Month: March 2026
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Fossil Friday #309: Acanthotelson stimpsoni
Today, we have a cute little Acanthotelson stimpsoni (see Mazon Monday #52) from the Mazon River. Acanthotelson stimpsoni is a syncarid shrimp. It’s the most common shrimp found in the Braidwood fauna.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #23: Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri terminal pinnule
Preview 23 is a nice terminal end of a Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri from Mazon Creek. To learn more see Mazon Monday #39. Saturday will be here before you know it…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #22: Valentinite after Stibnite on Barite
How about this beautiful specimen of Valentinite after Stibnite on Barite? It was collected from the Xikuangsthan Mine in Lengshuijiang, Hunan Province, China. Come on out and see it close up in less than 2 days!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #21: Thalassina anomala from Gunn Point, N. T., Australia
The next preview is a fossil mangrove lobster, Thalassina anomala, from Gunn Point, N. T., Australia. This is a very detailed fossil with superb preparation. Come on out and check it out at the show… less than 2 days away!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #20: Pieces of Mexican Opal
Mexican opal is very beautiful and we have a small collection of pieces here for this preview. Just 2 days left… Hope to see you!
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Throwback Thursday #309: ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 1992
ESCONI has been holding a show in the spring since about 1960. In the mid 1970’s, it became the Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show. Before that, there was the Indoor Field Trip hosted by the Paleontology Study Group. Today, we are looking back 30 years to the 1992 show. The show was held on March…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #19: Fluorite and Sphalerite
We have multiple pieces of beautiful fluorite for this years show. This is one of the best… it has large crystals of fluorite resting on sphalerite. Have I mentioned we are just a few days away from this year’s show?!?
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #18: Lepidostrobus, sp. Cone
Here’s a beautiful Lepidostrobus, sp. cone (see Mazon Monday #202) from Mazon Creek. These cones were the reproductive organs of lepidodendron trees.
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PBS Eons: Did Ancient Storms Kill These Pterosaurs?
PBS Eons has a new episode. This one is about the pterosaur diversity of the Solnhofen formation in Germany.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #17: Wulfenite from Yugoslavia
How about a beautiful piece of Wulfenite from Mies, Yugoslavia? This is a gorgeous specimen. Come out and see it this Satuday!
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Video for ESCONI March 2026 General Meeting – “Archaeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal”
Jeffrey Amelse presented “Archeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal”. The meeting was held on March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 PM via Zoom.
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Mazon Monday #313: Mazon Creek Studies – the first 120 years
For this week, we have an article from the September 1978 edition of the Field Museum’s Bulletin. The full edition, which includes Jaunary thru December, is available on the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) website.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #16: Calamostachys Cone
A the rarer side, we have a nice Calamostachys cone for preview #16. Calamostachys was one of the cones of Calamites (see Mazon Monday #99). Less than 6 days left until the show… how quickly time flies!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #15: Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri
For this preview, we have a beautiful Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri (see Mazon Monday #39). This was collected from one of the Morris localities.
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ESCONI at Burpee Museum’s PaleoFest ’26
ESCONI was at PaleoFest ’26 last week. Joseph Bruno put together this nice little video. Ready for the paleo hordes! Here everyone is waiting on the Keynote Speaker, Jingmai O’Connor. Finn Lutz discussing his informative display. Scott teaching some earth science… Remember, Burpee is home of Jane the Nanotyrannus and they have other dinosaurs! See…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #14: Aragonite from Ratanakiri Province, Thailand
Here is a beautiful piece of Aragonite from Ratanakiri Province, Thailand. It’s hard to believe we are just a week away from the show! See you there!
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Fossil Friday #308: Beautiful things in small packages…
For this week, we have a nice and detailed orbicular pinnule from a Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri. The concretion is very small., but the “hairs” are there. Unfortunately, they may not show up in the photos. This concretion was collected from Pit 2 and opened via freeze/thaw. Check out the last photo to see the size and…
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Video for ESCONI February 2026 General Meeting – “Diggin’ Illinois: A hands-on introduction to the fascinating archaeological record of Illinois.”
Illinois has a rich and varied archaeological record that spans some 13,000 years. In this hybrid presentation, we will first explore this record in lecture format, then interact with hands-on stations that include different archaeological materials from the Land of Lincoln. After experiencing “Diggin’ Illinois”, participants will foster a better appreciation for our state’s culture…
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Throwback Thursday #308: “Oh, do this rock for me”
This poem appeared in the February 1963 edition of the ESCONI newsletter. It seems to originated with “Agate Pete”, which was a feature in the newsletter of El Paso Mineral and Gem Society. They are still alive and kicking…
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ESCONI March 2026 General Meeting – March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 PM – “Archaeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal”
Jeffrey Amelse will be presenting “Archeological, Geological, and Other Historic Sites in Portugal”. The meeting will be held on March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 PM via Zoom.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #13: Hemimorphite from Mexico
This gorgeous specimen of Hemimorphite comes from Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. It’s in great shape… no damage to the crystals.
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“Dinosaurs” is now live on Netflix
“Dinosaurs” the Netflix series that tells their story is now live on Netflix Welcome to The Dinosaurs – an epic journey into a lost world. From executive producer Steven Spielberg, Amblin Entertainment, and the award‑winning team behind Our Planet, this groundbreaking documentary series follows the rise and fall of the dinosaurs across hundreds of millions…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #12: Crinoids from the Bangor Formation in Alabama
Here’s a gorgeous plate of crinoids from the Bangor Formation of Western Alabama. These fossils date to the Upper Mississippian Chestertian Series. There are a couple other fossils on the piece, including Archimedes bryozoans and other crinoid calyxes. Come on out and check it out in less than two weeks!
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Mazon Monday #312: Sigillaria tessellata
Sigillaria tessellata is an extinct species of spore bearing, arborescent (tree-like) lycophyte from the Mazon Creek fossil deposit. Arborescent lycophytes (or scale trees) belong to the group Lepidodendrales. Sigillaria is known from as early as the Middle Devonian. It went extinct during the Early Permian Period.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #11: Smokey Quartz
Today’s preview is a beautiful piece of smokey quartz. Come on out to the show and this stunning mineral specimen can be yours!
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Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026
Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026. Des Plaines Park District Leisure Center, 2222 Birch St., Des Plaines, IL. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. Adults $3, seniors $2, students over 12 or with school ID $1, children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. Dealers, demonstrators,…
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PBS Eons: Why Evolution Made Your Teeth Hurt
There’s a new episode of PBS Eons. This one is about the evolution of teeth.
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Fossil Friday #307: Euphoberia sp. From Pit 11
For today, we have a very nice Mazon Creek millipede. Euphoberia is an extinct genus of millipede found in both Europe and North America. The genus was erected by Fielding Bradford Meek and Amos Henry Worthen when they described Euphoberia armigera as a centipede in 1868.
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Throwback Thursday #307: Looking Back At ESCONI for March 2026
A look back at March 1956, 1976, and 2001
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #10: Merycoidodon (Oreodon) Jaw
For today’s preview, we have a nice Merycoidodon (Oreodon) Jaw from the Brule Formation near Chadron, Nebraska. The Brule Formation dates to the Oligocene about 34 and 30 million years ago. This jaw is in nice shape with six complete teeth. Show details can be found here
