Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois

Calendar of Events, ESCONI Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show

2019 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 23rd and March 24th

Saturday, March 23rd – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, March 24th – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking! Exploreyour interests Shopfor jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors List to Follow Soon, Stay tuned! Findunique and interesting books at the used book sale Learnfrom members of club demonstrating their hobbies and collections Bid and buygems, minerals and fossils at theSilent Auctionand Live Auctions(photos of some items will be posted on website a week before show) Enjoyamazing displays from theField Museum & Lizzadro Museum Winan amazing earth-science related prize in the hourly raffle if your ticket chosen AND…
Read more: 2019 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 23rd and March 24th
Calendar of Events

Reminder: ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting, Saturday, February 16rd, 2019, 7:30 PM

The ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting for February is on February 16th, 2019 at 7:30 PM. The topic is the movie “Dinosaur 13”, which is about the discovery of Sue the T-rex at the Field Museum. We might also review the Sue talk/discussion from January. Come on out and join us for some good discussion!
Read more: Reminder: ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting, Saturday, February 16rd, 2019, 7:30 PM
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Happy Darwin Day!

Today is Charles Darwin’s 210th birthday. The Darwin Day website has all the details. There are many events planned, have a look here.
Read more: Happy Darwin Day!
Calendar of Events

2019 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 23th and March 24th

Saturday, March 23th – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, March 24 th – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking! Exploreyour interests Shopfor jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors List to Follow Soon, Stay tuned! Findunique and interesting books at the used book sale Learnfrom members of club demonstrating their hobbies and collections Bid and buygems, minerals and fossils at theSilent Auctionand Live Auctions(photos of some items will be posted on website a week before show) Enjoyamazing displays from theField Museum & Lizzadro Museum Winan amazing earth-science related prize in the hourly raffle if your ticket chosen…
Read more: 2019 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 23th and March 24th
Calendar of Events

Save the Date! The 2019 ESCONI Show be held on March 23rd and 24th, 2019.

Save the Date! The 2019 ESCONI Show be held on March 23rd and 24th, 2019. Details are here!
Read more: Save the Date! The 2019 ESCONI Show be held on March 23rd and 24th, 2019.
Calendar of Events

CCPLD: Diamond Mine Disaster 136th Anniversary Talk by Michele Micetich on February 16th, 2019.

On February 16th 2019, the Coal City Public Library District will host a talk by Michele Micetich, of the Carbon Hill School Museum in Carbon Hill, IL, about the Diamond Mine Disaster, which occurred 136 years ago on February 16th, 1883. This is one of the worst mining disasters ever in Illinois. There is a roadside monument to commemorate the disaster. Her presentation will feature past events, shared stories, and old pictures and artifacts. Refreshments will be served. The event will be held in a Meeting Room at the Coal City Public Library from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Read more: CCPLD: Diamond Mine Disaster 136th Anniversary Talk by Michele Micetich on February 16th, 2019.
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BBC: America colonization ‘cooled Earth’s climate’

The BBC has a post about the effect of the colonization of America on the environment. A study by scientists from the University College London, UK claim that the colonization at the end of the 15th century killed so many native Americans, it disturbed Earth’s climate. The paper by Alexander Koch and colleagues was published in Quaternary Science Reviews. The team says the disruption that followed European settlement led to a huge swathe of abandoned agricultural land being reclaimed by fast-growing trees and other vegetation. This pulled down enough carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere to eventually chill the…
Read more: BBC: America colonization ‘cooled Earth’s climate’
Calendar of Events

Reminder: ESCONI General Meeting on Friday, February 8th, 2019 – “People, Places and Prehistory: Reconstructing the Prehistoric Environment”

The title of the program at our February meeting is “People, Places and Prehistory: Reconstructing the Prehistoric Environment”, by Dr. Clare Tolmie of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey. Don’t miss it!
Read more: Reminder: ESCONI General Meeting on Friday, February 8th, 2019 – “People, Places and Prehistory: Reconstructing the Prehistoric Environment”
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Field Museum: These New Fossil Discoveries Show Why Evolution is the Coolest

The Field Museum blog has a post about three recent fossil discoveries
Read more: Field Museum: These New Fossil Discoveries Show Why Evolution is the Coolest
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Laelaps: Strange Fossil Filter Feeder Was an Ancient Survivor

Over on the Laelaps blog on National Geographic, there’s an interesting post about a new Anomalocaridids – “anomalous shrimp”. The group was named originally by Joseph Frederick Whiteaves, because he only had the front appendages. Much later, the rest of the body of the large arthropod was described by Conway Morris and Harry B. Whittington. This new species, Aegirocrassis benmoulae, was discovered as part of the so called Fezouata Biota in Morocco. It lived about 485 to 443 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. The whole story is in this paper in the journal Nature. Paleontologist Jakob Vinther pointed to a…
Read more: Laelaps: Strange Fossil Filter Feeder Was an Ancient Survivor
Calendar of Events

ESCONI Events February 2019

Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings! Fri, Feb 8th ESCONI Junior Meeting, 7:00 PM College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: Rock Identification Fri, Feb 8th ESCONI General Meeting, 8:00 PM College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “People, Places and Prehistory: Reconstructing the Prehistoric Environment” by Dr. Clare Tolmie Senior Research Archeologist with the Illinois State Archeological Survey Sat, Feb 16th ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting, 7:30 PM College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: Movie:…
Read more: ESCONI Events February 2019
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New Prehistoric Shark Species Discovered Alongside Sue the T. Rex Named for ESCONI’s Karen Nordquist

CREDIT: (C) VELIZAR SIMEONOVSKI, FIELD MUSEUM ESCONI member and past president Karen Nordquist was honored by having a shark named for her. The details are in this Smithsonian.com article. The freshwater shark Galagadon nordquistae lived alongside SUE the T. rex, about 67 million years ago. More information is in the press release from the AAAS. SUE the T. rex is the most famous fossil from the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota–the most complete skeleton ever discovered of the world’s most popular dinosaur. When Field Museum scientists removed the rock surrounding SUE’s bones twenty years ago, they kept the leftover…
Read more: New Prehistoric Shark Species Discovered Alongside Sue the T. Rex Named for ESCONI’s Karen Nordquist
Calendar of Events

MAPS: Mid-American Paleontology Society Annual Show – March 29th-31st

The Mid-American Paleontology Society (MAPS) will hold its 41st National Fossil EXPO on March 29th-31st, 2019. This is the largest fossil only show in the world. The topic this year is Trilobites and the keynote speaker is Dr. Jonathon Adrian of the University of Iowa. The keynote will be at 6:00 PM on Friday, March 29th, 2019. MAPS EXPO: Friday March 29: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday March 30: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday March 31: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Hotel Show: Wednesday March 27: 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm Thursday March 28: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday March 29:…
Read more: MAPS: Mid-American Paleontology Society Annual Show – March 29th-31st
Calendar of Events

Warehouse Work Day – Saturday, February 23rd, 2019, 9:00 – 1:00ish

If you have some time, come join our work day at the warehouse on Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 from 9:00-1:00ish. The warehouse address is 900 Knell in Montgomery, IL. Please meet/enter in the back of the warehouse ONLY. You will see railroad tracks along the back of the warehouse. Drive all the way to the end in the back. For more information, contact Jim Fairchild at 1-630-497-9700 or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com
Read more: Warehouse Work Day – Saturday, February 23rd, 2019, 9:00 – 1:00ish
Calendar of Events

ESCONI General Meeting on Friday, February 8th, 2019 – “People, Places and Prehistory: Reconstructing the Prehistoric Environment”

The title of the program at our February meeting is “People, Places and Prehistory: Reconstructing the Prehistoric Environment”, by Dr. Clare Tolmie of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey. Don’t miss it!
Read more: ESCONI General Meeting on Friday, February 8th, 2019 – “People, Places and Prehistory: Reconstructing the Prehistoric Environment”
Calendar of Events

Chicago Rocks Announces 70th Annual Silent Auction, March 9th, 2019, 6 – 9 PM

Chicago Rocks & Minerals Society Hosts 70th Annual Silent Auction of Rocks, Minerals, Fossils and Lapidary Treasures Saturday, March 9, 2019 6 to 9 p.m. St. Peter's United Church of Christ 8013 Laramie Ave., Skokie, IL (Across the street from the public library on Oakton) The first table closes at 6:30 p.m. There's something for everyone who has rocks on their mind: minerals, fossils, crystals, geodes, gemstones, handmade jewelry, rough rock, books, magazines, and lapidary treasures galore. The variety is amazing. Families are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. Free admission. Free parking. For…
Read more: Chicago Rocks Announces 70th Annual Silent Auction, March 9th, 2019, 6 – 9 PM
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Sparkly, opal-filled fossils reveal new dinosaur species

National Geographic has a story about an opalized dinosaur fossil discovered in Australia’s Lightning Ridge. The fossils were found from a mine near Wee Warra in New South Wales and belong to a newly named dinosaur species called Weewarrasaurus pobeni. The animal was a herbivore about the size of a Labrador retriever. It lived about 100 million years ago in the mid-Cretaceous. The most striking feature of its skeleton is that its bones are made of opal. The bones were actually found in 2013 by Adelaide-based opal dealer Mike Poben. A full description can be found in this paper in…
Read more: Sparkly, opal-filled fossils reveal new dinosaur species
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PBS NOVA: The Day the Dinosaurs Died

PBS Nova has full video of the “The Day the Dinosaurs Died” episode on their website. It originally aired back in December 2017 and is a good one! 66 million years ago, a seven-mile-wide asteroid collided with Earth, triggering a chain of events that coincide with the end of the dinosaurs. But experts have long debated exactly what happened when the asteroid struck and how the giant beasts met their end. Now, scientists have uncovered compelling new clues about the catastrophe.
Read more: PBS NOVA: The Day the Dinosaurs Died
Calendar of Events

Reminder: ESCONI General Meeting on January 11th, 2019

The speaker at our January ESCONI general meeting will be Dr. Philip Carpenter from NIU. The topic of his talk is Northern Illinois earthquakes, and the recent induced seismicity in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Read more: Reminder: ESCONI General Meeting on January 11th, 2019
Calendar of Events

Reminder: ESCONI November Junior Meeting, Friday, January 11th, 2019 at 7:00 PM – Topic “Dinosaurs”

Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois Does your child love dinosaurs? Join us at our junior meeting!Friday January 11th 7pmCollege of DuPageTechnical Education Center West side room 1038BContact gallowayscottf@gmail.com with questionsfacebook.com/ESCONI.fb
Read more: Reminder: ESCONI November Junior Meeting, Friday, January 11th, 2019 at 7:00 PM – Topic “Dinosaurs”

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

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