LOCAL

Set in stone

A group of Phacop trilobites.
A group of Phacop trilobites.
The Columbus Dispatch
Phylocarid mandble.
Phylocarid mandble.
The Columbus Dispatch
A Phacops trilobite with a small one on the back.
A Phacops trilobite with a small one on the back.
The Columbus Dispatch
A fish plate at Connie and David Mielke's display.
A fish plate at Connie and David Mielke's display.
The Columbus Dispatch
About 510 million years ago, what is now Ohio was located about 10 degrees south of the equator and was covered by a tropical sea filled with gigantic swimming predators, plants every color of the rainbow and millions of sea urchins, crabs and clams.
About 510 million years ago, what is now Ohio was located about 10 degrees south of the equator and was covered by a tropical sea filled with gigantic swimming predators, plants every color of the rainbow and millions of sea urchins, crabs and clams.
The Columbus Dispatch
“Once I got started, I was a maniac,” David Mielke said. “I was addicted.”
“Once I got started, I was a maniac,” David Mielke said. “I was addicted.”
The Columbus Dispatch
Connie, left, and David Mielke, in their Botkins, Ohio, basement where they display their favorite fossils.
Connie, left, and David Mielke, in their Botkins, Ohio, basement where they display their favorite fossils.
The Columbus Dispatch
Trilobites covered by pyrite. Most of Mielke’s collection consists of Phacops rana trilobites, or “bugs” that he finds in limestone.
Trilobites covered by pyrite. Most of Mielke’s collection consists of Phacops rana trilobites, or “bugs” that he finds in limestone.
The Columbus Dispatch
This is an example of how Phacops trylobites are often hard to see while hunting fossils.
This is an example of how Phacops trylobites are often hard to see while hunting fossils.
The Columbus Dispatch
Connie Mielke holds her favorite Phacops trilobit.
Connie Mielke holds her favorite Phacops trilobit.
The Columbus Dispatch
Phacops trilobites have large eyes and are often found rolled up in a ball — similar in fashion to today’s pill bug, or roly-poly.
Phacops trilobites have large eyes and are often found rolled up in a ball — similar in fashion to today’s pill bug, or roly-poly.
The Columbus Dispatch
Despite the abundance of limestone fossils, they often are destroyed by concrete manufacturers or the elements. Rain, for instance, can erode them.
Despite the abundance of limestone fossils, they often are destroyed by concrete manufacturers or the elements. Rain, for instance, can erode them.
The Columbus Dispatch
A Phacops trilobite found by Connie Mielke.
A Phacops trilobite found by Connie Mielke.
The Columbus Dispatch
Connie Mielke holds four Phacops trilobites found at the LaFarge Quarry within 45 minutes of searching.
Connie Mielke holds four Phacops trilobites found at the LaFarge Quarry within 45 minutes of searching.
The Columbus Dispatch
David Mielke chips away as he searches for fossils at the LaFarge Quarry, in Paulding, Ohio.
David Mielke chips away as he searches for fossils at the LaFarge Quarry, in Paulding, Ohio.
The Columbus Dispatch
Connie Mielke searches for fossils at the LaFarge Quarry with David Mielke, left and University of Dayton geology professor Michael Sandy, center, in Paulding, Ohio.
Connie Mielke searches for fossils at the LaFarge Quarry with David Mielke, left and University of Dayton geology professor Michael Sandy, center, in Paulding, Ohio.
The Columbus Dispatch