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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #19: Fluorite and Sphalerite
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #19: Fluorite and SphaleriteWe 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
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #18: Lepidostrobus, sp. ConeHere’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?
Read more: 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
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #17: Wulfenite from YugoslaviaHow 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”
Read more: 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
Read more: Mazon Monday #313: Mazon Creek Studies – the first 120 yearsFor 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
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #16: Calamostachys ConeA 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
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #15: Macroneuropteris scheuchzeriFor 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
Read more: ESCONI at Burpee Museum’s PaleoFest ’26ESCONI 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 you next year!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #14: Aragonite from Ratanakiri Province, Thailand
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #14: Aragonite from Ratanakiri Province, ThailandHere 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…
Read more: 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 remember small things can come in small packages…
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Video for ESCONI February 2026 General Meeting – “Diggin’ Illinois: A hands-on introduction to the fascinating archaeological record of Illinois.”
Read more: 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 history, in addition to the materials archaeologists find during excavation. Altogether, this presentation will help celebrate Illinois’ past, in the present, for the future.
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Throwback Thursday #308: “Oh, do this rock for me”
Read more: 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”
Read more: 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
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #13: Hemimorphite from MexicoThis 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
Read more: “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 of years. Narrated by Academy Award–winner Morgan Freeman. Watch The Dinosaurs – only on Netflix, March 6. Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81612720
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #12: Crinoids from the Bangor Formation in Alabama
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #12: Crinoids from the Bangor Formation in AlabamaHere’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
Read more: Mazon Monday #312: Sigillaria tessellataSigillaria 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
Read more: 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #11: Smokey QuartzToday’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
Read more: Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026Des 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, silent auction, geode cutting, kids’ activities, and door prize drawings. Contact Connie Lavin at (815) 222-8197, email Nival48@hotmail.com or call Mike Hanley at (847) 525-2941.




















