Tag: fossil collecting
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Mazon Monday #325: Braceville Spring 2026 Field Trip Report
We held our spring Braceville field trip a few weeks ago. The weather was nearly perfect… partly cloudy with temperatures in the high 70’s and low 80’s each day.
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Wait, Is That Poison Ivy?
It’s that time of year again. You’re out working in the garden, or hiking through the woods, looking for fossils (of course!), and there it is… Poison Ivy! The New York Times had an article about poison ivy identification a few weeks ago. Hopefully, it will help you, so you don’t have to endure a…
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Throwback Thursday #314: Collecting from 1954
We are in the midst of the spring field trip season and this article by Roy Beghtol from the May 1954 edition of the ESCONI newsletter seemed appropriate.
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Ticks, Ticks, Ticks, Ticks, Ticks 2026!
You will probably be getting outside more soon looking for fossils, minerals, etc. in the woods, fields, and quarries. Or at least, that’s what we hope… after all, this is the ESCONI website. And, remember fossil collecting season opens up on March 1st at Mazonia South. However, thanks to our mild winter and that early…
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Collecting Echinoids (Sea Urchins) in North Jutland, Denmark
Today, we have an interesting guest post from long-time ESCONI member Marie Angkuw. Marie is part of the Lyme Regis Babes as John Catalani has named them. Marie, Rhonda Gates, Jann Bergsten, and Deborah Lovely have taken numerous trips to Europe to collect fossils. They’ve been to Lyme Regis (multiple times), Whitby, Yorkshire, and the…
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Mazon Monday #66: Video for June 2021 Paleontology Meeting – “Collecting Mazon Creek Fossils”
The topic of our Paleontology Study Group meeting was “Collecting Mazon Creek Fossils”. It was presented by ESCONI President Keith Robitschek. The presentation included State Park Links, Maps, Surface Collecting Concretions, Concretion Storage, Opening, Cleaning, and Care.
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Ticks, Ticks, Ticks, Ticks, Ticks 2021!
With temperatures in the 80’s, it’s time for our annual Tick post. It’s getting warm and late spring/early summer is the peak of tick season. With the nice weather, you will probably be spending more time outside looking for fossils, minerals, etc. in the woods, fields, and quarries. Or at least, that’s what we hope……
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Mazon Monday #61: Video for May Paleontology Meeting – “A Historical Perspective on Collecting Mazon Creek and Pit 11” by Peter Kruty
We are very excited to post the video of Peter Kruty’s presentation for the May 2021 Paleontology Meeting. The title of his talk was “A historical Perspective on Collecting Mazon Creek and Pit 11”. It was a very interesting presentation which was sure to bring back memories for long-time Mazon Creek collectors and instill a…
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Ticks, Ticks, Ticks, Ticks, Ticks 2020!
This post is a little late as we are fast approaching the peak of tick season. But, as the weather gets warmer (and hopefully, dryer), you will probably be spending more time outside looking for fossils, minerals, etc. in the woods, fields, and quarries. One creature you may encounter is a tick. Ticks are arthropods,…
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The Forgotten Paleontologist: A Commentary by Keith Robitschek
The discovery: Paleontological events are based on theory and evidence is required to prove that an event actually occurred. Today, the event that occurred sixty-six million years ago at the Yucatan peninsula has been proven through scientific research based on core samples at the impact site and iridium analyses in the K-Pg boundary that was…
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Smithsonian: How to Discover Dinosaurs
Over on Smithsonian.com, Hans-Dieter Sues has an article about finding dinosaurs. The article answers many of the what, where, and how kind. People always ask, “How do you know where to dig?” Well, first we have to find a dinosaur skeleton before we can dig it up. To collect dinosaurs requires careful planning. Unless they…
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ScienceFriday: A Day With Fossil Hunters
Science Friday has a post about fossil hunting in Utah. Here is the related audio for the story. A team from Science Friday ventured out into the dusty canyons of Utah to see what it’s like to hunt for fossils. Out in the canyons of southeastern Utah, the arid August heat pricks at your skin.…
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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…
