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Happy National Fossil Day!
Read more: Happy National Fossil Day!Today is National Fossil Day! The day was created by the National Park Service to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils. The official website has some events for Illinois, which includes ESCONI’s own “Best Fossil Contest” to be held this Saturday, October 17, 2015. Come out and enjoy the fun!
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10 Terrific Facts About Trilobites
Read more: 10 Terrific Facts About TrilobitesMental Floss has a post about trilobites. Trilobites were arthropods. they existed on earth from the lower Cambrian to the Permian mass extinction, that’s about 300 million years. Over 20,000 species have been described. And more new ones are added to the list every year. Ohio (Isotelus), Wisconsin (Calymene celebra), and Pennsylvannia (Phacops rana) have trilobites designated as their state fossil. They are one of the most common favorites and are collected by many. If you go to the right place, you can collect them yourself… For more information visit www.trilobites.info.
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Field Trip: St. Paul, IN on October 23, 2015
Read more: Field Trip: St. Paul, IN on October 23, 2015The ESCONI club will have a members only field trip to the St. Paul Quarry on October 23, 2015. We will meet at the quarry office at 8:45 am (Eastern Time) to sign waivers and enter the quarry at approx. 9:00 am. The following requirements must be met: 1. Paid member of ESCONI by or on October 17, 2015. 2. At least 18 years of age (quarry rules) 3. Hard hat to be worn at all times in the quarry. 4. Hard, sturdy shoes required–no open toed sandals, tennis, or street shoes will be allowed. 5. Long pants will be required,…
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Tiny ancient fossil from Spain shows birds flew over the heads of dinosaurs
Read more: Tiny ancient fossil from Spain shows birds flew over the heads of dinosaursScienceDaily has a piece 125 million year old birds. The new discovery from central Spain is an exceptionally preserved wing from a bird that flew over the heads of dinosaurs during the Cretaceous. Besides the bones, the wing fossil preserves details of the complex network of muscles that allow modern birds to control their flight. The source paper appeared in Nature’s Scientific Reports. An international team of Spanish paleontologists and NHM’s Director of the Dinosaur Institute, Dr. Luis M. Chiappe, studied the exceptionally preserved wing of a 125-million-year-old bird from central Spain. Beyond the bones preserved in the fossil, the tiny…
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ESCONI Events October 2015
Read more: ESCONI Events October 2015Fri, Oct 9 ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “Field Collecting and Preparation Techniques” by Connie Vanbeek of the Field Museum Sat, Oct 10 Field Trip – State Street Quarry in Rockford, IL, See this link for details. Sat, Oct 10 ESCONI Mineralogy Meeting 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “Rubies and Sapphires” Fri, Oct16 ESCONI Archaeology Study Group Meeting, ESCONI Archaeology Study Group Meeting, To be announced Sat, Oct 17 ESCONI Paleontology Study Group Meeting, 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage – Tech…
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Amid budget fight, Illinois State Museum prepares to close
Read more: Amid budget fight, Illinois State Museum prepares to closeScience Magazine has a story about the closure of the Illinois State Museum, which is due to the political battle over the budget in Springfield. The website is still up, but the facilities did close on October 1st. The closure will save the state 4.8 million of a 4 billion dollar budget hole. Last year, the museum generated 33 million dollars in tourist revenue. Last week paleoecologist Eric Grimm, the director of science at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, rented an 8-meter-long truck, bought $500 worth of lumber, and built temporary shelves in the back. Then, with the help…
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Saturday Oct. 10th: Celebrate National Fossil Day at the Burpee Museum of Natural History
Read more: Saturday Oct. 10th: Celebrate National Fossil Day at the Burpee Museum of Natural HistoryCelebrate National Fossil Day w/Burpee Museum of Natural History on Saturday Oct. 10th . National Fossil Day is a celebration organized by the National Park service to promote public awareness & stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of the scientific and educational values. Burpee has many exclusive activities for the event including- 1) Five special paleo-exhibitors that will showcase: local fossil collections, 3D scanning techniques, key specimens from the Burpee Collection & more 2) The 1st 150 kids who visit all the exhibit stations will receive assorted fossil shark teeth so they can start their…
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National Fossil Day 2015: ESCONI Best Fossil Competition on Saturday, October 17th
Read more: National Fossil Day 2015: ESCONI Best Fossil Competition on Saturday, October 17thAt the Paleontology Study Group Meeting on October 17th, 2015, ESCONI will hold our first ever Best Fossil Competition. Come on out for a night of fossils! There were be many local experts to help identify what you’ve brought and then enter it in the Best Fossil Competition. Here are the ESCONI Best Fossil Rules for 2015: 1. 3 classes: vertebrate, invertebrate, plant. First, second and third place in each class will be selected.2. Specimens can be from any geologic age as long as it is a fossil.3. Do not need to be an ESCONI member to enter.4. One entry per…
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Field Trip: State Street Quarry in Rockford on October 10, 2015
Read more: Field Trip: State Street Quarry in Rockford on October 10, 2015There will be an ESCONI Field Trip to the State Street Quarry in Rockford on October 10, 2015. Rules are as follows: 1. Must be an ESCONI member as of October 3, 2015. 2. Must be at least 18 years of age. 3. Starts at 9 AM and ends at 12 noon. 4. A group from the Rock Valley Gem and Mineral Society will also be there, so the size of our group is limited to 15. 5. Sign up by sending me (Dave) an email at fossil54@att.net with the number of ESCONI members…
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Updated ESCONI Library Books and Videos
Read more: Updated ESCONI Library Books and VideosESCONI has a library of books and videos about the earth sciences. The ESCONI library now contains 660 items. From dinosaurs to Native Americans to the geology under our feet, there’s a ton of great material. The Complete Dinosaur Farlow & Brett-Surman (ed.) 1997The Complete T. Rex (softcover, signed by Horner & Lessem) Horner & Lessem 1993Ammonites and the Other Cephalopods of the Pierre Seaway Larson, Jorgensen, Farrar, Larson 1997Gem Trails of Colorado Mitchell, James R. 1992American Indian Ways of Life, Illinois State Museum, No. 9 Deuel, Thorne 1958 And many, many, more… Download ESCONI 2021 Library To borrow a book/video, contact Andrew Jansen,…
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Reminder: Field Trip to Braceville, IL September 26-27, 2015
Read more: Reminder: Field Trip to Braceville, IL September 26-27, 2015Collecting Mazon Creek Fossils on private property. Meet at 8:00 A.M. Saturday or Sunday at the BP Amoco in Coal City. No Age Limit. Hard Hats not required. Take I-55 to Exit 236 (Coal City). Take a right onto Highway 113 (Division Street). Go west to Broadway Street and Division in Coal City. We will be collecting Mazon Creek concretions from an old spoil pile on private property. Hard hats are not required. Boots are recommended. An Estwing rock hammer is the best tool. A small shovel or pick is helpful. Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs, extra clothes (you will…
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myFOSSIL Project Newsletter for September 2015
Read more: myFOSSIL Project Newsletter for September 2015The September issue of myFOSSIL Project Newsletter is available here. It includes: The Paleontological Society Would Like to Hear from You by Arnold Miller Featured Paleontologist: Anthony Martin Club Corner: Dallas Paleontological Society by Roger Farish, Lee Higgenbotham, & Rocky Manning Featured Fossil: Mesohippus Mandible by Rachel Narducci & Megan Higbee Hendrickson 5th Annual National Fossil Day Zooniverse: Search for Fossils from the Comfort of Home Amateur Spotlight: George H. Junne, Jr., with commentary by Jon Bloch Education: Atlas of Ancient Life Research: The “Terror Bird:” Paleobiology of a Fierce Bird And much, much, more!
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Paleontology Study Group: Show and Tell!
Read more: Paleontology Study Group: Show and Tell!Tonight at 7:30 College of Dupage – Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map) – Topic: “Show and Tell” Come on out, bring your fossils and your stories!
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CBC Quirks & Quarks – Ankylosaurs’ Tail Had a Wicked End
Read more: CBC Quirks & Quarks – Ankylosaurs’ Tail Had a Wicked EndZiapelta, an ankylosaur with a fully developed tail club. (Artist: Sydney Mohr) Quirks & Quarks as a segment about Ankylosaurs. They were plant-eating dinosaurs with full body armour and a large club-like tail. There is evidence that it was used to battle other Ankylosaurs and probably provided some protection from predators. Dr Victoria Aubour, a Canadian Post-doctoral researcher at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, is interview about her paper on the evolution of the tail structure. Her original paper appeared in the Journal of Anatomy. Other interesting segments include: Homo naledi – New Species of Human Relative Plastics –…
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ESCONI Code of Ethics
Read more: ESCONI Code of EthicsRecently a “Code of Ethics” was considered and approved by the ESCONI board. Just in case you haven’t noticed, it’s hard to find places for field trips. If we can all follow some basic rules of courtesy, it might help us maintain our current relationships and find some new ones. Here is the “ESCONI Code of Ethics and Conduct”.
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National Fossil Day 2015
Read more: National Fossil Day 2015National Fossil Day 2015 is just around the corner on October 14th, 2015. All the details are on the "National Fossil Day" website. There are many events planned. ESCONI is considering various ideas as October 9th is the General Meeting and October 17th is the Paleontology Study Group meeting. Come out and celebrate!
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Homo naledi: new species of ancient human discovered, claim scientists
Read more: Homo naledi: new species of ancient human discovered, claim scientistsCredit John Hawks/University of Wisconsin-Madison, via European Pressphoto Agency The Guardian has a story about the recent discovery of new ancient human fossils. The bones were found in a deep narrow cave in South Africa. They are believed to be part of a new species of Homo, Homo naledi. National Geographic has a video that describes the find in detail. Additionally, Nova has a special, “Dawn of Humanity”, which appears on PBS on Sept 16th, 2015, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The original paper was published in the journal eLIFE.
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Fossil, Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show at Prairie State College Oct. 17 and 18
Read more: Fossil, Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show at Prairie State College Oct. 17 and 18The Prairie State College (PSC) Natural Science Department is hosting the South Suburban Earth Science Club Fossil, Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, in the Prairie Center Gym on PSC’s main campus at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights. The event is co-sponsored by the South Suburban Earth Science Club (SSESC). The annual show is an opportunity for gem and fossil enthusiasts to meet the experts, get a close look at the latest finds, learn about the geological history of the area, and purchase rare gems, fossils…
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Unexpected Step: Snake Ancestor Had Four Feet
Read more: Unexpected Step: Snake Ancestor Had Four FeetLivescience has a story about the oldest snake fossil. It doesn’t look too different from a modern snake, except… it has four legs! Named Tetrapodophis amplectus (literally, four-legged snake), it lived about 120 million years ago in what is now Brazil. The fossil was discovered in an exhibit of specimens from the Crato Formation by David Martill, a professor of paleobiology at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. The original paper appeared in the jounal Science. Previous research has detailed two-legged snake fossils, but this is the first known snake ancestor to sport four legs, he said. It likely…
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Reminder: Rock and Mineral Swap Meet, Rockford, IL on September 12th, 2015
Read more: Reminder: Rock and Mineral Swap Meet, Rockford, IL on September 12th, 2015There is a rock and mineral swap meet in Rockford, IL on September 12th, 2015. The event will be held at 6219 Forest Hills Road, Rockford, Illinois. Admission is free, $20 space donation for 10×10 booth. Contact John Wood 815-978-6960 gotwood63@gmail.com for more information. Bring it, swap it, buy it and sell it!
ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show
Most Recent Post
- PBS Eons: How Dinosaurs May Have Cursed Us With Aging
PBS Eons has a new episode. This one is about how aging in mammals might be due to evolved traits while we lived alongside dinosaurs.
- About ESCONI
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- Calendar of Events
- Code of Ethics and Conduct
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- ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show
- ESCONI in the News
- ESCONI Videos
- Field Trips
- Flashback Friday
- Fossil Friday
- Mazon Creek
- Mazon Monday
- Member Spotlight
- Membership Information
- Reference Material
- Throwback Thursday
- Trilobite Tuesday
Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings!
| Friday, May 2nd | Field Trip to Danville, IL. Details here. |
| Friday, May 8th | General Meeting – 8:00 PM via Zoom. Thomas Loebel will present “Seeing Beneath the Ground: Geophysics and Archaeological Explorations in Illinois”. |
| Saturday, May 9th | Junior Study Group Meeting – 2:00 PM, in person at the College of DuPage Technical Education Center (TEC) Building – Room 1038A (Map). “The Rock Cycle and Sedimentation” Specifics of this meeting are available from Scott Galloway, 630-670-2591, gallowayscottf@gmail.com. |
| Saturday, May 16th | Paleontology Study Group – 7:30 PM via Zoom. John Catalani will present “An Ordovician Konzentrat Lagerstätte: The Dixon Mifflin Residuum Fauna”. |
| Saturday, May 23rd | CGMA Show, Kane County Fairgrounds |
| Sunday, May 24th | CGMA Show, Kane County Fairgrounds |
| Saturday, May 30th | Field Trip to Braceville, IL. Details here. |
| Sunday, May 31st | Field Trip to Braceville, IL. Details here. |
| No meeting this month | Mineralogy Study Group |