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Pickled Brains! First Known Dinosaur Brain Fossil Discovered
Read more: Pickled Brains! First Known Dinosaur Brain Fossil DiscoveredIt might look like a tiny rock, but it’s actually dinosaur brain. (Jamie Hiscock) National Geographic has a story about a fossil dinosaur brain. The fossil was discovered back in 2004 on a Sussex beach. It dates to the Cretaceous Period, about 133 million years ago. The brain is believed to belong to a relative of Iguanodon. Original paper in Geological Society Quirks & Quarks segment from October 29th, 2016 The 133-million-year-old fossil belongs to a relative of Iguanodon, an iconic herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous. The fossil mostly consists of an endocast—a sediment cast of the…
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ESCONI Holiday Party – Friday, December 2nd, 2016
Read more: ESCONI Holiday Party – Friday, December 2nd, 2016The ESCONI Holiday Party is December 2nd, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Cozymel’s, 311 E Loop Rd, Wheaton. We will be ordering from the menu, and everyone is responsible for their own check. Please make reservations by November 25 by contacting Dave at fossil54@att.net. The December speaker is Jim Holstein, Collections Manger for Physical Geology at the Field Museum. The title of his presentation is: “Spheres of Influence: A Geobiological approach to understand how the interaction of the lithosphere, biosphere and outer space shaped our world”.
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ESCONI Best Fossil 2016 Winners – Saturday, October 15th, 2016
Read more: ESCONI Best Fossil 2016 Winners – Saturday, October 15th, 2016On Saturday, October 15th, 2016, the ESCONI Paleo Study Group held the 2nd Annual “Best Fossil Contest”. There were three categories, vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. The winners in the vertebrate category were: The winners in the invertebrate category were: The winners in the plant category were:
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November 2016 Paleo Meeting – Ozarkian mollusks from eastern Missouri
Read more: November 2016 Paleo Meeting – Ozarkian mollusks from eastern MissouriThe November program for the Paleo Study Group will be presented by ESCONI member Chris Cozart and is entitled; Ozarkian mollusks from eastern Missouri.
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Field Trip Report: Starved Rock Clay Products Quarry, Saturday, October 8th, 2016
Read more: Field Trip Report: Starved Rock Clay Products Quarry, Saturday, October 8th, 2016On October 8th, 2016, ESCONI participated in a field trip to the Starved Rock Clay Products Quarry. The trip was withheld in conjunction with the LOESS Club from Springfield, IL. The day was bright and sunny. And, despite the rain earlier in the week, it wasn’t too muddy. From a cephalopod to shark spines to petrified wood, there were a bunch of interesting fossils found, along with the abundant iron pyrite.
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Burpee Museum: National Fossil Day Celebation – October 15th, 2016
Read more: Burpee Museum: National Fossil Day Celebation – October 15th, 2016Celebrate NATIONAL FOSSIL DAY at Burpee Museum of Natural History on Saturday, October 15th, 2016. This special event will feature several local fossil collectors/exhibitors, hands-on activities, fossil IDs by Burpee Staff, a Jurassic Park Jeep for photo ops, a special presentation on “saber-toothed” cats by noted paleontologist Dr. Virginia Naples, Northern Illinois University and the first 100 children will receive a free fossil to start their own collection. National Fossil Day is held in partnership with the National Park Service and promotes responsible fossil collecting and stewardship (by people of all ages), and encourages science education. ADMISSION $8.00 ADULTS $7.00…
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National Fossil Day is October 12th, 2016
Read more: National Fossil Day is October 12th, 2016National Fossil Day is coming up fast. The date is Wednesday, October 12th, 2016. The National Park Service has a website. There are many events planned, find one near you on this page. The day was created to increase awareness and appreciation of fossils and our natural history, which quite often goes unnoticed under our feet each day. ESCONI is holding the “Best Fossil Contest” on Saturday, October 15th. That date coincides with our Paleontology Study Group Meeting for October. Tell you friends and neighbors! Take your favorite fossil out and inform the people around you!
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Warehouse Work Day – Saturday, October 8th, 2016, 9:00 – 2:00
Read more: Warehouse Work Day – Saturday, October 8th, 2016, 9:00 – 2:00Sorry for the late notice. If you have some time, come join our work day at the warehouse on Saturday, October, 8th, 2016 from 9:00-2:00 in order to begin preparation for the ESCONI rock show in March at DuPage Co Fairgrounds. The warehouse is in Aurora. For more information, contact John Good at 1-630-303-2352 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com
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ESCONI Best Fossil 2016 – Saturday, October 15th, 2016
Read more: ESCONI Best Fossil 2016 – Saturday, October 15th, 2016BEST FOSSIL 2016Saturday, October 15th, 2016 7:30 PMRoom 1038B Tech Ed (TEC) BldgCollege of DuPage Glen Ellyn, Illinois See lots of great fossils!Bring your own fossils for identification. PUBLIC INVITED FREE! No cash prizes. Flyer and Rules
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Reminder October 2016 General Meeting: Roy Plotnick “Jurassic Pork: What Could a Jewish Time Traveler Eat?”
Read more: Reminder October 2016 General Meeting: Roy Plotnick “Jurassic Pork: What Could a Jewish Time Traveler Eat?”Octobers’s General Meeting will feature a presentation by Roy Plotnick. The presentation is entitled “Jurassic Pork: What Could a Jewish Time Traveler Eat?” Roy has spoken to us many times in the past. All of his presentations are very interesting and this one sounds just a provocative as all of the previous ones! It all starts at 8:00 on October 14th, 2016, in room 1038B of the Tech Ed (TEC) Building at the College of Dupage (Map). Don’t miss it! Afterward, we will have the usual refreshments and stimulating conversation!
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Membership Application and Information with an Online Payment Option
Read more: Membership Application and Information with an Online Payment OptionMembership is open to all people interested in the earth sciences. Family membership is $20.00 for one year or $50.00 for three years. Membership runs from January through December, applies to immediate family in the same household, and includes an emailed digital Newsletter. Dues are payable either at the monthly meetings, or by mailing a check (payable to ESCONI) to the Membership Chair (Rose Jansen), or by credit card via PayPal at www.esconi.org. Members will be notified when dues are due again. Please note that new (first time) memberships paid on or after September 1st will include September – December, and the following…
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Smithsonian: Conservationists Want You to Stop Building Rock Piles
Read more: Smithsonian: Conservationists Want You to Stop Building Rock PilesThe Smithsonian’s SmartNews has a story about stone piles. The stone piles used as markers are sometimes referred to as cairns. For many years, cairns have been used to mark a memorial or landmark. Now, some conservationists are recommending that people stop making markers by stacking stones. The practice is causing environmental damage with erosion and potentially sending people in the wrong direction. For High Country News, Robyn Martin writes that there is an annoying plague of rock stacks balanced carefully atop one another in the West. These piles aren’t true cairns, the official term for deliberately stacked rocks. From…
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ESCONI Events October 2016
Read more: ESCONI Events October 2016Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings! Sat, Oct. 8 ESCONI Minerology Study Group Meeting 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “Mineral Explorer’s Video” Sat, Oct. 8 Field Trip – Starved Rock Clay Pit. See here for details. Fri, Oct. 14 ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “Jurassic Pork: What Could a Jewish Time Traveler Eat?” by Roy Plotnick of UIC Sat, Oct. 15 ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room…
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ESCONI Paleo Meeting for September 2016 – Show and Tell
Read more: ESCONI Paleo Meeting for September 2016 – Show and TellThe September 2016 Paleo Study Group Meeting was “Show and Tell”. Traditionally, after the long summer, members bring in their finest finds. This year was no different. There were many great finds from Mazon Creek, to St. Paul IN, and back to the Plattville of IL. Here is a good sample of what was on display.
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October 2016 General Meeting: Roy Plotnick “Jurassic Pork: What Could a Jewish Time Traveler Eat?”
Read more: October 2016 General Meeting: Roy Plotnick “Jurassic Pork: What Could a Jewish Time Traveler Eat?”Octobers’s General Meeting will feature a presentation by Roy Plotnick. The presentation is entitled “Jurassic Pork: What Could a Jewish Time Traveler Eat?” Roy has spoken to us many times in the past. All of his presentations are very interesting and this one sounds just a provocative as all of the previous ones! It all starts at 8:00 on October 14th, 2016, in room 1038B of the Tech Ed (TEC) Building at the College of Dupage (Map). Don’t miss it! Afterward, we will have the usual refreshments and stimulating conversation!
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Braceville Field Trip Report – Fall 2016
Read more: Braceville Field Trip Report – Fall 2016The day started out rainy and the trail was muddy and buggy, but there were many concretions to be collected. Many of us spent part of the day surface collecting concretions that were exposed by the recent heavy rains. A few members supplied fossils from past trips to the kids (young and old) in attendance. All in all it was a productive trip! Surface collecting. Sharing stories and fossils. Hard at work.
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St. Paul, IN Quarry Open House – September 23rd, 2016
Read more: St. Paul, IN Quarry Open House – September 23rd, 2016St. Paul quarry management informed us that, instead of organized club trips on Fridays, a series of open collecting opportunities have been initiated. A new date has been added Friday, September 23rd, 2016. Those interested in collecting need to show up at the quarry office between 7:30 am and 8:00 am (Eastern Time) to sign waivers and probably receive on-site training. Safety equipment needed: hard hats and sturdy construction shoes steel-toed recommended. Safety equipment suggested: yellow-ish safety vest and safety goggles. This quarry is in the Silurian Waldron Formation composed of shales that can be broken to release fossils. In…
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Rock River Valley Gem & Mineral Society: Rock Swap on Saturday, September 17th, 2016
Read more: Rock River Valley Gem & Mineral Society: Rock Swap on Saturday, September 17th, 2016The Rock River Valley Gem & Mineral Society his holding a Rock Swap on Saturday, September 17th, 2016. Details: Saturday September 17, 2016 6219 Forest Hills Road, Rockford, Illinois ODD FELLOWS HALL Bring it, Swap it, Buy it, and Sell it 9:30 am to 4:00 pm $20 space donation for 10ft by 10ft Rain or Shine Public Admission Free Sponsored by the Rock River Valley Gem & Mineral Society Contact John Wood at 815-978-6960, rrvgms@gmail.com
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Field Trip Date Change to October 8th, 2016: Starved Rock Clay Products Quarry
Read more: Field Trip Date Change to October 8th, 2016: Starved Rock Clay Products QuarryDue to a scheduling conflict the date for the field trip to the Starved Rock Clay Pit has been changed to October 8th, 2016. Please confirm to Dave Carlson via email at fossil54@att.net whether or not you still wish to attend on the new date.
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Palaeocast Podcast Episode 63: Return of the Tully Monster
Read more: Palaeocast Podcast Episode 63: Return of the Tully MonsterPalaeocast had an additional episode on the Tullymonster last spring. This one is an interview with Thomas Clements, of the University of Leicester, the lead author on this paper in Nature. The interview (and paper) discusses the structure of the Tullymonster’s eye and postulates that the Tullymonster is a vertebrate. Sorry, somehow I missed this one back in the spring. This episode is somewhat timely given the lecture by Paul Mayer of the Field Museum on Friday, September 9th. BTW, the location in the photo above should be familiar to any of you who have participated in the annual Canal Corridor…
ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show
Most Recent Post
- Science Quickly: The fans who went from collecting Pokémon to studying bugs and fossils
Science American’s “Science Quickly” had a recent episode about the upcoming Pokemon display at the Field Museum. Arjan Mann, Field Museum Curator of Early Tetrapods, was one of the guests.
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Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings!
| Friday, April 10th | General Meeting – 8:00 PM via Zoom. Jessica Hull will present “Life in the Devonian Period, The Age of Fishes.” |
| Saturday, April 11th | Junior Study Group Meeting – 2:00 PM, in person at the College of DuPage Technical Education Center (TEC) Building – Room 1038A (Map). Katherine Howard will present on Sand and Sediment Collecting. Specifics of this meeting are available from Scott Galloway, 630-670-2591, gallowayscottf@gmail.com. |
| Saturday, April 18th | Paleontology Study Group – 7:30 PM via Zoom and in person at the College of DuPage, TEC, Room 1038B (Map). Keith Robitschek will present “Digging the Marl of the Lance Formation.” |
| Friday, April 24th | MAPS Expo XLVII – Springfield, IL. |
| Saturday, April 25th | MAPS Expo XLVII – Springfield, IL. |
| Sunday, April 26th | MAPS Expo XLVII – Springfield, IL. |
| No meeting this month | Mineralogy Study Group |