Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois - ESCONI

Utah's New Dinosaur

Via Science Daily (from March 24)

The new dinosaur species is named Seitaad ruessi (SAY-eet-AWD ROO-ess-EYE),

Ancient Chinese Cemetary

Via New York Times:

...Chinese archaeologists have excavated an extraordinary cemetery. Its inhabitants died almost 4,000 years ago, yet their bodies have been well preserved by the dry air.

Despite the political tensions over the mummies’ origin, the Chinese said in a report published last month in the journal BMC Biology that the people were of mixed ancestry, having both European and some Siberian genetic markers, and probably came from outside China. The team was led by Hui Zhou of Jilin University in Changchun, with Dr. Jin as a co-author. All the men who were analyzed had a Y chromosome that is now mostly found in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Siberia, but rarely in China. The mitochondrial DNA, which passes down the female line, consisted of a lineage from Siberia and two that are common in Europe

Geology Museum UW Madison by Dianna Lord

This weekend we visited the UW Madison Geology Museum. They just added a meteorite collection from the famous April 14th meteor. Click on the photo to see larger photo.

Age of Earth's Magnetic Field

 Via Science News:

Evidence for the existence of Earth’s magnetic field has been pushed back about 250 million years, new research suggests. The field may therefore be old enough to have shielded some of the planet's earliest life from the sun’s most harmful cosmic radiation.

Links about Paleo

The Austin Paleontological Society offers a complete list of paleo links.

Melting Ice Reveals Ancient Artifacts

Via PhysOrg:

... Ice patches are accumulations of annual snow that, until recently, remained frozen all year. For millennia, caribou seeking relief from summer heat and insects have made their way to ice patches where they bed down until cooler temperatures prevail. Hunters noticed caribou were, in effect, marooned on these ice islands and took advantage.

"I'm never surprised at the brilliance of ancient hunters anymore. I feel stupid that we didn't find this sooner," says Andrews.

Ice patch archeology is a recent phenomenon that began in Yukon. In 1997, sheep hunters discovered a 4,300-year-old dart shaft in caribou dung that had become exposed as the ice receded...

Fossils for Trade

Over at the ESCONI discussion board, Don B. wrote:

"I have a variety of fossils available for trade. Extra specimens looking for a good home. None are top of the line, but may be of interest to fossil collectors. Included are Illinois worm traces, Wisconsin ocean ripple marks, Indiana crinoid calyxes, large clams, Florida shells, a Germany amphibian, unopened Illinois Mazon nodules, Midwest invertebrate sets, books, and more. You can check these out on ebay under used name blowfly2. All are listed for sale, but I am also open to a trade if items are unsold.

Please reply if you have an interest. Let me know what you have to offer as well."

Geo Blunder?

Geophysicist, J. Marvin Herndon, disputes the existence of plate tectonics and other theories. Washington Post article on Herndon in 2003.

And geologists are still arguing about the Snowball Earth theory. 

New data, new analysis, new theories...

Links For Science Educators

Links upon links...

Amazing Use of Earth Moving Equipment

Who doesn't like to play with their earth moving toys?

Rare Print Geology Books

This site sells rare and out of print geology and earth science books... interesting stuff.

Dinosaurs Once A Single Community?

From PhysOrg:

...Researchers at McGill University are unlocking the mysteries of the little-known habits of dinosaurs in discovering that the entire western interior of North America was likely once populated by a single community of dinosaurs. According to a statistical analysis of the fossil record, dinosaurs were adept at coping with all sorts of environments, and not as restricted in their geographic ranges as previously thought...

In House Field Trip - Miner Safety Training - May 15th

Miner Safety Training  May 15, 2010  6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at COD. The cost will be $10 for each ESCONI Member payable at the door to John McArdle.

We are offering  Miner Safety Certification Training.  John McArdle of ZRS (Zoological Research Services) is approved to offer Miner Safety Certification Training and issue certificates. He will  teach the course.

This involves a formal presentation based on a 250 page book, followed by a formal test that must be passed to receive a certificate.  The training takes three (3) hours with a break. 

Reservations recommended due to ordering certificates in advance.  Contact John Good at 630-483-2363 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com.

Quarries in Minnesota require Miner Safety Certification training.  We had miner safety training at our Larson Quarry field trip in 2009, which was a very informative. Miner safety training helps to ensure successful and safe collecting.

ESCONI will purchase several copies of the book for the library.

 

Updated & New Field Trip Information

Friday, May 7 St.Paul Indiana Fossils. Free. Meet at 8:00 am Indiana time (7:00 am Chicago Time) Hard Hat required.  An Estwing rock hammer is the best tool. Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs are also a plus. Age limit in Indiana is 18 years. Check the web site for details or contact John Good at 1-630-483-2363 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com

Saturday & Sunday, May 15 & 16. Braceville—Mazon Creek Fossils. Free. Collecting Mazon Creek Fossils on private property. Meet at 8:00 A.M. Saturday 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 get wet and muddy) are also a plus.  Bring a bucket for the fossils. Also bring insect repellent. Contact John Good at 630-483-2363 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com

Saturday, May 23, Self Guided Archaeology field trip. Costs as listed on museum sites. Kenosha Public Museum at noon, followed by a visit to the Civil War Museum,  followed by a visit to the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. Contact John Good at 630-483-2363 if you have any questions.

Saturday, May 23, 2010 Mazon Creek Area Boat Trip to Pit 11. Cost: $25/person, Children 12 or younger - $15. The first boat will leave the dock at 9:00 am. Children 9 years or younger are allowed by pre-permission. Closing date to sign up - May 8. Call Richard Rock for more information, questions and permissions... at (815) 476-7040. 

Friday June 18, 2010, KEMMERER, WYOMING. Cost as listed on www.fossilsafari.com.  We will meet in Kemmerer, Wyoming at 9:00, at the visitor center, in the triangle, on Friday, June 18, 2010. For more information, check out the web page at www.fossilsafari.com. For more information contact Richard Rock: Field Trip Chairman (815) 476-7040. 

A Bit Of Neanderthal in All

From PhysOrg

... An examination of the DNA of 1,983 people from around the globe suggests that extinct human species such as Homo neanderthalensis or Homo heidelbergensis interbred with our own ancestors during two separate periods, and their genes remain in our DNA today. The research was carried out by a group of genetic anthropologists from the University of New Mexico, and leader of the team, Jeffrey Long, said the findings mean Neanderthals did not completely disappear, but “there is a little bit of Neanderthal left over in almost all humans.”

Video Show of MAPS 2010

Donald Baumgartner posted this on the Yahoo News Group for ESCONI - a video about the MAPS show this year.

maps, maps, maps

And a link to free Topo maps thanks to Carlos!

And a web site that lists other map sites.

Element 117

Finally it is here.

Photos of Iceland Volcano

Interesting photos of Iceland's volcano.

Archaeology Field Trip - Kenosha, WI, Sun 5/23

Archaeology field trip will be Sunday, May 23 Kenosha Public Museum at noon,

followed by a visit to the Civil War Museum

followed by a visit to the Dinosaur Discovery Museum.

Contact John Good if you have any questions. Or ask questions here using the Comments.