis and provided courtesy of the Yale Peabody Museum; side of cube is 1 cm

The main goal of creating a high-resolution 3D model was to print a copy of the meteorite in order to keep a tangible, tactile version of it at Yale.  Stefan commissioned Michael Anderson, a natural history artist with the Yale Peabody Museum who also mounted the packaging clasps, to paint the 3D print. The result is outstanding!

Artistic rendering by Michael Anderson. Image taken by Fred E. Davis and provided courtesy of the Yale Peabody Museum; side of cube is 1 cm

Bon voyage! The print out (on a stand) and the meteorite (in the box) displayed for one final viewing. Custom-made ironwood & turquoise box crafted by Larry Favorite http://www.favoritedesigns.com/ Note clasp on top

The meteorite was scanned, post-processed, printed, painted and photographed with contributions and assistance from Chelsea Graham of the Yale IPCH Digitization Lab, Ellen Su formerly of the Yale CEID and Stefan Nicolescu, Jessica Utrup, Michael Anderson and Fred E. Davis of the Yale Peabody Museum.

For more information about NWA 7325’s time at Yale, please see http://news.yale.edu/2013/11/25/mercury-morocco-and-onward-yale-meteorite-s-tale