This is the “Fossil Friday” post #143. Expect this to be a somewhat regular feature of the website. We will post any fossil pictures you send in to esconi.info@gmail.com. Please include a short description or story. Check the #FossilFriday Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!
Long time ESCONI members B. J. and Mike Kukulka sent us a very special Mazon Creek worm fossil a few weeks ago. It’s a specimen they purchased in November 2022 at the Madison Gem and Mineral Show in Madison, WI. The animal, Astreptoscolex anasillosus, was the subject of Mazon Monday #146. It was described in 1979 by Ida Thompson. She described quite a few of Mazon Creek’s worms.
Here is Mike’s story about how they acquired this important specimen.
My wife B. J. and I, ESCONI members for about 5 years, were looking to add to our fossil collection at the Madison Gem and Mineral Show this past November. One of the first vendors we visited was the booth for Burnie’s Rock Shop in Madison. On the table was a nice sized Mazon Creek worm, both halves, mounted in a plastic case. What really caught our eye was the handwritten note that was taped inside the plastic case. It reads:
Astreptoscolex anasillosus Thompson
Middle Pennsylvanian
Francis Creek shale member, Carbondale frm.
From Pit 11, Essex IL
Collected by Konecny of AZ on 6/24/72
Purchased for $18 at National Fossil Expo 13 (1991)
We assume someone bought the fossil at the fossil expo (maybe from Jim or Sylvia, if they ever sold at the show?), wrote out the provenance, and maybe eventually sold some of their collection to Burnie’s, who then put it out on the table waiting for it to return to ESCONI members. We are excited to add it to our collection, and we’ll be putting our own note in the case explaining how we found it.
“National Fossil Expo 13” probably refers to the annual MAPS show – Mid American Paleontology Society. I believe the Konecnys moved to Arizona in the 1980’s or 1990’s. They stayed active in ESCONI, writing articles for the newsletter and sending along letters from time to time. Most of their extensive collection now resides in the Field Museum. Here’s some photos of them giving a tour of their collection for school children in Arizona.
Thanks for sharing, Mike and B.J.! What an amazing find! Please let us know if you find any other treasures!
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