Month: January 2013
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Eosinopteryx Challenges Existing Theory
Via BBC News: A newly-discovered feathered dinosaur pre-dates those birds were thought to have evolved from, a Southampton palaeontologist claims. The Eosinopteryx was a 30cm (11.8in) flightless dinosaur whose remains were found in north-eastern China. Dr Gareth Dyke said the find challenged “widely accepted theories on the origin of flight”.
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How Ancient Is the Grand Canyon?
Via Caltech (hat tip Geology.com) – … Caltech research points to a Grand Canyon that is many millions of years older than previously thought, says Kenneth A. Farley, Keck Foundation Professor of Geochemistry at Caltech and coauthor of the study. “Rather than being formed within the last few million years, our measurements suggest that a…
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Just Announced: Art Exhibit – The Art and Science of Paleontology
Rob Sula,(who is also the ESCONI Vice President) is having an art show, Dinosaurs: The Art and Science of Paleontology, from February 22 to May 3 with the Aurora Public Art Commission, 20 East Downer Place, Aurora, Illinois 60506, Phone: (630) 256-3340, Fax: (630) 256-3349, Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Friday, Noon – 4 p.m. The…
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Calendar of Events for February 2013
Fri 2/22 Dinosaurs: The Art and Science of Paleontology, from February 22 to May 3 with the Aurora Public Art Commission, 20 East Downer Place, Aurora, Illinois 60506, Phone: (630) 256-3340, Fax: (630) 256-3349, Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Friday, Noon – 4 p.m. The opening will be Friday February 22nd from 5:00 to 7:30 pm.…
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Diamond Exploration in North Dakota
Via geology.com: This fact sheet by the North Dakota Geological Survey describes the possibility of kimberlites in North Dakota and a 2010 exploration program conducted by Kennecott.
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Artisanal Mining of Gold, TV & Pollution
Via NYTimes: … Artisanal miners succeed where large, centralized operations fail by evading regulations and targeting gold that has eroded over eons into river sediments, known as placer deposits, that are broadly distributed over vast landscapes. But to get even an ounce of that gold, miners have to upend tons of river sediment. They pump…
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ESCONI Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show, March 16 & 17, 2013
New location!(Old location undergoing construction) Dupage County Fairgrounds Wheaton, IL Home Economics Buildingclick for directions View Larger Map Saturday, March 16 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 17 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking ! Exploreyour interests Shop for jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors Mineral…
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Manitoba on the Equator
Via Quirks and Quarks from CBC Radio: During the Ordovician period, 450 million years ago, the continents were in very different positions than today. The equator would have been in the same position relative to the poles, but would have traversed different regions. Finding its exact location was the subject of a new study by…
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Workday for Sunday Cancelled
It will be too cold to work outside… So the workday for Sunday is canceled.
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The Sutter’s Mill meteorite
Via Science News: A meteorite that fell where California’s gold rush began has triggered a …similar gold rush for scientists: to study one of the freshest, most unusual space rocks around.
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Climate Change and 2 MYA
Via Scientific American: An ancient lake whose shores vacillated between lush forests and dry savannahs shows how the changing climate may have shaped humanity’s dawn in eastern Africa, according to new research….
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Member Dues are Due for 2013
Please send your check payable to ESCONI for $20.00 for one year of $50 for three years to Eileen Mizerk, ESCONI Membership, 2094 Windward Lane, Hanover Park, IL 60133-6183.
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Paleo Study Group This Saturday
ESCONI Paleontology Meeting 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage, – Tech Ed Building (TEC), Room Room 1038B (Map) Topic: Presentations by Tom Williams and Kathy Catalani who will speak on Fossil Finders.
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Need Member Help This Sat or Sun
Work Day Come out one and all – we need your help! We have to organize our club collection in preparation for the March ESCONI Annual show. If you can help this Saturday in Montgomery IL from 9 am to 2 pm, call Jim Fairchild at 630-400-0750 or John at 630-483-2363 and they can give…
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Take a Virtual Mineral and Fossil Trip
Can’t get away for a collecting trip? Take a few moments and enjoy these photographs from SpiriferMinerals.com. Photo journey of field trips taken during the 2nd International Mindat.org Conference 2012 (November) in Midelt Morocco.
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Dinosaur Event in Rosemont, IL
Don’t know much about this event – …. but it has been appearing in advertisement on the television – Discover the Dinosaurs, Jan 18-20. Looks like it might be interesting for younger children?
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Dr. Volcano
From Georneys: The title of this blog post, “Dr. Volcano in the Cave of Crystals”, may sound like the title of a comic book or a science fiction story, but I can assure you that both Dr. Volcano and the Cave of Crystals are very much real. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Volcano…
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ESCONI Mineralogy Meeting This Saturday
ESCONI Mineralogy Meeting 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage, – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: Mineral Video
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Roy Plotnick to Speak on Experimental Paleontology This Fri
ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 p.m. College of Dupage, – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) Roy Plotnick, Phd, University of Illinois Chicago Geology Department, will speak on Experimental Paleontology – Paleontology is usually viewed as the antithesis of an experimental science. But in at least two areas, fossil preservation and functional morphology, there is a long…
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Geological History of Oklahoma
Via Geology.com from the Oklahoma Geological Survey: A publication by the Oklahoma Geological Survey documents the geologic history of the state with a great presentation of maps, cross sections and text.
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Archaeology Dog
Migaloo is a rescue dog with a special talent. Her owner, Australian dog owner Gary Jackson, trained this black lab-Mastiff mix to become the first “Archeology Dog,” able to sniff out bones that are hundreds of years old.
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Flaunting Oviraptor
Via CBC: (hat tip Floyd) At least one species of dinosaur had a feathered tail “built for flaunting,” says University of Alberta scientist Scott Persons, who argues that it is time to update the portrayal of dinosaurs as big, dull, lurching creatures. The oviraptor, a flightless vegetarian and a distant relative of the T. Rex,…
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Mich. boys uncover 13,000-year-old mastodon bone
From USA Today (hat tip Floyd): Eric Stamatin and Andrew Gainariu were doing what 11-year-old boys do — fishing, catching crayfish and gathering sticks and rocks to build a dam at a stream near Eric’s home last June. But then the pair stumbled upon something that most sixth-graders only dream of — they discovered a…
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Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show Video
Via Geology.com, a video about the upcoming Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show (February 14 – 17, 2013):
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Calendar of Events for January 2013
Sat 1/19 Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, Rock and Mineral Identification, 10:30 a.m., ages 8 to adult, Reservations Required (630) 833-1616. ESCONI Paleontology Meeting 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage, – Tech Ed Building (TEC), Room Room 1038B (Map) Topic: Presentations by Tom Williams and Kathy Catalani who will speak on Fossil Finders. Fri 1/25 ESCONI Board Meeting. 7:30…
