This is Throwback Thursday #204.  In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general.  If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc …), please send them to esconi.info@gmail.com.  Thanks!

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25 Years Ago – March 1999

• The ESCONI show for 1999 was held on March 6th and 7th, 1999.
• Micro/Mineralogy was disussing Zeolites.  Zeolites are prized mineral specimens.
• Paleontology had a presentation about the Pliocene.
• Dino News had a piece about the growing controversy around dinosaurs and birds.  We know how that turned out…. Birds are dinosaurs!

50 Years Ago – March 1974

• There was an “indoor” field trip to the Oak Brook Center on March 2nd and 3rd.  There were many exhibits and displays.
• The annual World Flower and Garden Show was held from March 23rd to 31st, 1974.  ESCONI participated with the “Plant Life Through the Ages” exhibit
• The subject of the General Meeting was “Ethnoconchology in the Lower Illinois Basin” by Mr. Manfred E. W. Jaehnig of the Foundation of Illinois Archaeology.
• Mike Williams of the Field Museum was speaking on “Black Shale” to the Paleontology Study Group.
• Mineralogy was discussing “Gypsum”.
• Micro-mounting had a program on “Snail Morphology” by Dick Ade and Don Auler.
• ESCONI donated a display case to the Pit 11 office.

70 Years Ago – March 1954

• The General Meeting topic was “Gem Cutting” by Dr. J. Daniel Williams of Earth Science Digest.
• Archaeology held a lab session to prepare geological and archaeological exhibits for the general public.
• Stevens T. Norvell wrote a short piece about Pit-Lining Soda (also known as sodium carbonate).
• Dr. Fleener wrote an article about Mineral Identity.  This time the topic was Color.
• From England came a story about Jet Powered “Fish”.  They meant belemnites, which were really mollusks related to squids.