Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois - ESCONI

Drought and the Mayan Downfall

Via BBC:

Scientists have long thought that severe drought caused its collapse.

But Mexican and British researchers now think that a sustained drop in rainfall of only 25-40% was enough to exhaust seasonal water supplies in the region.

The findings were published in the journal Science....

 

A Visit to a Rare Earth Mine

Photographs and explanation of the industry with The Atlantic.

Oldest Organism with Skeleton Found in Australia

Via PhysOrg:

...Coronacollina resembles the Cambrian fossil sponge, Choia. The three raised points on the rim are evident, with a central hollow and four spicules extending from the cone rim.... the organism is between 560 million and 550 million years old, which places it in the Ediacaran period, before the explosion of life and diversification of organisms took place on Earth in the Cambrian....

Subsidence Rate for Mississippi Delta

Via NSF.gov:

The Earth's crust beneath the Mississippi Delta sinks at a much slower rate than what had been assumed.

That's one of the results geoscientists report today in a paper published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 

 

Italian Mineralogy

Last Saturday, the ESCONI Mineralogy Study Group discussed the gems and minerals of Italy.  

Here's a blog about the topic, "The Best of Italian Mineralogy"

Dinosaur Copyright Suit Settled

Via ArgusLeader:

BILLINGS, MONT. — The question of whether renderings of ancient dinosaurs can be copyright-protected as original “art” remains unresolved after a settlement was reached in a federal lawsuit in Montana over bone castings from three well-known Tyrannosaurus rex specimens.

Because of the settlement, a hearing scheduled for today that would have struck at the heart of the dispute was canceled by U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon.

Parties in the case said Monday that they could not reveal the terms of the deal .

 

Glass Mineral on Mars

Via HuffPo:

Scientists puzzling over some odd dark spots on Mars may finally have shone a light on the mystery.

In a new paper, published March 26 in the academic journal Geology, study authors Briony Horgan and James Bell of Arizona State University in Tempe found evidence that the Martian blemishes are likely to be made of sand-like particles of glass, similar in composition to obsidian.

 

Paleontology Blog with An Attitude

Fun and interesting paleontology blog - "Jersey Boys Hunt Dinosaurs"

COD Mazon Creek Class Saturday, April 28

Fossil Dig (Grades 6-12 and youthful adults!), Continuing Ed. College of Dupage class.

Experience the excitement and adventure in fossil hunting at Mazon Creek, Coal City,Illinois.

Paleontologist Rob Sula discussesthe importance of fossils, as well as the types of fossils you might find, collect and take home from the site.

Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m.-2:50 p.m.
YEMS-0010-001, $74
Building K, Room 143
College of Dupage Continuing Ed. Registration Web Page 

Josh Mathews on Antarctica Paleontology

Last night, those who attened the General Meeting heard an informative and entertaining lecture about Josh Mathew's paleontology work in Antartica. 

As a follow-up, here is a recently published article discussing some of what he told us about - Augustana Geology Museum welcomes two new flying reptiles.

Also, of note - Augustana College invites learners of all ages to visit campus on Saturday, April 28, to take part in three educational events— Polar Palooza, Science Open House and a planetarium program.

Meeting Fri & Sat

Friday 4/13 - General Meeting - 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage, Building K, Rm161.

Josh Mathews, Augustana College. He will speak on - Dinosaurs “On the Rocks”: An Exploration of Antarctic Fossils and New Discoveries & Insights from th Frozen Continent.

Sat, 4/14 - Mineralogy and Micromount Study Group Meeting. 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage, Building K, Rm 161.  Topic: Minerals of Italy

Got Geodes?

ESCONI can use donations of geodes for the Geode booth at next year's annual show. Bring to general or mineralogy meeting and one of the board members at the meeting will be happy to accept your geode gift. 

Auction Ends 4/15

This information from Alice Brockman, who wanted to let members know of this auction. The auction is a private auction, not an ESCONI auction.

Rock & Mineral Specimen Auction - Timed Internet Sale
Auction ends 4/15/12
LOCAL PICKUP ONLY - Local pickup day is 4/17/12

Mound City Auctions, a St. Louis, MO. auction leader announces afantastic online only timed internet auction of Lucille Bishop’s Rock & Mineral Specimen Collection. Lucille was formerly the president of McDonnell Douglas’ Gem & Mineral Society, and had a massive collectionof thousands and thousands of specimens of assorted rocks & minerals.

Here is a partial list of some of the minerals featured in this auction:Linarite, Sphalerite, Tiger’s Eye Quartz, Malachite, Azurite, Agate,Chalcedony, Calcite, Petrified Wood, Gypsum, Fluorite, Copper, Dolomite,Galena, Emerald, Tourmaline, Jade, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Mozarkite, Bornite,Turquoise, Garnet, Amethyst, Hematite, Chrysoprase, Muscovite,Opal, Rose Quartz, and many more. This collection also includes somelapidary pieces, including an amazing assortment of cut & polishedcabochons of various semi-precious stones.

Visit www.moundcityauctions.com and click on our Auction Calendar to view the catalog, register, and place your bids! Website with specifics of this auction

ESCONI Field Trips

We have a few field trips coming up. To attend field trip, one needs to be a member of ESCONI, which is easy to do!  The St.Paul field trip is limited to age 18 and above. However, under 18 yr members are welcome to the Schingoethe field trip and the Braceville field trip. 

Sun, 4/15 -  ESCONI Field Trip - Schingoethe Center for Native American Culturesat 1:30 pm. We will meet inside the Center entrance. Cost is $4 per person, which includes a guided tour. Located in Aurora University in Dunham Hall, The Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures holds more than 8,000 Native American artificacts. Contact Bryan Nugent at 630-960-5147 to sign up or to find out more information. 

Fri, 4/27 - ESCONI Fossil Field Trip, St. Paul, Indiana - meet at the quarry office by 7:45 am (6:45 am Chicago time). Normal safety equipment is needed - hard hat, protective boots, eye protection. To get to the office take I65 south around Indianapolis to 174. Exit and Exit 123 go south to Michigan Av. right to N. County Road 800 W left following signs to St. Paul. Go through the town over the railroad tracks past town, ending up on Mound Rd, to office on right. Indiana state law that no one under 18 is allowed in quarries. 

Sat & Sun, ESCONI Field Trip - 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 repellant. Contact John Good at 1-630-483-2363 for reservations or e-mail at esconi@hotmail.com.  Or, on the day of the trip, contact John Good at 630-303-2352.

 

 

Largest Dinosaur with Feathers

Via New York Times (hat tip Floyd):

Fossils discovered in northeastern China of a giant, previously unrecognized dinosaur show that it is the largest known feathered animal, living or extinct, scientists report.

Although several species of dinosaurs with feathers have already been uncovered in the rich fossil beds of Liaoning Province, the three largely complete 125-million-year-old specimens are by far the largest. The adult was at least 30 feet long and weighed a ton and a half, about 40 times the heft of Beipiaosaurus, the largest previously known feathered dinosaur. The two juveniles were a mere half ton each.... more

Geologist, Mike Curtain, Receives Polar Award

Via BBC:

The geologist from Thrapston is regularly dropped into remote mountain ranges, given a ski-doo and left for weeks, sometimes months, to examine the land.

"It is a dangerous environment, there are challenges," he said.

"But the job is quite self-selecting, if you don't enjoy the challenge then you would quit."...

... His dedication to finding out about the land in extreme conditions has made some important contributions to the knowledge of the Polar region, which led him to be selected for the Polar Medal....

 

Peking Man Fossils May Be Found

Via Washington Post:

... The fossils, found a century ago and believed to hold a key to studies of early mankind, disappeared at the outbreak of the war in the Pacific while destined for safe keeping in the United States.

What Bowen saw in 1947 might have been the fossils at U.S. Camp Holcomb, the researchers said.

Bowen told his son in 2010 about how he dug up wooden crates of relics and used them as a machine gun nest when the base came under attack from tens of thousands of Communist Chinese troops. He was captured in the assault.

The veteran’s family then contacted the South African university reputed for archaeological research that has blazed a trail in contemporary studies on prehistory and has discovered fossils in South Africa’s “Cradle of Mankind” that predate... MORE

 

A Very Good Collecting Day "We Hit The Jackpot"

Via ABC News, (hat tip Carrie Nelson)

... The Barrieaults went to Hill's mine on the group trip with the Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association. They had only been in the mine for five minutes before Kevin flipped over a rock to find a 50.5-carat emerald... More

Events in April, 2012

Fri. 4/27	ESCONI Fossil Field Trip, St. Paul, Indiana - meet at the quarry office by 7:45 am (6:45 am Chicago time). Normal safety equipment is needed - hard hat, protective boots, eye protection. To get to the office take I65 south around Indianapolis to 174. Exit and Exit 123 go south to Michigan Av. right to N. County Road 800 W left following signs to St. Paul. Go through the town over the railroad tracks past town, ending up on Mound Rd, to office on right. Indiana state law that no one under 18 is allowed in quarries.
Fri. 4/27	Board Meeting. 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage, Building K, Rm 161.
Sat 4/28	Archaeology Study Group Meeting. 7:30 p.m. College of Dupage, Building K, Rm 161. Topic: Archaeology of Mammoths.

 

19th Century Women in Geology

Via Scientific American:

... Girls and women working in the field were tolerated in the social lower classes, like professional fossil collector and dealer Mary Anning (1799-1847) of Lyme Regis (Dorset), daughter of a craftsman, but for upper-class women engaging in field research was almost impossible.

Women could minimize these “problems” by collecting fossils and studying rocks in their local environment, for example on private property or in the surroundings of their home, where their social status was known and such behaviour regarded as eccentricity and somehow tolerated. ...