Tag: minerals
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #39: Fluorite and Sphalerite
One last chunk of beautiful fluorite… nice purple crystals on a bed of sphalerite. Sounds and looks tasty! If you are up this late (or is that early), you deserve a tasty preview… just a few hours until the show starts!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #36: Purple Fluorite from Cave-in-Rock, IL
Here’s yet another beautiful chunk of fluorite from Illinois. This one is purple and was collected from Cave-in-Rock, IL. many years ago. Come and see it tomorrow… less than a day away!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #32: Calcite from Ourey, Colorado
Time for another beautiful mineral specimen. This is calcite from Ourey, Colorado. Come on out tomorrow… there is something for everyone!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #29: Crystalline Copper from Southwest Africa
This chunk of crystalline copper is from southwest Africa. Tomorrow is the day!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #26: Azurite from the Daye District, Ezhou Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
What a beautiful blue! The specimen of Azurite hails from the Daye District, Ezhou Prefecture, Hubei Province, China. Less than a day until the door open!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #24: Yellow Fluorite from Hardin County, IL
We have some real nice pieces of fluorite for this year’s show. Here is a beautiful yellow specimen from Hardin County, IL. Tomorrow is the day… come on out!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #22: Valentinite after Stibnite on Barite
How about this beautiful specimen of Valentinite after Stibnite on Barite? It was collected from the Xikuangsthan Mine in Lengshuijiang, Hunan Province, China. Come on out and see it close up in less than 2 days!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #20: Pieces of Mexican Opal
Mexican opal is very beautiful and we have a small collection of pieces here for this preview. Just 2 days left… Hope to see you!
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #19: Fluorite and Sphalerite
We have multiple pieces of beautiful fluorite for this years show. This is one of the best… it has large crystals of fluorite resting on sphalerite. Have I mentioned we are just a few days away from this year’s show?!?
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #14: Aragonite from Ratanakiri Province, Thailand
Here is a beautiful piece of Aragonite from Ratanakiri Province, Thailand. It’s hard to believe we are just a week away from the show! See you there!
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Throwback Thursday #308: “Oh, do this rock for me”
This poem appeared in the February 1963 edition of the ESCONI newsletter. It seems to originated with “Agate Pete”, which was a feature in the newsletter of El Paso Mineral and Gem Society. They are still alive and kicking…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #13: Hemimorphite from Mexico
This gorgeous specimen of Hemimorphite comes from Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. It’s in great shape… no damage to the crystals.
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #11: Smokey Quartz
Today’s preview is a beautiful piece of smokey quartz. Come on out to the show and this stunning mineral specimen can be yours!
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Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026
Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026. Des Plaines Park District Leisure Center, 2222 Birch St., Des Plaines, IL. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. Adults $3, seniors $2, students over 12 or with school ID $1, children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. Dealers, demonstrators,…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #9: Yellow Fluorite from the Minerva Mine
We have an 11 pound chunk of yellow fluorite for this preview. It’s likely from the Minerva Mine in Cave in Rock, IL. Here’s another specimen from the Minerva Mine sold at the 2025 show.
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Report for the Junior’s Study Group Meeting February 2026
The meeting began with the Juniors Chair handing out the tradeable earth science specimens. Then he introduced the speaker, Finn Lutz. Finn is a senior at Oak Park River Forest High School. He talked about the display that he brought, which was his Eagle Scout project for ESCONI. The project began years ago with a…
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Reminder: Chicago Rocks & Minerals Society’s Annual Silent Auction, Saturday, March 14, 2026
Chicago Rocks & Minerals Society’s Annual Silent Auction Saturday, March 14, 2026 6 to 9 p.m. St. Peter’s United Church of Christ 8013 Laramie Ave., Skokie, IL (Across the street from the public library on Oakton) Plus a special live auction of high-end specimens during the last half-hour! The first table closes at 6:30 p.m.…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Vendor List
The 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show will be here before you know it! Here is the vendor list. Exclusive Inspirations Wisconsin Janski Designs Illinois Rock’s Rocks Illinois Rock Stars Illinois Michael’s Mineral Exchange Illinois Fossil Hut Illinois Grab Your Rocks Illinois Lavin’s Gems Illinois KP Rocks and Minerals Michigan RockhoundMike Minerals Illinois Joe’s…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #6: Higginsite from Bisbee, Arizona
This is the preview post #6 for the 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2026 will be held on March 21th and 22nd at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here. We…
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ESCONI at the Ranch View STEAM Event in Naperville
For the second year, ESCONI was asked to participate in the Ranch View Elementary STEAM event in Naperville. Represnting the club were Jodi Gosain, Rusty Grenier, and Jim Bigler. The club had three tables of fossils, rocks, geodes, magnetic stones and our popular dig box. Over 300 parents and children attended our booth. In addition,…
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Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026
Des Plaines Valley Geological Society’s 61st Annual Jewelry, Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show, March 28-29, 2026. Des Plaines Park District Leisure Center, 2222 Birch St., Des Plaines, IL. Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4. Adults $3, seniors $2, students over 12 or with school ID $1, children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. Dealers, demonstrators,…
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #4: Halite
This is the preview post #4 for the 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2026 will be held on March 21th and 22nd at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here. Today’s…
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Throwback Thursday #303: Looking Back At ESCONI For February 2026
A look back at February 1956, 1976, and 2001
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2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – Preview #2: Fluorite, Galena, and Barite From Bingham, NM
This is the preview post #2 for the 2026 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction. The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2026 will be held on March 21th and 22nd at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year. All details can be found here. In…
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Chicago Rocks & Minerals Society’s Annual Silent Auction, Saturday, March 14, 2026
Chicago Rocks & Minerals Society’s Annual Silent Auction Saturday, March 14, 2026 6 to 9 p.m. St. Peter’s United Church of Christ 8013 Laramie Ave., Skokie, IL (Across the street from the public library on Oakton) Plus a special live auction of high-end specimens during the last half-hour! The first table closes at 6:30 p.m.…
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Throwback Thursday #299: Macfallite
This is Throwback Thursday #299. In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general. If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc …), please send them to esconi.info@gmail.com. Thanks! email:esconi.info@gmail.com. This post is a follow up to last week’s Throwback Thursday, where we mentioned the mineral species Macfallite.…
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Throwback Thursday #298: Looking Back At ESCONI For January 2026
A look back at January 1956, 1976, and 2001
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ESCONI 2026 Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show – March 21st and 22nd, 2026
The ESCONI 2026 Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show will be held on March 21st and 22nd, 2026 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
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Rare half-pink rough diamond with ‘astounding’ weight of 37.4 carats discovered in Botswana
Live Science has a story about the discovery of a very large pink diamond. The diamond weighs 37.4 carats. It was discovered in Botwana and likely formed in two stages as it has two colors… pink and colorless. The pink half probably formed first, but from what scientists know about colorful diamonds, there’s a good…
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ESCONI November 2025 Mineral Study Group – November 1st, 2025 at 7:30 PM at the College of DuPage – “Fluorite”
The ESCONI Mineral Study Group will meet on Saturday, November 1st, 2025 at 7:30 PM in TEC 1038B at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. See Directions and Map below. The program will be on “Fluorite”. Southern Illinois was once a major producer of world-class fluorite specimens, primarily from Hardin County. While no commercial mining currently operates, you…
