Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois (ESCONI)

ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show

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esconi.info@gmail.com

Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings!

Friday, June 12thGeneral Meeting – 8:00 PM via Zoom.

Adrienne Stroup of The Field Museum will present “At the Intersection of Art and Science: Outreach in Natural History
Museums”.
Saturday, June 20thPaleontology Study Group – 7:30 PM via Zoom.

Lincoln Shoemaker will present “Factors controlling the distribution of Late Ordovician – Silurian crinoids.”
No meeting this monthJunior Study Group Meeting
No meeting this monthMineralogy Study Group

  • Friday, June 13 – Lecture: Geologic Secrets of Springfield Coal Fossilized Forests

    This Friday, ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 p.m. College of Dupage, – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B Topic: Snapshot in time – Geologic Secrets of the Springfield Coal Fossilized Forests Scott Elrick, from the Illinois State Geological Survey, will describe a 300-million-year-old fossilized forest, found along the Galatia channel, an ancient river that flowed across southern Illinois. This ancient forest is the world’s largest intact rain forest from the Pennsylvanian Period ever to be discovered. Preserved along 150 miles of the Galatia channel river banks, the forest’s sheer size offers an unprecedented view of ancient forest life and diversity. Discovered…

    Read more: Friday, June 13 – Lecture: Geologic Secrets of Springfield Coal Fossilized Forests
  • ESCONI Events June-August, 2014

    ESCONI Events June-August, 2014

    June 2014 Fri 6/13 ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 p.m. College of Dupage,  – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) Topic: Snapshot in time – Geologic Secrets of the Springfield Coal Fossilized Forests Scott Elrick, from the Illinois State Geological Survey, will describe a 300-million-year-old fossilized forest, found along the Galatia channel, an ancient river that flowed across southern Illinois.  This ancient forest is the world’s largest intact rain forest from the Pennsylvanian Period ever to be discovered.  Preserved along 150 miles of the Galatia channel river banks, the forest’s sheer size offers an unprecedented view of ancient forest life and diversity.  Discovered in the roof…

    Read more: ESCONI Events June-August, 2014

  • Chicago Rock Swap – Sat, June 14, 2014: 1-5 pm, St. Peter’s Church, Skokie

    LET’S ROCK!   Chicago Rocks & Minerals Society Hosts 3rd Annual Rock Swap Saturday, June 14, 2014 1 to 5 PM, Indoors St. Peter’s United Church of Christ gymnasium 8013 Laramie Ave., Skokie   Think of it as a flea market with rocks, minerals, fossils, geodes, and lapidary-arts treasures! Includes special kids’ activities   Come for an afternoon of great deals on a treasure trove of items for rockhounds of all ages, including a special fossil hunt and more activities for kids. Gather up your rocks, minerals, fossils, crystals, geodes, cabochons, any lapidary-arts related items or spare cash you have,…

    Read more: Chicago Rock Swap – Sat, June 14, 2014: 1-5 pm, St. Peter’s Church, Skokie

  • Room Number for June 5 Miner Safety Training Is TEC 1038A

    We have the room number – TEC 1038A , College of Dupage Thursday, June 5 – Miner Safety Training John McArdle of ZRS (Zoological Research Services) is approved to offer Miner Safety Certification Training and issue certificates and will be teaching the course on June 5 at 7:00 pm. The meeting room will be announced soon. The cost will be $10 for each ESCONI Member payable at the door to John McArdle. Contact John Good at 630-303-2352 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com. Miner safety training helps to ensure successful and safe collecting. Some quarries require this training before allowing…

    Read more: Room Number for June 5 Miner Safety Training Is TEC 1038A

  • Lapidary Auction – June 7, Boone County Fairgrounds

    Lapidary Auction, Saturday, June 7 – Boone County Fairgrounds – Belvidere, IL – at 9:00 am.  Machines, crystals, minerals, rough rock, shells, fossils and miscellaneous, e.g, gem trees, mountings…  helld by Curry Auctioneers. Questions? 815-871-9212

    Read more: Lapidary Auction – June 7, Boone County Fairgrounds

  • The Role of Amateur Paleontologists in Scientific Inquiry

    A thoughtful, essay on the role of amateur paleontologists have played in both the past, as well as potentially in the future. Written for Palaeo-Electronica, by a member and leader in ESCNOI, John Catalini.

    Read more: The Role of Amateur Paleontologists in Scientific Inquiry

  • Canadian Paleo Artist – Csotonyi

    Via the Verge: … These illustrations aren’t static — given the fast pace of scientific discovery, Csotonyi often has to update pieces to coincide with new revelations. The relatively new concept of feathered dinosaurs, in particular, has changed the way he renders these prehistoric giants. “I’ve had to return to several of my previous illustrations to update them as new information has become available based on increasingly informative fossil finds, and also because as young as my career is, I have learned to correct mistakes that I made earlier on,” he explains….

    Read more: Canadian Paleo Artist – Csotonyi

  • Summer classes for kids

    The Center for the Gifted is offering summer classes on fossils, and minerals and archaeology for preK to 8th grade. http://www.centerforgifted.org/ 

    Read more: Summer classes for kids

  • Miner Safety Training – June 5 at College of Dupage

    John McArdle of ZRS (Zoological Research Services) is approved to offer Miner Safety Certification Training and issue certificates and will be teaching the course on June 5 at 7:00 pm. The meeting room will be announced soon. The cost will be $10 for each ESCONI Member payable at the door to John McArdle.   Contact John Good at 630-303-2352 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com. Miner safety training helps to ensure successful and safe collecting. Some quarries require this training before allowing us to collect on their propery.  It is highly recommended that members get certified in Miner Safety training –…

    Read more: Miner Safety Training – June 5 at College of Dupage

  • This Weekend! 5/24 & 5/25 – Chicagoland Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show!

    On Memorial Day weekend, nationally-known dealers, demonstrations,  exhibits, lapidary arts, jewelry exhibits, faceting, cabochon cutting, polishing gemstones, silversmithing, beading, wire wrapping, prospecting, geode splitting, a silent auction, childrens’ rock area – and jewelry repair – will all be available! The 38th Chicagoland Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show is hosted by the Chicagoland Gem and Mineral Association (CGMA). http://cgma.squarespace.com/   Saturday, May 24, 2014 10am – 6pmSunday, May 25, 2014 10am – 5pm Adults – $5.00Seniors- $3.00Students (13-17) – $3.00Children (Under 13) Free FREE PARKINGINDOORS – AIR CONDITIONED – FOOD AVAILABLE Camping Available – Call (630) 377-0197

    Read more: This Weekend! 5/24 & 5/25 – Chicagoland Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show!

  • Why Prevent Extinction? May 30 & 31, Notebaert Nature Museum

    Why Prevent Extinction? Join us at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on Friday, May 30, Saturday May 31, and Sunday June 1 to explore this question through a weekend conference.  Keynote address on May 30 by the ever popular May Berenbaum. The Conference, May 31, also features the insights of Curt Meine, Joel Brown, Jeffery Lockwood, and Doug Taron.  May Berenbaum will give the keynote address for the “Why Prevent Extinction Conference” on Friday, May 30.  Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a wine and cheese, beer and pretzel reception, and at 6:30 p.m. for the talk.  Dr. Berenbaum has been called the Joan Rivers…

    Read more: Why Prevent Extinction? May 30 & 31, Notebaert Nature Museum
  • ESCONI Field Trip: Mazon Creek This Weekend

    ESCONI Field Trip: Mazon Creek This Weekend

    ESCONI Field Trip to Mazon Creek Meet at 8:00 A.M. Saturday at the BP Amoco in Coal City. No Age Limit.  Hard Hats not required.  Take I-55 to Exit 236 (Coal City).  Take a right onto Highway 113 (Division Street).  Go west to Broadway Street and Division in Coal City. We will be collecting Mazon Creek concretions from an old spoil pile on private property.  Hard hats are not required.  Boots are recommended.  An Estwing rock hammer is the best tool.  A small shovel or pick is helpful.  Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs, extra clothes (you will get wet and…

    Read more: ESCONI Field Trip: Mazon Creek This Weekend

  • Call All Boyscouts! Old and Young – Need Your Help!

    Can you help promote the earth sciences at the Boyscouts STEM-O-Rama for a few hours next Saturday, May 17th ?? It will be held at the Kane County Fairgrounds from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm showcasing over 100 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math exhibits.  ESCONI has an inside booth (Robertson Hall – Booth 506) with one table and 4 chairs and we will be giving out flyers, displaying fossils, selling books to the scouts. If you can work an hour or so, please email, Donald Cronauer dccronauer at att dot net

    Read more: Call All Boyscouts! Old and Young – Need Your Help!

  • Mazon Creek Fossils Will Be Sold at General Meeting

    5 flats of opened but uncleaned fossils along with 7 bags of unopened concretions (each bag would fill a small flat) will be available for sale at the General Meeting this Friday.

    Read more: Mazon Creek Fossils Will Be Sold at General Meeting

  • New Mineral Found In Australia

    Via Science News: The new mineral is named putnisite after Drs Christine and Andrew Putnis from the University of Münster, Germany, for their outstanding contributions to mineralogy. Putnisite occurs as isolated pseudocubic crystals, up to 0.5 mm in diameter, and is associated with quartz and a near amorphous Cr silicate. It is translucent, with a pink streak and vitreous lustre. It is brittle and shows one excellent and two good cleavages parallel to {100}, {010} and {001}. “What defines a mineral is its chemistry and crystallography. By x-raying a single crystal of mineral you are able to determine its crystal…

    Read more: New Mineral Found In Australia

  • Good Radio Interview About TRex at Smithsonian

    http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/04/22/montana-t-rex-smithsonian Tom Ashbrook interviews a number of people about the new Tyrannosaurus Rex at the Smithsonian and talks about its home – pre-historic Montana – and the age when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. John Horner, curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies. Professor at Montana State University. (@dinodetective) Paul Sereno, paleontologist and professor at the University of Chicago. Explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society. Mark Tarner, amateur paleontologist. President of the South Bend Chocolate Company.

    Read more: Good Radio Interview About TRex at Smithsonian
  • St. Paul Trip Cancelled for May 2, 2014

    St. Paul Trip Cancelled for May 2, 2014

    The St. Paul trip for May 2 has been canceled. The crushers have arrived and the quarry will be unavailable for months.

    Read more: St. Paul Trip Cancelled for May 2, 2014

  • CGMA Show Coming Up – May 24 – 25, 2014!

    Chicagoland Gem and Mineral Association Saturday, May 24, 2014 10am – 6pmSunday, May 25, 2014 10am – 5pm Adults – $5.00Seniors- $3.00Students (13-17) – $3.00Children (Under 13) Free FREE PARKINGINDOORS – AIR CONDITIONED – FOOD AVAILABLE Camping Available – Call (630) 377-0197 nationally-known dealers, demonstrations,  exhibits, lapidary arts, jewelry exhibits, faceting, cabochon cutting, polishing gemstones, silversmithing, beading, wire wrapping, geode splitting, a silent auction, childrens’ rock area – and jewelry repair – will all be available! Download 2014_Flyer_full_page Chicagoland Gem and Mineral Association web site

    Read more: CGMA Show Coming Up – May 24 – 25, 2014!

  • Miner Safety Training, 5/3/2014

    Miner Safety Training, May 3, 2014 at 9:00 am EST( 8:00 CST) Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wall & 29th St, South Bend, Indiana. $ 15, plus $ 15 more for the book if you don’t have one. Indiana Toll Road to exit 72. South on US 31/20 bypass to SR 2. East (to South Bend) to Mayfower. Left on Sample St. Stay on Sample through South Bend. Right after you cross the St. Joe River, exit onto Mishawaka Ave. Go to 29th St., Turn left 1 block.www.MichianaGMS.org

    Read more: Miner Safety Training, 5/3/2014
  • ESCONI Field Trip to Mazon Creek, May 17 & 18, 2014

    ESCONI Field Trip to Mazon Creek, May 17 & 18, 2014

    Meet at 8:00 A.M. Saturday at the BP Amoco in Coal City. No Age Limit.  Hard Hats not required.  Take I-55 to Exit 236 (Coal City).  Take a right onto Highway 113 (Division Street).  Go west to Broadway Street and Division in Coal City. We will be collecting Mazon Creek concretions from an old spoil pile on private property. Need to be an ESCONI member.  Hard hats are not required.  Boots are recommended.  An Estwing rock hammer is the best tool. A small shovel or pick is helpful.  Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs, extra clothes (you will get wet and muddy)…

    Read more: ESCONI Field Trip to Mazon Creek, May 17 & 18, 2014