This is Throwback Thursday #212.  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 – May 1999

• The CGMA Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show was held on May 29th, 30th, and 31st, 1999 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
• The General Meeting featured Peter Laraba of the Field Museum.  He spoke about “The Wonderstone of Mazon Creek”.
• There was a Summer Field Trip to Bingham, New Mexico.  Minerals from old mines were the target.
• Dino News had a piece about another new Jurassic China Bird from Liaoning… Confuciusornis sanctus.
• The Paleontology Study Group was discussing the first Australopithecine.

50 Years Ago – May 1974

• The topic of the General Meeting was “Impact of Glacial Landforms on Man in the Palos Park Area”.  Mike Zecate was the presenter.
• The Lapidary Study Group had a visitor from the Park Forest Earth Science Club.  Rhea Sphenola discussed metal sculpure.
• There was a field trip to Thorton Quarry.
• The Memorial Day Field Trip was 3 days long.  It cost $4 a day to camp at Waupecan Valley Park in Morris, IL.  Stops included places for minerals (pyrite and selenite) and fossils (Mazon Creek).  They even visited the Benson Farm!
• The Micromount of the Month was Realgar… Ruby Sulfur.

70 Years Ago – May 1954

• James Montague did a presentation called “Soils and Soil Elements” at the General Meeting.
• The Archaeology Study Group was discussing the Native Americans that lived in Illinois.
• ESCONI had a field trip to Bellevue, IA to collect Superior agates.
• The juniors were discussing “Petrified Wood”.
• Stevens T. Norvell did a piece about how much salt is in the ocean.  His conclusion…. about 3.5%.  So, in 100 lbs of ocean water, you’d find about 3.5 lbs of salts.  Salts because there are multiple few types.