Interesting blog –  GREEN TEA AND VELOCIRAPTORS

From Geology.com: Are rock glaciers a mass of moving ice covered with a surface of rocks or are they a mass of rocks with interstitial ice? The collapse of a rock glacier in Colorado reveals the truth – at least for this rock glacier.

Via Sci News: The combined uranium/thorium/helium dating of minerals from the bottom of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the United States, indicates it was largely carved out by about 70 million years ago.

Via Examiner: Professor Gao Xing from the Laboratory of Human Evolution, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dr. Peng Fei. Postdoctoral Research Fellow of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported the discovery and verification of the first non-organic Paleolithic engraved artifact ever found in China in the Chinese Science Bulletin on November 29, 2012. The artifact came from Locality 1 of the Shuidonggou Paleolithic site. The markings were first observed but not noted as significant by French archaeologist Henry Breuil.

If you are interested in collecting fossils, minerals, crystals, agates and artifacts while experiencing some of the most breath-taking countryside and wonderfully hospitable cultures — then this ZRS Guided Adventure to exotic Morocco is right up your alley!  We at ZRS have a few openings still available for our new route scheduled for May 7th – 21st. During our ZRS Moroccan Collecting Adventures participants spend thirteen to sixteen active days immersed in delightful experiences ranging from visits to the enchanting cities of Marrakech and Rabat — as well as touring quaint southern villages and visiting remarkable Berber families in their goat-hair…

Via LatinoPost: (hat tip Floyd) New evidence from a recently-published scientific study indicates that humans started crafting stone-tipped weapons 200,000 years earlier than previously believed.  A team of scientists that included researchers from Arizona State University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Cape Town have uncovered signs of hafting, or the art of attaching a stone tip to a spear, at an archaeological site in South Africa called Kathu Pan 1. Hafting was a significant advancement in human weaponry and hunting since it made spears more lethal and durable.  “There is a reason that modern bow-hunters tip their…

Via Geology.com: Just as the energy industry needs to fill an enormous number of new jobs in the shale plays, the baby boomers start to retire.  

Via Science Daily (hat tip – Dave at the ESCONI Discussion Group) ScienceDaily (Oct. 23, 2012) — A team of researchers from North Carolina State University and the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) has found more evidence for the preservation of ancient dinosaur proteins, including reactivity to antibodies that target specific proteins normally found in bone cells of vertebrates. These results further rule out sample contamination, and help solidify the case for preservation of cells — and possibly DNA — in ancient remains.

Via Yahoo ESCONI Discussion Group from Science: Scientists have named a new species of horned dinosaur (ceratopsian) from Alberta, Canada. Xenoceratops foremostensis (Zee-NO-Sare-ah-tops) was identified from fossils originally collected in 1958. Approximately 20 feet long and weighing more than 2 tons, the newly identified plant-eating dinosaur represents the oldest known large-bodied horned dinosaur from Canada.

On November 10, join Burpee Museum, as they open the newest exhibit about the fossil fish (and other fauna) of the 50 million year old Fossil Lake member of the Green River formation. The exhibit features specimens found at our newest quarry, the Kemmerer-Burpee Quarry, in Kemmerer, Wyoming as well as specimens found at some of the most prominent and longest worked fossil quarries in North America.  Burpee has a blog that talks and shows the latest on their preparation of Green River fossils – it is called, No Stone Unturned.

From The Khyber Mineral Company (the owner is an ESCONI member): In the few months since my last update dedicated to Inner Mongolia, there have been some new finds–notably better lollingite, and more colorless fluorite.  I also managed to obtain a group of yellow sphalerites (most of the original pocket, I believe) from the early 2012 find mentioned in the Mineralogical Record. There are also some recently found pink fluorites (some are floaters with exceptional color!) as well as the elusive purple fluorites.  Those with the deeper color are older– from a find made early in 2012.  The lighter colored …

Via Geology.com: Archaeologists working near Mossel Bay, South Africa have found small stone tools with an estimated age of 71,000 years. Prior to this, the earliest tools found have an age of about 65,000 years.

Short video on the fluoresent minerals at the Frankling and Sterling Hills Museum as well as other information about the local mineral museum, the JMU Mineral Museum in Memorial Hall, The Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society is the local society.

From Science Daily via Geology.com: ScienceDaily (Nov. 5, 2012) — Not very long ago a professional geologist’s field kit consisted of a Brunton compass, rock hammer, magnifying glass, and field notebook. No longer. In the field and in the labs and classrooms, studying Earth has undergone an explosive change in recent years, fueled by technological leaps in handheld digital devices, especially tablet computers and cameras.