|
E.S.C.O.N.I. |
|
Fossil Collecting at the Mazonia-Braidwood Fish and Wildlife Area Welcome. The fossil-bearing ironstone concretions (or nodules) found at the Mazonia-Braidwood Fish and Wildlife Area are world famous. Paleontologists consider this fossil deposit to be one of the world’s most important fossil deposits. The plants and animals found in the nodules lived about 300 millions years ago (during a time known as the "Coal Age"). The fossils provide a wonderful glimpse of the plants and animals that lived during that time in what is now Illinois. The area that is now the Mazonia-Braidwood SFWA was very different 300 millions years ago. The area was a mixture of low flat land, rivers, bays and sea. It was a massive delta building out into a shallow tropical sea. The land was covered with swamps (which would later form the coals mined in the area). The land and water teamed with life. When the plants and animals died, they were quickly buried at the bottom of the shallow bays. After they had been buried, ironstone nodules formed around the plants and animals, preserving them for us as Mazon Creek fossils. These fossils are contained in concretions known as Mazon Creek Nodules. These are smooth, oval or round, generally rust-colored masses of rocks. They are formed in a layer of shale that covered the coal that was mined in the area. When the coal was mined, the shale and nodules (which was part of the overburden) were dumped into large spoil piles. As the nodules weather out of the piles, they can be collected. The nodules contain a great variety of kinds of plant and animal fossils. Some of the kinds of plant fossils that are found in the nodules include fern fronds, bark of scale trees, and leaves of other coal age trees and shrubs. Animal fossils found in nodules include shrimp, worms, jellyfish, clams, and Tully Monsters. The Tully Monster, Illinois’ State Fossil, is known only from these spectacular deposits. You cannot tell what may be in a nodule from looking at the outside, although some collectors with years of practice may be able to make a reasonable guess. In order to see the fossil, you need to break open the nodules. There are several ways to do this. Some people use a rock hammer to open nodules. Although this method is fast, it frequently causes nodules to break in a way that do not expose the entire fossil. Another common method used to open nodules is alternate freezing and thawing. Nodules are placed in a bucket of water. After they have soaked for several days (to get water into the nodule), the bucket and nodules are placed in the freezer. When the water has completely frozen, the bucket is removed from the freezer and the water is allowed to thaw. The freezing and thawing cycle is repeated. Between freezing, nodules that open should be removed and other nodules can be tapped (with a hammer or on a hard surface) to see if they will open. After about 10 cycles, allow the modules to dry completely. Then repeat the whole process. Most nodules that will open will do so in about 25 cycles or less. Other nodules can be opened with a hammer. Sources of Information about Mazon Creek Fossils If you would like to learn more about Mazon Creek fossils, or if you need help identifying your fossils, there are many sources of information on the subject. The following is a list of resources that may be of help to you. People: The Mazon Creek Project
Contact Information: The Mazon Creek Project Northeastern Illinois University Department of Earth Sciences 5500 N. St. Louis Ave Chicago, IL 60625 Phone 773-442-5759 Illinois State Museum
Contact Information: Dr. Richard Toomey Illinois State Museum 1011 E. Ash St. Springfield, IL 62703 Phone: 217-524-7908 Email: toomey@museum.state.il.uswww: http://www.museum.state.il.us/Illinois State Geological Survey The Illinois State Geological Survey can help with identification of fossils and with info on Mazon Creek Contact Information: Mr. Russel J. Jacobson Geologist and Acting Head, Coal Section Illinois State Geological Survey 615 East Peabody Drive Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: 217-244-2426 Email: jacobson@isgs.uiuc.edu www: http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/ Burpee Museum of Natural History The Burpee Museum can provide help in identifying fossils and has a nice collection of Mazon Creek fossils on display. Contact Information: Mr. Michael D. Henderson Curator of Earth Science Burpee Museum of Natural H istory 737 N. Main Street Rockford, IL 61103 Phone: 815-965-3433 Email: geocollections@burpee.org Bradley Unversity, Department of Geological Sciences Dr. Foster at Bradley university is a paleontologist who studies the fossil animals of Mazon. Contact Information: Dr. Merril W. Foster Department of Geological Sciences Bradley University Peoria, Illinois 61625 Phone: (309) 677-2352 Email: fossil@bradley.bradley.edu Fossil Collecting Groups Fossil collecting groups can often provide information on Mazon Creek fossils and on other fossil found in the state. One group that has been closely associated with Mazon Creek fossils is the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois (ESCONI). Contact Information: ESCONI Box 321 Downers Grove, IL 60515 Email: ESCONI@hotmail.colmwww: http://www.esconi.orgWWW SITES Illinois State Museum Online Exhibit on Mazon Creek Fossils http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhlibits/mazon_creek/Illinois Geological Survey Tully Monster Geobit http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/servs/pubs/geobits-pub/geobit5/geobit5.htmlBOOKS Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, 1986, Keys to Identify Pennsylvanian Fossil Plants of the Mazon Creek Area (revised Edition). Downers Grove, IL. (P.O. Box 321, Downers Grove 60515): Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, 60pp. Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, 1989, Keys to Identify Pennsylvanian Fossil Animals of the Mazon Creek Area (revised Edition). Downers Grove, IL. (P.O. Box 321, Downers Grove 60515): Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, 125pp. Andy A. Hay and Don Auler(Illustrator),Creature Corner , Downers Grove, IL. (P.O. Box 321, Downers Grove 60515): Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, 78 Pages, 126 Black and White Drawings R.E. Janssen, 1939, Leaves and stems from fossil forest. Illinois State Museum, Popular Science Series, I: 190pp (Revised 1979) J.R. Jennings, 1990, Guide to Pennsylvanian Fossil Plants of Illinois, Illinois State Geological Survey, Educational Series, 13: 1-75. C.W. Shabica and A.A. Hay (Editors). 1997, The Fossil Fauna of Mazon Creek, Chicago: Northeastern Illinois University, 309pp. ISBN 0-925065-21-8 Return To Mazon Creek Prospoal | Return To Home Page Last Updated 04/16/2003
|