Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois

Calendar of Events

ESCONI At PaleoFest

We are at PaleoFest at Burpee. Come on out!
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Calendar of Events

ESCONI Events March 2017

Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings! Sat, March 11th ESCONI Minerology Study Group Meeting 7:30 PM College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: Annual Mineral Identification Contest; Bring 3 unlabeled specimens and 4 labels Sat, March 25th ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show! For info see this page Sun, March 26th ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show! For info see this page ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting 7:30 PM College of Dupage – No Meeting ESCONI Archaeology Study Group Meeting – Open at this time, seeking a…
Read more: ESCONI Events March 2017
Calendar of Events

Reminder: Burpee Museum: Paleofest 2017 March 4th and 5th, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Burpee Museum’s annual PaleoFest 2017 will be held on March 4th and 5th this year. The keynote speaker is Matthew Lamanna PhD., from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. His talk is called “From Egypt to Antarctica: Discovering New Dinosaurs in the Southern Continents”. Roughly 150 million years ago, during the middle of the Mesozoic Era (the ‘Age of Dinosaurs’), the all-encompassing supercontinent of Pangaea split into a northern half, called Laurasia, and a southern half, called Gondwana. Gondwana itself ultimately separated into all the major Southern Hemisphere landmasses we know today—South America, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica—with several important events…
Read more: Reminder: Burpee Museum: Paleofest 2017 March 4th and 5th, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Calendar of Events

Dr. Ken Angielczyk of the Field Museum will be the May 2017 General Meeting Speaker

The speaker for the May general meeting will be Dr. Ken Angielczyk, Associate Curator at the Field Museum. His program will center on his field work in locations such as Antarctica, Tanzania and South Africa recovering fossils of anomodont therapsids, an extinct clade of non-mammalian synapsids (“mammal-like reptiles”).
Read more: Dr. Ken Angielczyk of the Field Museum will be the May 2017 General Meeting Speaker
Around the Web

MinuteEarth: Why Did T Rex Have Such Tiny Arms?

MinuteEarth on YouTube has a neat little video about T Rex and it’s tiny arms. Enjoy!
Read more: MinuteEarth: Why Did T Rex Have Such Tiny Arms?
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400 million year old gigantic extinct monster worm discovered in Canadian museum

Phys.org has a post about a gigantic worm which lived about 400 million years ago. The fossil species was discovered back in 1994 by Derek K Armstrong of the Ontario Geologic Survey. He had been dropped by helicopter to investigate the rocks and fossils in a remote and temporary exposure in Ontario. The species has been named Websteroprion armstrong, which honors Armstrong and Alex Webster of the Death Metal band Cannabal Corpse (he is regarded as a ‘giant’ in handling his instrument). The animal possessed the largest jaws ever recorded in this type of creature. The jaws were over one…
Read more: 400 million year old gigantic extinct monster worm discovered in Canadian museum
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‘Tully monster’ mystery is far from solved, group argues

Phys.org has a story about our friend the Tullymonster. Recall that last year there was quite a bit of discussion about the classification of the Illinois State Fossil. Two independent groups of scientist published paper last Spring, one claiming that it was a vertebrate and one even claimed it to be a primitive lamprey. Now a group of paleobiologists led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Laren Sallen, say all that research was wrong. The original paper is open access and appears in the Journal Paleontology. “This animal doesn’t fit easy classification because it’s so weird,” said Sallan, an assistant professor…
Read more: ‘Tully monster’ mystery is far from solved, group argues
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Earth has an 8th continent

LiveScience has a story about a 8th hidden continent on our planet. It’s called Zealandia and only a small part of it, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and a few other specks of land, are above sea level. The eighth, a lost continent called Zealandia, isn’t a huge landmass that geographers have somehow missed. Rather, only small bits — including New Zealand, New Caledonia and a few other specks of land in the vast Pacific Ocean — are above sea level. The rest of this continent lies beneath the waves, a new study suggests “I hope Zealandia will now start to…
Read more: Earth has an 8th continent
Uncategorized

(broken links) #DayOfFacts

On Twitter, Friday February 17th, 2017 was a #DayOfFacts. Check out the video from the Field Museum. There’s more at #DayOfFacts. Enjoy!
Read more: (broken links) #DayOfFacts
Calendar of Events

Warehouse Work Day – Saturday, February 18th, 2017, 9:00 – 2:00

Sorry for the late notice. If you have some time, come join our work day at the warehouse on Saturday, February 18th, 2017 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
Read more: Warehouse Work Day – Saturday, February 18th, 2017, 9:00 – 2:00
Calendar of Events

Happy Darwin Day 2017

Today is Charles Darwin’s Birthday. He was born on February 12th, 1809, which incidentally is also Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Go to darwinday.org or Facebook/DarwinDay to find celebrations in your area.
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Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) of 2009 Issues In a Nutshell

It’s down to the wire. Comments on the DOI (BLM) proposed PRPA rules will only be accepted until Monday, February 6th, 2017. Here are the issues in a nutshell: 1 “Casual collecting” is too restrictive 2 “Common” is not defined, and it should be noted that only scientifically valuable specimens are what PRPA intend should be in repositories, not specific taxa. All non-vertebrates s/b considered common until otherwise stated 3 “Reasonable amount” that can be casually collected is too restrictive 4 “Negligible disturbance” guidelines are too restrictive and should just be equated to “low impact” activity 5 “Research” should be allowed on casually collected specimens 6 …
Read more: Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) of 2009 Issues In a Nutshell
Calendar of Events

ESCONI Events February 2017

Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings! Fri, Feb 10th ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 PM College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “An examination of a historic collection of hadrosaur material from the San Juan Ba-sin, New Mexico” by Dr. Merrilee Guenther, Associate Professor at Elmhurst College Sat, Feb 11th ESCONI Minerology Study Group Meeting 7:30 PM College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: Continuation of the agate program; Bring in your agates for display and to be photographed Sat, Feb 18th ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting…
Read more: ESCONI Events February 2017
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The February 2017 General Meeting is “An examination of a historic collection of hadrosaurid dinosaur material from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico”

The program at the next ESCONI general meeting (Feb 10 at 8 PM TEC 1038B at COD) will be “An examination of a historic collection of hadrosaurid dinosaur material from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico” by Dr. Merrilee Guenther of Elmhurst College. Come out and join us for an interesting night!
Read more: The February 2017 General Meeting is “An examination of a historic collection of hadrosaurid dinosaur material from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico”
Calendar of Events

MSHA Training and Certification Class – February 11th and 12th, 2017 in Janesville, WI

An MSHA training and certification class is being held February 11th and 12th, 2017 in Janesville, WI. The class will run 10 to 12 hours each day and the cost is approximately $100 (depends on how many sign up, so figure ~$110). The location is the Mystic Moraine Minerals Shop, 13 N Academy St, Janesville, WI. Certification in subsequent years would only require a “refresher” course at a cost of $8 to $15. For more information contact Deb Wehinger (Badger Lapidary and Geological Society) at jdrules3@gmail.com
Read more: MSHA Training and Certification Class – February 11th and 12th, 2017 in Janesville, WI
Around the Web

The End of Petrified Wood Collecting on Public Lands?

SaveFossilCollecting has a post about the new proposed fossil collecting regulations on public lands. The article does a good job explaining the issue. Additionally, there are other informative posts on the website. Petrified wood represents a stone of unique interest in the hearts and minds of the many collectors found in virtually every part of the world. It is prized both as a gemstone by lapidary and jewelry artists, and as a fossil by amateurs and professionals alike. The most prized specimens are highly silicified and easily polished into magnificent display pieces. Many texts have been published for the petrified…
Read more: The End of Petrified Wood Collecting on Public Lands?
Calendar of Events

2017 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 25th and March 26th

Saturday, March 25th – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, March 26th – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking! Exploreyour interests Shop for jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors List to Follow Soon, Stay tuned! Find unique and interesting books at the used book sale Learn from members of club demonstrating their hobbies and collections Bid and buy gems, minerals and fossils at the Silent Auction and Live Auctions(photos of some items will be posted on website a week before show) Enjoy amazing displays from the Field Museum & Lizzadro Museum Winan amazing earth-science related prize in…
Read more: 2017 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 25th and March 26th
Calendar of Events

Happy Birthday Roy Chapman Andrews!

The American Museum of Natural History has a post celebrating the birthday of Roy Chapman Andrews. He was born on January 26th, 1884 and would be 133 years old today. He was an American explorer, adventurer, and naturalist and is thought to be the inspiration for Indiana Jones. He led a series of expeditions to China in the 1920s, which led to the discovery of the first-known fossil dinosaur eggs.
Read more: Happy Birthday Roy Chapman Andrews!
Calendar of Events

Field Museum: Meteorites! Opening January 26th, 2017

METEORITES! Official Opening Day: Thursday, January 26th! Come check it out at any time! Where do meteorites come from? What are they made of? What happens when they fall to Earth? This stunning new display at The Field Museum asks all of these questions and gives you a closer look at actual meteorites from our vast behind-the-scenes collection that scientists work with every day, identifying the origins of these objects and uncovering the secrets they tell us about our universe.
Read more: Field Museum: Meteorites! Opening January 26th, 2017
Calendar of Events, ESCONI Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show

2017 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 25th and March 26th

It will be here before you know it! Saturday, March 25th – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, March 26th – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking! Exploreyour interests Shop for jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors List to Follow Soon, Stay tuned! Find unique and interesting books at the used book sale Learn from members of club demonstrating their hobbies and collections Bid and buy gems, minerals and fossils at the Silent Auction and Live Auctions(photos of some items will be posted on website a week before show) Enjoy amazing displays from the Field Museum…
Read more: 2017 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 25th and March 26th

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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