This is Mazon Monday post #331.  What’s your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:esconi.info@gmail.com.

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Back in Mazon Tuesday #328, we did a post about Tom Testa and his amazing Mazon Creek fossil collection. There was a great turnout at the Carbon Hill School Museum special event “The Legacy of Tom Testa” on June 25th, 2026.

The crowd included a good mixture of locals and Mazon Creek fossil fans / collectors. Jack Wittry was on hand to tell us stories of Tom, his collection, and the impact it has had on the science around Mazon Creek. Tom gave him his collection to Jack. And, Jack donated the collection to the Field Museum, which was what Tom wanted.

Jack also set us straight on the current fossils named for Tom.

• Testajapyx thomasi (insect)
• Saccoglossus testa (acorn worm)
• Stephanopsis testai (roachoid)
• Squirmarius testai (new!) (hagfish)
• Carbohymen testai (insect)

There were some nice Mazon Creek fossils on display.

Thanks for holding this event, Michele. And, thanks for including ESCONI!