Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois

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Behind a Shopping Center in New Jersey, Signs of a Mass Extinction

The New York Times has an interesting story about a unique fossil find in New Jersey. While there is much evidence pointing to an impact event that ended the “Age of Dinosaurs” 66 million years ago, no one has found a fossil deposit from the exact event. Behind a Lowe’s home improvement store in southern New Jersey, Kenneth J. Lacovara thinks he has found just that. Mr. Lacovara, a professor of paleontology and geology at nearby Rowan University calls the deposit a “mass death assemblage”. 66 million years ago, this site was under water, 10 to 15 miles off the…
Read more: Behind a Shopping Center in New Jersey, Signs of a Mass Extinction
Around the Web, Trilobite Tuesday

American Museum of Natural History: Trilobite of the Week 01/12/2016

The trilobite of the week from the American Museum of Natural History is Nanolichas parvus. It’s from the Upper Fezouata Formation of the lower Ordovician of Morocco. This guy was found in the Dra Valley, new Zagora, Morrocco. It measures about 6 cm.
Read more: American Museum of Natural History: Trilobite of the Week 01/12/2016
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PBS NOVA: “Life’s Rocky Start”

The next episode of PBS’s Nova is “Life’s Rocky Start”. It starts airing on January 13, 2016 at 9 PM on PBS. There’s a preview on the web and like their other shows, full episodes should be available online. Sounds like a good one, enjoy! Program Description: Four and a half billion years ago, the young Earth was a hellish place—a seething chaos of meteorite impacts, volcanoes belching noxious gases, and lightning flashing through a thin, torrid atmosphere. Then, in a process that has puzzled scientists for decades, life emerged. But how? NOVA joins mineralogist Robert Hazen as he journeys…
Read more: PBS NOVA: “Life’s Rocky Start”
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Support ESCONI with AmazonSmile

Support ESCONI Did you know you can support ESCONI by shopping at Amazon? Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to ESCONI whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you already know. Same products, same prices, same service. Support ESCONI by naming us as your charitable organization before shopping at smile.amazon.com. Click here to get started: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-6108589 The purpose of ESCONI (Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois) is to promote an interest in the earth sciences, among these are geology, paleontology, mineralogy, micromounting, and the lapidary arts. Thanks!
Read more: Support ESCONI with AmazonSmile
Calendar of Events

ESCONI January Mineral Study Group Cancelled

The ESCONI January Mineral Study Group meeting is canceled due to a winter weather storm advisory (3-6 inches of snow). We were planning to do a video.
Read more: ESCONI January Mineral Study Group Cancelled
Calendar of Events, ESCONI Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show

2016 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 5th and March 6th

Location – Saturday, March 5th – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, March 6th – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking ! Exploreyour interests Shop for jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors – Rock StarsRib RiverExclusive InspirationHell Creek DinosaursLavins Gems and JewelryMineral Miner KU Minerals 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…
Read more: 2016 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show March 5th and March 6th
Calendar of Events

Badger Rock Club 46th Annual Rock, Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show – Saturday, April 9th and Sunday, April 10th 2016

Badger Lapidary & Geological Society, 46th Annual, Rock, Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Show. Dates: Saturday, April 9th & Sunday, April 10th 2016. Hours: 9-5 Sat, 9-4 Sun Location: Monroe Senior High School, 1600 26th St., Monroe, WI 53566. Description: Ten dealers, excellent speakers, many beautiful club displays, lapidary demonstrations, club sales table, hourly door prizes, and educational films. Activities for kids: Fishpond, spinner game, scavenger hunt, quarry quest, rock polishing, and roving rock wizard. Food: Full Menu. Free Show – Free-will donation and free parking. Show Contact: Deb Wehinger, 708 W 2nd Ave, Brodhead, WI 53520; jdrules3@gmail.com Website: www.badgerrockclub.org
Read more: Badger Rock Club 46th Annual Rock, Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show – Saturday, April 9th and Sunday, April 10th 2016
Calendar of Events

2016 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show

Location – Saturday, March 5th – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, March 6th – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking ! Exploreyour interests Shop for jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors – Rock StarsRib RiverExclusive InspirationHell Creek DinosaursLavins Gems and JewelryMineral Miner KU Minerals 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…
Read more: 2016 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show
Calendar of Events

2016 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show

Location – Saturday, March 5th – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, March 6th – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admittance and parking ! Exploreyour interests Shop for jewelry, gems, fossils, minerals from world-class vendors – Rock StarsRib RiverExclusive InspirationHell Creek DinosaursLavins Gems and JewelryMineral Miner KU Minerals 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…
Read more: 2016 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show
Calendar of Events

ESCONI Events January 2016

Fri, Jan 8 ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “Mine Planning and Geologic Services” by Jill Downer of Vulcan Materials Corp. Sat, Jan 9 ESCONI Mineralogy Meeting – Canceled! Sat, Jan 16 ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting, 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic:“Receptaculites (Sunflower Coral)” by Tom Williams ESCONI Archaeology Study Group Meeting, 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Open at this time, seeking a chair
Read more: ESCONI Events January 2016
Calendar of Events

Warehouse Work Day Moved to January 16th, 2015

The warehouse work day has been moved to January 16th, 2015. We will be organizing our inventory for our annual show in March. Contact me (John Good) if you can make it – (630) 303-2352 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com.
Read more: Warehouse Work Day Moved to January 16th, 2015
Calendar of Events

Work Day at the Warehouse – Saturday, January 16th, 2016

There will be a work day at the warehouse on Saturday, January 16th, 2016 at 9:00 am, so as to get all the items ready for the annual show. We need your help in identifying and organizing inventory. Contact me (John Good) if you can make it – (630) 303-2352 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com.
Read more: Work Day at the Warehouse – Saturday, January 16th, 2016
Around the Web

American Museum of Natural History: Trilobite of the Week

Trigonocercella acuta from the Ordovician of Millard County, Utah, USA 2 cm
Read more: American Museum of Natural History: Trilobite of the Week
Around the Web

myFOSSIL Project Newsletter for December 2015

The myFOSSIL Project has their December 2015 issue up on their website. It has some interesting stories. Enjoy!
Read more: myFOSSIL Project Newsletter for December 2015
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Holiday Decorations

Nothing says Happy Holidays like a Brachiosaurus in full holiday regalia! This one is outside the Field Museum in Chicago, IL.
Read more: Holiday Decorations
Around the Web

Dinosaur Egg Candle “Hatches” When You Light It

Mental Floss has an interesting holiday gift idea for the dinosaurophile in your family. Pyropet has added new dinosaur egg candles that reveal cute baby raptors as the candle melts. It starts out as a six inch simple round candle. The product isn’t available yet, but is available for pre-order. Happy Holidays!
Read more: Dinosaur Egg Candle “Hatches” When You Light It
Uncategorized

Support ESCONI with AmazonSmile!

Support ESCONI Did you know you can support ESCONI by shopping at Amazon? Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to ESCONI whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you already know. Same products, same prices, same service. Support ESCONI by naming us as your charitable organization before shopping at smile.amazon.com. Click here to get started: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-6108589 The purpose of ESCONI (Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois) is to promote an interest in the earth sciences, among these are geology, paleontology, mineralogy, micromounting, and the lapidary arts. Thanks!
Read more: Support ESCONI with AmazonSmile!
Around the Web

Agriculture Linked to DNA Changes in Ancient Europe

A burial site of a neolithic culture found near Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. A rapidly growing supply of DNA from ancient skeletons is changing evolutionary history. CreditLDA Sachsen-Anhalt Carl Zimmer of the Matter blog at the NY Times has a piece on the agricultural revolution and how our DNA changed due to it. A recent study, which is the first of its kind, has found that agriculture arrived in Europe 8,500 years ago. The international team of researchers studied the ancient human DNA from bones and other physical remains, some of the material dated as far back as 45,000 years ago. “For…
Read more: Agriculture Linked to DNA Changes in Ancient Europe
Around the Web

Researchers just unearthed a lost island in the Aegean Sea

Quartz has a story about a lost island recently rediscovered in the Aegean Sea. The team of researchers from the German Archaeology Institute believe they have found the ancient lost city of Kane. Artifacts which were discovered on the submerged island were linked to the lost city. An ancient island where the Athenians and the Spartans battled in 406 BC has been discovered by an international group of geo-archaeologists. The scientists, led by researchers from the German Archaeology Institute, examined underground rock layers from an Aegean Sea peninsula near Bademli village in the western Izmir province of Turkey and discovered that it…
Read more: Researchers just unearthed a lost island in the Aegean Sea
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New dinosaur likened to ‘a turkey from hell’

This sketch drawn by Robert DePalma, curator of vertabrate paleontology at the Palm Beach Museum of Natural History, depicts the newly discovered species of raptor, Dakotaraptor.(Robert Depalma/The Associated Press) The Albuquerque Journal has a story about a new dinosaur described as a “turkey from hell”. The animal has been named Dakotaraptor steini. It was 6 feet tall at the hips and would have been an agile sprinter capable of reaching 30-40 MPH. It was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation and dates to about 66 million years ago. Oh, and by the way, the 17 foot long feathered dromeosaur had a 9 1/2…
Read more: New dinosaur likened to ‘a turkey from hell’

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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