Month: March 2025
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Mazon Monday #262: Kankakeea grundyi
This is Mazon Monday post #262. What’s your favorite Mazon Creek fossil? Tell us at email:esconi.info@gmail.com. Kankakeea grundyi was a bud used for vegetative reproduction, that, once shed, would grow a new fern. It has been associated with Crenulopteris acadica, as they have been found in association. It is rare and a usually found in…
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Refuge from the worst mass extinction in Earth’s history discovered fossilized in China
Live Science has an interesting piece about refugia during the “Great Dying”. The End Permian mass extinction was Earth’s worst with an an estimated 80% of life going extinct. A new paper “Refugium amidst ruins: Unearthing the lost flora that escaped the end-Permian mass extinction” in the journal Science Advances, describes a refuge from the…
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ESCONI Events for April 2025
Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings! Sat, Apr 5th ESCONI Mineralogy Study Group – 7:30 PM – Topic: “Fluorescent Minerals” by Dave Carlson In-person at College of DuPage: Technical Education Center (TEC) Building – Room 1038B (Map). Fri, Apr 11th ESCONI General Meeting – 8:00 PM via Zoom – Topic: “The Geology…
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PBS Eons: The Arms Race That Made Insects Take Flight
PBS Eons has a new episode. This one is about the co-evolution of spiders and insects. Spiders and their ancestors have been driving an arms race that began before either stepped foot onto land and resulted in the first powered flight on Earth.
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Fossil Friday #258: Asterophyllites equisetiformis from Braceville!
This is the “Fossil Friday” post #258. This is a 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 hash tag #FossilFriday on Twitter/X and Bluesky for contributions from around the world! We have another Calamites related specimen for…
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Throwback Thursday #258: Field Museum in March 1920
This is Throwback Thursday #258. 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! email:esconi.info@gmail.com. The Field Museum moved into its current home in March of 1920. In a recent post on…
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ESCONI Field Trip to Danville Shale Pile Fossils – Saturday, April 26th, 2025
This field trip is full Danville Field Trip Rules for Saturday, April 26th, 2025 An ESCONI field trip to the Danville IL Shale Pile for Pennsylvanian fossils is scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2025 starting at 10 AM. This is on private property and there is an attendance limit of 25 people. The gate will…
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‘This is a crisis’: A southern Utah city is set to build a power station on top of a premier dinosaur fossil site
The Salt Lake Tribune has a story about the potential loss of a “paleontological jackpot” in Utah. St. George, Utah has an amazing dinosaur locality that dates to the beginning of the Jurassic Period about 200 million years ago. Unfortunately, the city of St. George plans to build a new electric substation on one of…
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Mazon Monday #261: Bear Gulch Cyclids
This is Mazon Monday post #261. What’s your favorite Mazon Creek fossil? Tell us at email:esconi.info@gmail.com. Who doesn’t like a nice cyclid fossil? Well, the Lauers (and friends) are here with a full plate of them… The fossil plate comes from the legendary Bear Gulch locality in Montana, US. The Bear Gulch Beds of the…
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Video for ESCONI February 2025 Paleontology Study Group Meeting – “How to Explore the Incredible World of Microfossils”
The February 2025 Paleontology Study Group Meeting was held on February 15th, 2025. Our speaker was Katherine Howard. Her title of her persentation was “How to Explore the Incredible World of Microfossils”. This presentation is geared for anyone who is interested in pursuing microfossils. Prepare to be amazed at the plethora of microfossils that can be…
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PBS Eons: Will We Survive The Future? (with John Green)
PBS Eons has another of their long form videos. This one is about the future… will we survive? Just because our ancestors have made it through every major period of upheaval in the Earth’s history so far doesn't mean that our survival through future changes is guaranteed. Humans have become a force of nature, but…
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Fossil Friday #257: Calamostachys tuberculata Cone from the Mazon River
This is the “Fossil Friday” post #257. This is a 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 hash tag #FossilFriday on Twitter/X and Bluesky for contributions from around the world! —————————————————– We have a gorgeous Calamostachys tuberculata…
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Throwback Thursday #257: RIP Richard Fortey
This is Throwback Thursday #257. 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! email:esconi.info@gmail.com. I was saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Fortey last week. He was a towering…
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125-Million-Year-Old Scorpion Fossil Uncovered in China
SciNews has a story about a 125 million year old scorpion. The amazing fossil was discovered in the Yixian Formation at Heishangou village, Chifeng city, Nei Mongol, China. The fossil animal has been named Jeholia longchengi and dates to the early Cretaceous Period. The paper “First Mesozoic scorpion from China and its ecological implications” was…
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PBS Eons: The Graveyard at the Center of the Earth
PBS Eons has a new episode. This one is about plate tectonics… how and why. Scientists have been trying to solve the mystery of why plate tectonics works the way it does for over a hundred years. And they might have just uncovered a key to cracking it.
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Mazon Monday #260: Mazon Creek and the Field Museum in the News!
This is Mazon Monday post #260. What’s your favorite Mazon Creek fossil? Tell us at email:esconi.info@gmail.com. Sorry for the delay today. Typepad was having technical difficulties. WBEZ had a recent story about Mazon Creek fossils. Some of our favorite scientists at the Field Museum were mentioned in the article. Inside the fossil hunt: Digging for…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fair Grounds
Day 1 report… Awesome! One more day, don’t miss it! Here are some photos! Lots of smiling faces at the welcome tables! Cuddle up with a Tully Monster… Charlie Shabica stopped by to say hello. Jack Wittry with Rich and Pete Rock Lots of books! Eric at the Junior tables More similing faces! Don busy…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fair Grounds
Today is the day! Come on out! Photos from setup day… Live Auctions Displays
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #28: Dalmanites Trilobite
This is the preview post #28 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #27: Leonapis Trilobite
This is the preview post #27 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #26: Galena
This is the preview post #26 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #25: Spiropteris from Mazon Creek
This is the preview post #25 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #24: Ammonite from Germany
This is the preview post #24 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #23: Tullymonstrum gregarium!
This is the preview post #23 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #22: Kallidecthes richardsoni from Mazon Creek
This is the preview post #22 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #21: Cyclopteris from Mazon Creek
This is the preview post #21 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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Fossil Friday #256: Mazon Creek Millipede
This is the “Fossil Friday” post #256. This is a 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 hash tag #FossilFriday on Twitter/X and Bluesky for contributions from around the world! —————————————————– For this week, we have Euphoberia,…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #20: Fluorite from Cave-In-Rock in Illinois
This is the preview post #20 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
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Throwback Thursday #256: Scenes from the 2018 Show
This is Throwback Thursday #256. 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! email:esconi.info@gmail.com. Here are some scenes from the 2018 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show, which was held on…
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2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #19: Oligocene Fossils From South Dakota
This is the preview post #19 for the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2025 will be held on March 15th and 16th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here.…
