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ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show
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- Fossil Friday #308: Beautiful things in small packages…
For this week, we have a nice and detailed orbicular pinnule from a Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri. The concretion is very small., but the “hairs” are there. Unfortunately, they may not show up in the photos. This concretion was collected from Pit 2 and opened via freeze/thaw. Check out the last photo to see the size and remember small things can come in small packages…
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Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings!
| Friday, March 13th | General Meeting – 8:00 PM via Zoom. Jeffrey Amelse will be presenting “Archaeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal.” |
| Saturday, March 14th | Field Trip – “Escape the Excavation: A hands-on archaeological adventure” – College of DuPage, 1pm – 3pm. Details here. |
| Saturday, March 21st | 66th ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. Details here. |
| Sunday, March 22nd | 66th ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. Details here. |
| No meeting this month | Mineralogy Study Group |
| No meeting this month | Paleontology Study Group |
| No meeting this month | Junior Study Group |
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Fossil Friday #308: Beautiful things in small packages…
Read more: Fossil Friday #308: Beautiful things in small packages…For this week, we have a nice and detailed orbicular pinnule from a Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri. The concretion is very small., but the “hairs” are there. Unfortunately, they may not show up in the photos. This concretion was collected from Pit 2 and opened via freeze/thaw. Check out the last photo to see the size and remember small things can come in small packages…
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Video for ESCONI February 2026 General Meeting – “Diggin’ Illinois: A hands-on introduction to the fascinating archaeological record of Illinois.”
Read more: Video for ESCONI February 2026 General Meeting – “Diggin’ Illinois: A hands-on introduction to the fascinating archaeological record of Illinois.”Illinois has a rich and varied archaeological record that spans some 13,000 years. In this hybrid presentation, we will first explore this record in lecture format, then interact with hands-on stations that include different archaeological materials from the Land of Lincoln. After experiencing “Diggin’ Illinois”, participants will foster a better appreciation for our state’s culture history, in addition to the materials archaeologists find during excavation. Altogether, this presentation will help celebrate Illinois’ past, in the present, for the future.
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Throwback Thursday #308: “Oh, do this rock for me”
Read more: Throwback Thursday #308: “Oh, do this rock for me”This poem appeared in the February 1963 edition of the ESCONI newsletter. It seems to originated with “Agate Pete”, which was a feature in the newsletter of El Paso Mineral and Gem Society. They are still alive and kicking…
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ESCONI March 2026 General Meeting – March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 PM – “Archaeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal”
Read more: ESCONI March 2026 General Meeting – March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 PM – “Archaeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal”Jeffrey Amelse will be presenting “Archeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal”. The meeting will be held on March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 PM via Zoom.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #13: Hemimorphite from Mexico
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #13: Hemimorphite from MexicoThis gorgeous specimen of Hemimorphite comes from Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. It’s in great shape… no damage to the crystals.
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“Dinosaurs” is now live on Netflix
Read more: “Dinosaurs” is now live on Netflix“Dinosaurs” the Netflix series that tells their story is now live on Netflix Welcome to The Dinosaurs – an epic journey into a lost world. From executive producer Steven Spielberg, Amblin Entertainment, and the award‑winning team behind Our Planet, this groundbreaking documentary series follows the rise and fall of the dinosaurs across hundreds of millions of years. Narrated by Academy Award–winner Morgan Freeman. Watch The Dinosaurs – only on Netflix, March 6. Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81612720
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #12: Crinoids from the Bangor Formation in Alabama
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #12: Crinoids from the Bangor Formation in AlabamaHere’s a gorgeous plate of crinoids from the Bangor Formation of Western Alabama. These fossils date to the Upper Mississippian Chestertian Series. There are a couple other fossils on the piece, including Archimedes bryozoans and other crinoid calyxes. Come on out and check it out in less than two weeks!
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Mazon Monday #312: Sigillaria tessellata
Read more: Mazon Monday #312: Sigillaria tessellataSigillaria tessellata is an extinct species of spore bearing, arborescent (tree-like) lycophyte from the Mazon Creek fossil deposit. Arborescent lycophytes (or scale trees) belong to the group Lepidodendrales. Sigillaria is known from as early as the Middle Devonian. It went extinct during the Early Permian Period.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #11: Smokey Quartz
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #11: Smokey QuartzToday’s preview is a beautiful piece of smokey quartz. Come on out to the show and this stunning mineral specimen can be yours!
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Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026
Read more: Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026. Des Plaines Park District Leisure Center, 2222 Birch St., Des Plaines, IL. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. Adults $3, seniors $2, students over 12 or with school ID $1, children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. Dealers, demonstrators, silent auction, geode cutting, kids’ activities, and door prize drawings. Contact Connie Lavin at (815) 222-8197, email Nival48@hotmail.com or call Mike Hanley at (847) 525-2941.
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PBS Eons: Why Evolution Made Your Teeth Hurt
Read more: PBS Eons: Why Evolution Made Your Teeth HurtThere’s a new episode of PBS Eons. This one is about the evolution of teeth.
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Fossil Friday #307: Euphoberia sp. From Pit 11
Read more: Fossil Friday #307: Euphoberia sp. From Pit 11For today, we have a very nice Mazon Creek millipede. Euphoberia is an extinct genus of millipede found in both Europe and North America. The genus was erected by Fielding Bradford Meek and Amos Henry Worthen when they described Euphoberia armigera as a centipede in 1868.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #10: Merycoidodon (Oreodon) Jaw
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #10: Merycoidodon (Oreodon) JawFor today’s preview, we have a nice Merycoidodon (Oreodon) Jaw from the Brule Formation near Chadron, Nebraska. The Brule Formation dates to the Oligocene about 34 and 30 million years ago. This jaw is in nice shape with six complete teeth. Show details can be found here
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ESCONI Events for March 2026
Read more: ESCONI Events for March 2026Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings! We have the General Meeting, an archaeology field trip, and the ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #9: Yellow Fluorite from the Minerva Mine
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #9: Yellow Fluorite from the Minerva MineWe have an 11 pound chunk of yellow fluorite for this preview. It’s likely from the Minerva Mine in Cave in Rock, IL. Here’s another specimen from the Minerva Mine sold at the 2025 show.
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Mazon Monday #311: Strip mining begins in Braidwood on May 23, 1928
Read more: Mazon Monday #311: Strip mining begins in Braidwood on May 23, 1928Yesterday marked opening day for fossil collecting at the IDNR Mazonia–Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area. I hope you were able to make it out… or are planning a trip soon. This is prime season for collecting at Pit 11, the name many collectors still use for Mazonia–Braidwood.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #8: A Tully Monster on Pit 11’s Opening Day!
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #8: A Tully Monster on Pit 11’s Opening Day!Today is opening day of fossil collecting season at the Mazonia-Braidwood State Park. So, it’s only fitting that the preview for today is a Tully Monster. Here it is… we hope you get out, enjoy some fresh air, and find a Tully today!
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Report for the Junior’s Study Group Meeting February 2026
Read more: Report for the Junior’s Study Group Meeting February 2026The meeting began with the Juniors Chair handing out the tradeable earth science specimens. Then he introduced the speaker, Finn Lutz. Finn is a senior at Oak Park River Forest High School. He talked about the display that he brought, which was his Eagle Scout project for ESCONI. The project began years ago with a dilapidated old show display board that someone found in the ESCONI warehouse. The display board was about 4’x2′ and had a map of Illinois and its adjacent states in the middle. Rock, mineral, and fossil specimens found in those states were glued around the edge…
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ESCONI Books and Items for Sale
Read more: ESCONI Books and Items for SaleESCONI actively sells our Club’s new books on Mazon Creek fossils that were written by Jack Wittry (an Honorary Club member). We also sell other ESCONI-branded items such as T-shirts, hats, mugs, ornaments, memory sticks, etc., in addition to used books that are donated to the Club. These items are for sale at ESCONI’s annual March Show and at various other Club events. Some of these items are sold by ESCONI on eBay. To find these books and items on eBay using your computer: Your computer’s browser may have some slight variances in the steps. If you are using your…
