Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois - ESCONI

Happy Halloween! #dinosaurs

ESCONI Holiday Party December 6th, 2019, 5:30 PM at Cozymel's in Wheaton

An artist’s depiction of the extinct giant, frond-shaped organisms known as rangeomorphs. Credit: Reid Psaltis

The 2019 ESCONI Holiday Dinner is December 6, 2019, starting at 5:30 PM at Cozymel's in Wheaton. We will be ordering off the menu. As in the past few years, there will be door prizes given away.

Please RSVP to Dave at [email protected]

Roy Plotnick: The First Day of the Rest of Life @paleontology #dinosaurs #MassExtinction

Roy Plotnick has a great post about of the last day of the Mesozoic Era (or the first day of the Cenozoic Era).  It would have been a very bad day, indeed!

On a day some sixty-six million years ago, life was Earth was suddenly and irreversibly altered. An enormous asteroid or comet struck the Earth next to what is now the Yucatan peninsula. After that, life on the Earth would never be the same. Dinosaurs, apart from birds (of course), died out. Even the birds, however, suffered dramatic losses. Extinctions struck plants and insects. Mammals may have lost more than 90% of their species. In the sea, the enormous marine reptiles, as well as the elegant cephalopods know as ammonites, disappeared forever. The tiny floating single celled foraminifera virtually died out. Life survived, but it would never be the same. To a large extent, the diversification of mammals and the eventual spread of humans was contingent (as Steve Gould would say) on that devastating event.

Within the past year, three papers have shown new light on that terrible day and its aftermath. They also demonstrate how modern paleontology and geosciences are multidisciplinary, using cutting edge field and analytical methods, and drawing on the expertise of large numbers of scientists.

'A scientific goldmine': U of A paleontologists discover complete skeleton of small, carnivorous dino #dinosaurs

The Edmonton Journal has a story about a recent dinosaur find.  In 2014, a remarkablely complete, small, carnivorous dinosaur in "exquisitely preserved" condition was discovered by University of Alberta paleontologist Clive Coy.  The animal, called Saurornitholestes, lived about 76 million years ago.

Saurornitholestes is a small, feathered carnivorous dinosaur part of the dromaeosaurid family — also known as raptors — and was long thought to have been closely related to the velociraptor from Mongolia.

The skeleton was “exquisitely preserved,” with all the bones except for the tail preserved.

“Paleontology, in general, is a gigantic puzzle where most of the pieces are missing. The discovery and description of this specimen represents the recovery of many pieces of the puzzle,” said Phillip Currie, a paleontologist at the U of A.

Previously, saurornitholestes was only known from fragmentary remains and because of the belief it was related to velociraptor, some researchers called it velociraptor langstoni.

The discovery and subsequent research from U of A paleontologists Currie and Coy, along with David Evans and James and Louise Temerty at the Royal Ontario Museum, has changed that belief.

The team’s research focuses on the skull and highlights how saurornitholestes differs from velociraptor. It has a shorter and deeper skull than the velociraptor.

At the front of the skull’s mouth is a flat tooth with long ridges, believed to have been used for preening feathers. The same tooth has also been identified in velociraptor and other dromaeosaurids.

CBS Sunday Morning: Our fascination with Tyrannosaurus Rex @SUETheTrex #dinosaurs

CBS Sunday Morning had a segment about our fascination with T rex.  One of the most aptly named dinosaurs, it's name means "Tyrant Lizard King".  This piece an interview with Mark Norell, head paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History.  As the CBS crew joins a University of Kansas expedition to Wyoming to find a baby T rex.

At the American Museum of Natural History in New York City stands a goliath: The most accurate reconstruction of Tyrannosaurus Rex ever made.

And according to Mark Norell, head paleontologist at the museum, the exhibit is notable for some new ideas, such as the feathers. Newsflash: the king of the dinosaurs probably did look like it was wearing a bad toupee.

"And the eyes – one of the things that people don't understand is just how good these eyes were," Norell said. "Not only did these guys see in color, they see in more colors than we do."

Looking at a juvenile T. rex model, Norell said, "So, it's hard to believe that this thing would grow up to be 40 feet long and weigh tons and tons and tons."

"It looks sort of like a road runner bird," said correspondent Martha Teichner.

"Well, they are very closely related to birds."

Cute, until they hit their growth spurt. "They grew really, really quickly between about the ages of six years old and 18 years old," Norell said. "Around six pounds a day during that time period."

And consider their teeth. "Just the overall bite force is around 8,000 pounds, which is tremendous, but the force on the tip of any single tooth is nearly half a million pounds," he said.

Yikes! Are you scared yet?

ScienceMag: 300-million-year-old ‘Tully Monster’ may not be the creature scientists thought it was #MazonCreek #fossils #TullyMonster

SEAN MCMAHON/YALE UNIVERSITY

Science Magazine has a story about the Tully Monster.  A paper, which appeared in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, calls into question whether Tullymonstrum is a vertebrate.  The new research found melanosomes in extant invertebrate eyes (Octopus and Squid).  That was a key part of the previous argument as it was widely believed melanosomes were only present in vertebrate eyes.

The mysterious “Tully Monster,” a 15-centimeter-long, stalk-eyed creature (artist’s concept above) that swarmed the seas of what is now Illinois more than 300 million years ago, was a vertebrate and a close relative of lampreys. At least that’s what scientists concluded 3 years ago. An even more recent study seems to have confirmed that classification. But a new analysis could shake up this strange animal’s family tree.

This new effort focused on the eyes of Tullimonstrum, whose informal name honors the paleontologist who first discovered it. They homed in on melanosomes, microscopic, pigment-containing structures that often bind to metals such as zinc and copper, which possibly serve as antioxidants. Such structures were widely thought to be present only in the eyes of vertebrates, hence a previous team’s 2016 classification.

ESCONI Flashback Friday #24: 60 Years of ESCONI by Kathy Dedina

As part of the run up to ESCONI's 70th Anniversary, here is Flashback Friday post #24.  If you have pictures or stories to contribute, please send them over to [email protected].  Thanks!

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The 60th Anniversary was written by Kathy Dedina and appeared in the January 2010 issue of The Earth Science News.  She was President from 1989-1990.  Additionally, she served in other capacities for the club over the years, such as Vice-President, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary.  Unfortunately, Kathy is no longer with us.  ESCONI have a long and distinguished history as evidenced by this article.

Kathy Dedina, Jean Reynolds, and Judy Dedina - Plant Life Display @ MWF Show 1996

60 Years of ESCONI by Kathy Dedina

Thirteen people with interests in the Earth Sciences met on November 11th, 1949 at the W. H. Allaway home in Downers Grove to discuss forming a club centered on the rockhounding hobby. This idea had previously been presented to the Hawthorne Club of Western Electric and had been turned down because of a perceived lack of interest in rocks, minerals and fossils. How wrong they were. Sixty years later ESCONI is celebrating an anniversary while all that remains of Western Electric and its club is a distant memory. The rejection put plans for a club on hold for a time. One day some boys asked Mr. Allaway if they could find Indian arrow heads around Downers Grove. He drove them to a plowed field on Highland Avenue where one arrow head was found.
Later that evening the boys brought their fathers with them to look at Mr. Allaway’s collection and to discuss forming a rock club to learn more about their specimens and to find new places
to collect. They agreed to meet on November 25 at Dr. Spiesman’s to further pursue the idea of a rock club.

At this meeting of 32 people Mr Allaway was appointed temporary chairman. A nominating committee, a constitution and by-law committee, a meeting place committee and a membership committee began the groundwork for forming a club. It was also agreed that a name for the organization would be selected at the next meeting and a bulletin would be printed on a regular interval. The date for the next meeting was January 6, 1950. The first regular meeting of the new rock club was attended by 62 people. The constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers for chairman, vice-chairman, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and historian-curator were elected. To William Allaway, Roy Beghtol, Herb Beck, Jay Farr, Stevens Norwell and Ethel Whitney we owe our thanks and gratitude for their efforts that provided the foundation of our rock club that has encouraged education and adventure for all its members. Twenty seven attendees became members. Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois was voted the new name of the club. Meetings will be on the second Friday of the month except for July and August. A monthly bulletin will be published. The January 1950 bulletin, the very first of our club, was called Bulletin of Earth Science Club with a shield shaped logo. It was three pages with an article by Chairman Allaway, a story of a field trip by a member, a book suggestion and a notice about the contest for the selection of a cover design and a bulletin name. I am guessing the bulletin was handed out to those at the meeting. An educational program was presented after the business meeting.

March, 1950 is another important date in ESCONI history. It was at that meeting The Earth Science News was selected as official name of the bulletin. It received 22 of 132 votes. Among the other 27 suggestions were Tailings, The Mine, Echoes of the Past and The Earthworm. Twelve designs were submitted for the emblem contest. Several of these featured the outline of the state of Illinois as the main design element or as part of circles or shields. There were designs similar to the final selection. The winner received 18 of 102 votes. It should be noted that members voted for three choices hence the high number of votes. The March bulletin announced B. J Babbitt as the editor of the bulletin. A guest speaker followed the business meeting. Bulletins in the historian’s files appear with hand written address labels indicating that they are being mailed to members.

The April, 1950 bulletin is the first to be printed with the official name and emblem. The usual green color appeared later. A comparison of a 1950 and 2009 bulletin show only minor changes. The size of the lettering for The Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois is larger and we now have a web address added to the cover. The position of editor is listed with club officers. Dues for membership are $2.00 for an active member, $1.25 for associate and non resident members and $0.75 for juniors. The dues schedule in the 20th anniversary bulletin is the same as in 1950. In the April bulletin is the announcement for the first ESCONI field trip to the strip mines 20 miles south of Plainfield. The group was to meet in Plainfield and take Route 66 to the collecting site in Braidwood. Thirty five members participated in this collecting trip. The first membership list is in the April bulletin which had grown to 6 pages.

1951 was important year in ESCONI history for four events. In March, ESCONI was incorporated as a non profit organization for studying and promoting interest in the earth sciences. In November the first Silent Auction was held at the Downers Grove High School. The auction brought in $190.65. It was so successful that the club decides to make the auction an annual event. In January Lillian Bish was appointed librarian to oversee the collection of 20 books maintained in her home. The position of librarian was also added to the officers of the club by a change to the constitution and by-laws. The first junior study group and the archaeology study group were created.

1958 was another milestone year. Membership had reached 482. Junior groups were located in several suburban towns. ESCONI hosted the Midwest Federation Convention in June at the Downers Grove High School. ESCONI published its first book “The Wilmington Coal Flora” by George Langford. Dr Richardson of the Field Museum suggested that ESCONI undertake the project of putting into print the long term study of coal age plants from concretions which Langford began collecting in 1930.

The group ESCONI associates was formed to oversee the publishing project (Orval Fehter, George Malett, Harry Witmer, and Stella Barrick are pictured above with the author). The publication of Langford’s book added a study tool for both amateur and professional collectors. “The Wilmington Coal Fauna and Additions to the Wilmington Flora” by Langford followed in 1963. 

In 1964 Plant Life Through the Ages as exhibited for the first time at the Midwest Federation convention in Muskegon Michigan. Models of early plant life were created by members of the paleontology study group which was formed in1954. Wilbert Rath directed the project that included lifelike models of plants, the corresponding plant fossils and a reprint of a Vi Sobolik article from the Earth Science magazine. The exhibit covered over 60 feet of space. Later the exhibit was displayed at American Federation and Midwest Federation shows and the Chicago Flower Show. A slide show of the Plant Life was made in 1970.

The first 2 day indoor field trip or ESCONI show was held on March 2-3 1974. ESCONI is one of the original members of the Chicagoland Gem and Mineral Association formed in 1975. The first Chicagoland show is in May of 1977 with ESCONI contributing displays and workers.

This chronicle of ESCONI firsts tells only part of the ESCONI story. Over the years many things have changed. Amazingly many things are the same. We still meet for general meetings on the 2nd Friday of the month except for July and August. This adds up to 600 educational programs many of which were presented by noted guest speakers. The 1950 guest speaker list included Dr Frank Fleener co-author of “Quartz Family Minerals” and speakers from the Chicago Natural History Museum and the Illinois Geological Survey. In 1991, we were fortunate to have as our speaker Dr. Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago. Lance Grande of the Field Museum and author of the book on Green River fish spoke here. Noted micromineral photographer and ESCONI member Dan Behnke has shared his expertise with us on many occasions. The list could go on and on. For six decades general meeting speakers have enriched our knowledge of Earth Science.

Six hundred and sixty bulletins have been printed including anniversary issues at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 years. The bulletin grew from its 3 page start to over twenty pages. It has received both American and Midwest Federation awards. It was the major communication tool available before websites, e mails and texting. In 1999 ESCONI joined the electronic age by creating a club website. John Good was our webmaster for many years. Diana Lord is currently in charge of the website and has updated it and made it more interactive.

Field trips have been an important part of the club since the very beginning. Those boys met with Mr. Allaway to start a club to find new places to collect. In the collecting area many things have changed. Access to mines and quarries is more restricted today. Many sites no longer exist. Over the years ESCONI Field Trips took members to famous collecting site including Pints Quarry, Rockford Brick and Tile, Sylvania, Rensselaer, Terra Haute to name a few. Some trips ventured as far as Canada and South Dakota. A bus trip drove members to the Cave in Rock area in 1958.

Indoor trips have taken members to places like the Field Museum, Funk Museum and Chicago Academy of Science. In 1954 the club went to the Thorton Quarry. In 2009 we revisited a now much expanded Thorton Quarry. Trips to the concretion collecting areas have also covered all 60 years from the first field trip in 1950 to 2009 Rick Rock’s Pit 11 boat trips and to collecting at Braceville. A 1958 trip to Braidwood is pictured at left.

The ESCONI Library has encouraged members to learn more about the Earth Sciences. A list of the first 20 books was published in 1952. From 1959 to 1982 the library collection was housed at the Downers Grove Library. Any ESCONI member could check out books from the ESCONI collection by presenting their ESCONI membership card. In 1982 the books were again housed by the librarian and distributed at meetings and by request. Today we have hundreds of books and pamphlets in the collection. The library list is available on line and in print form. It continues to be one of the most valuable ESCONI educational resources.

ESCONI has continued its history of book publication for 45 years. In 1986 “Keys to Identify Pennsylvanian Plants of the Mazon Creek Area” became available to collectors. Earlier reference material needed updating. Larry Osterberger, Paul Caponera, Don Auler and Floyd Rogers played an important part in bringing this new booklet to print. Other members also assisted in the project. This was followed in 1989 by “Keys to Identify Pennsylvanian Fossil Animals of the Mazon Creek Area”. Andrew Hay, Don Auler and Floyd Rogers were major contributors with assistance from several members. “Creature Corner” by Andrew Hay and Don Auler is a compilation of articles on Mazon Creek animals that appeared in the ESCONI bulletin between 1984 and 2001. The classification of plants fossils from Mazon Creek had been revised over the years. Available publications were all out of date. Collectors were forced to identify their specimens using incorrect guides. The remedy to this situation was the publication in 2006 by ESCONI Associates of “The Mazon Creek Fossil Flora” by Jack Wittry. This book uses the latest scientific studies and color photos to help collectors identify their specimens. For this we are forever grateful to Jack Wittry and the ESCONI Associates. The next project is a book on the fauna of Mazon Creek. This will be ESCONI’s 7th book.

Over 70 fossils have been named for ESCONI members. A list was printed in the 50 th anniversary bulletin. ESCONI itself has two fossils named after the club. In 1974 Dr. David Bardack named a larval fish Esconichthys apyrispo. Collectors refer to it as the blade. In 1977, Ida Thompson named a polychaete worm Esconites zelus. Specimens of these 2 fossils are part of the historian’s collection.

Twenty nine members has served as president of ESCONI. Many have served in other offices, as study group officers, as part of shows and project. The contributions of these members have made ESCONI what it is today. To all who have given of their time and talents--- THANK YOU. Like with many things in life, you get back more than you give. How true with ESCONI membership. I have enjoyed more and learned more about my collection of fossils and minerals because of ESCONI. I have fond memories of shows and field trips sponsored by ESCONI. I hope this will continue far into the future. Happy 60th Anniversary ESCONI!

 

PBS Eons: When Hobbits Were Real

 

A new episode of PBS Eons is out. And, this one is about Homo floresiensis, otherwise known as the "hobbit".

Its discoverers named it Homo floresiensis, but it’s often called “the hobbit” for its short stature and oddly proportioned feet. And it’s been at the center of a major controversy in the field ever since. Was it its own species? Or was it really just one of us? Or, could it even have descended from a whole lineage of hominins that we don’t even know about?

T. rex used a stiff skull to eat its prey #dinosaurs @FieldMuseum @SUEtheTrex

Phys.org has a story about the strength of a Tyrannosaurus rex bite.  This story describes research which appeared in a paper published in the journal The Anatomical Record.

A Tyrannosaurus rex could bite hard enough to shatter the bones of its prey. But how it accomplished this feat without breaking its own skull bones has baffled paleontologists. That's why scientists at the University of Missouri are arguing that the T. rex's skull was stiff much like the skulls of hyenas and crocodiles, and not flexible like snakes and birds as paleontologists previously thought.

"The T. rex had a skull that's 6 feet long, 5 feet wide and 4 feet high, and bites with the force of about 6 tons," said Kaleb Sellers, a graduate student in the MU School of Medicine. "Previous researchers looked at this from a bone-only perspective without taking into account all of the connections—ligaments and cartilage—that really mediate the interactions between the bones."

The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Acidified the Ocean in a Flash #dinosaur #massextinction

An illustrator’s impression of the Chicxulub impact crater soon after its creation.  Detlev van Ravenswaay/Science Source

New York Times has a story about the K-Pg mass extinction event.  A recently published paper in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that the meteor at the end of the Cretaceous had an immediate and catastrophic effect on the ocean.

What happened to the dinosaurs when an asteroid about six miles wide struck Earth some 66 million years ago in what is today Mexico is well known: It wiped them out. But the exact fate of our planet’s diverse ocean dwellers at the time — shelly ammonites, giant mosasaurs and other sea creatures — has not been as well understood.

New research now makes the case that the same incident that helped bring an end to the reign of the dinosaurs also acidified the planet’s oceans, disrupted the food chain that sustained life underwater and resulted in a mass extinction. The study, published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, aims to shore up the hypothesis that the Chicxulub event’s destruction of marine life — the result of sulfur-rich rocks depositing acid rain into the oceans — was just as severe as the fire and fury it brought to land.

“It’s flash acidification, and it transformed ecosystems for millions of years,” said Noah Planavsky, a biogeochemist at Yale and one of the study’s authors. “We were shocked that we actually found this.”

The impact of the Chicxulub asteroid — so named for the crater it carved out around the Gulf of Mexico — sent columns of rock into Earth’s atmosphere, incinerated the planet’s forests and drove tsunamis far across the oceans. But the connection between the crash and the marine extinction has been less solid.

Ancient 'Cockroaches of the Sea' Fossilized While Playing 'Follow the Leader'

 

The trilobites were blind, so they may have used their spiny body projections to keep in touch with one another as they moved along in a queue. (Image credit: Jean Vannier)

LiveScience has a piece on a new trilobite discovery in Morocco.  Morocco is famous for fossils and one particularly notable animal from there is the trilobite.  In this case, a whole line of these animals died and were preserved together in line.  Behavior is rarely fossilized, but this window into the past, shows collective behavior is not as new and novel as was previous thought.  These Ordovician trilobites, Ampyx priscus, were described in a paper in the journal Scientific Reports.

The trilobites go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah … well, at least they did, some 480 million years ago.

New fossils from Morocco show lines of trilobites in orderly queues, likely buried by a storm as they trekked from one place to another under the Ordovician seas in an ancient game of "follow the leader."

"I think people think that collective behavior is something new in the course of evolution, but actually sophisticated behavior started very, very early," said study leader Jean Vannier, a paleontologist at the University of Lyon in France.

Reminder: ESCONI October Paleontology Study Group Meeting October 19th, 2019 - Waves, Winds, and Tides: Fossil Collecting on the West Dorset Coast of Southern England @LymeRegisMuseum @MaryAnningRocks

Waves, Winds, and Tides: Fossil Collecting on the West Dorset Coast of Southern England.

Presentation by: Andrew Young, with Marie Angkuw, Jann Bergsten, Rhonda Gates, and Deborah Lovely.

For the last several years, a group of ESCONI members have traveled to England in winter to collect fossils on its famous Jurassic Coast. Contrary to the time of year when vacationers typically hit the beaches looking for calm water and sunny skies, these enthusiasts plan their adventures precisely when the weather promises to be most violent and the tides most dramatic. It is when the fragile cliffs along the shoreline are fast-eroding from surf action that the incredible geologic history of the place is in best view.

Low tide on Charmouth Beach with Golden Cap in the distance, the highest point on the southern coast of Great Britain.

Twice now, our intrepid explorers have delivered ESCONI club presentations on Lyme Regis and its surroundings. They have covered the town’s fascinating and centuries-old religious, economic, and industrial history, the accomplishments of its most famous citizen – paleontologist Mary Anning – as well as their own experiences combing the beaches for fossil treasures. Their excitement for these trips is truly contagious.

Newly found pyritized Echioceras sp. ammonite on Charmouth Beach.

This past February, I was invited to join the expedition and it proved to be even more remarkable than any photo can capture. Though familiar beaches and fossil shops were revisited, this trip expanded to new locations and introductions with locals whose addiction and knowledge about collecting in the area were most helpful to us. It was really an evolution of discovery: new techniques of searching, new species found, and new relationships with similarly passionate people, all of which build on previous visits.

Rhonda Gates, Jann Bergsten, and Marie Angkuw at Seatown Beach.

On Saturday, October 19^th, at the ESCONI Paleo Group Meeting, I will lead a slide show presentation about this recent collecting adventure. Marie Angkuw, Jann Bergsten, Rhonda Gates, and Deborah Lovely will be present to contribute their stories and perspectives as we discuss what we’ve learned about collecting at the edge of an ocean, what we found, and the richness of the landscape overall. We’ll also bring our specimens for show-and-tell. Please join us for an exciting evening of further exploring the Jurassic Coast of southern England.

- Andrew Young

A large, water-worn ammonite in matrix at Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis.

ESCONI Flashback Friday #23: Year Summaries From the 20th Anniversary

As part of the run up to ESCONI's 70th Anniversary, here is Flashback Friday post #23.  If you have pictures or stories to contribute, please send them over to [email protected].  Thanks!

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Here is part of the 20th Anniversary issue of The Earth Science News.  It lists many of the ESCONI events in the years 1965 to 1969.

Wilbur Rath & ESCONI Exhibit Muskegon Show 1964

Slide from Gale Law made on August 1967

Dick Ade, Dorothy & John Ade (L-R) Muskegon Show 1964

Paleontology Field Trip Hiway House Motel Godfrey,IL May 28,1966

Earth Science Club Northern Illinois

November, 1949 -- November, 1969

"On November 11, 1949; thirteen people, each interested in some phase of the Earth Sciences, met in the basement of W. H. Allaway in Downers Grove, Illinois, to discuss their common interest."

The peeple present were:

    Helen Allaway
    W. H. Allaway
    Bob Beck
    Herb Beck
    Leroy Beghtol
    Roy Beghtol
    Arnie Besser
    Jay Farr
    Steven T. Norrell
    Gay Spiesman
    Dr. I. G. Spiesman
    Donald Thyer
    Harry Thyer

At the third meeting on January 6, 1950, sixty-two persons were present, twenty-seven became members by paying dues and the following slate of officers was elected.

    Chairman W. H. Allaway
    Vice-Chairman Roy Beghtol
    Recording Secretary Herb Beck
    Corresponding Secretary Jay Farr
    Treasurer S. T. Norvell
    Historian-Curator Ethel Whitney

In the intervening years, ESCONI has grown, prospered and changed. A ten-year history was published in the Earth Science News in 1959 and the years 1960 to 1964 were covered in a fifteen-year history published on our 15th anniversary. On this, the twentieth anniversary of the beginning of our club, the last five years of ESCONI's life are summarized.

*1965*

Under the leadership of president John Ade, the 555 members of ESCONI enjoyed ten regular meetings and ten organised field trips as well as a club sponsored swap session. The study groups of Paleontology, Minerology, Lapidary, and Archaeology met regularly. The Restoration Workshop was in progress under the direction of Wilbert Rath and resulted in many memorable reconstructions. As a result, Dick Ade wove a rug (or was it a blanket) on his homemade Navaho loom at the annual indoor field trip and the "Plant Life Through the Ages" exhibit was a focal point of the Midwest Federation Convention at Evansville, Indiana.

At the convention the Earth Science News, under the editorship of Jean Reynolds, was named the Best Bulletin in the Midwest, Tom Cesario had the Best Junior Exhibit and Welter Kean had the best Faceting Exhibit. ESCONI received a Meritorious Service Award for the "Outstanding reproduction of a Pennsylvanian 'Coal Forest' which sets a new standard for life-like displays, and for excellence in Educational Exhibits." Dr. Ben Hur Wilson was awarded the title of Midwest Federation Honorary President and Verne Montgomery was elected Midwest Federation Vice-President.

Fluorite became the Illinois State Mineral partly through the local efforts of George Gelakoski and Louis Martin.

Charter member Jay Farr was awarded honorary membership in ESCONI.

Deceased members included Wilbur L. Hoff, Steven T. Norvell, and Elizabeth Farr.

*1966*

Jim Konecny took up the reins of leadership as president of the club. The February program titled "The Moon-Some Facts, Some Fiction and Soce Folklore" may have helped prepare members for the "moon rocks" of 1969. A close relationship between the Field Museum and ESCONI resulted in extensive study of collections from the Peabody Coal Mine, Pit 11 by Dr. E. Richardson and members of the museum staff.

At the Midwest Federation Convention Verne Montgomery was elected president and Josaph Lizzadro xwas named an honorary member.

ESCONI expanded in its involvement in junior groups with the organization of the Mokena Juniors. Junior groups also existed in Downers Grove and Berwyn at this time.

Through the ceaseless efforts of Harry Matthies, the club reached the 100% participation level in the AFMS Scholarship Foundation drive by contributing one dollar for each active member. This fund's purpose is to produce scholarships for students in the Earth Sciences. ESCONI received second place in an AFMS sponsored contest for publishing the most news about the AFMS Scholarship Foundation. The $15 prize was placed in the Scholarship Fund.

The loss of Dr. F. L. Fleener and Dr. Ben Hur Wilson was mourned by the Many members who knew them.

*1967*

A full agenda of meetings and field trips kept ESCONI members active throughout the year. A special Photography workshop, conducted by Gale Law, met several times.

The Midwest Federation Convention resulted in a blue ribbon in the Junior Division for J. C. Konecny and the Junior Division Trophy for David Douglass. Max Hilmer received a white ribbon in Minerology. In the Fossil Division, Sylvia Konecny and the Georges received blue ribbons, Jim Konecny received a red ribbon and the Matthies received a white ribbon. Doris Kemp and the Lizzadro Museum entered non-competitive displays. ESCONI received the Outstanding Club Exhibit Award.

Earl and Mary Cornwall were named honorary members of the Midwest Federation.

Harry Nelson was listed among the deceased.

*1968*

The office of club president passed to Calvin George. Membership rose to 780 total members, an astounding figure.

June Douglass organised a dsplay workshop which was presented by the Kemps.

ESCONI reached the 200% level of contributions to the AMFS Scholarship Fund through the continuing efforts of Harry Matthies.

On August 24th,-the club was named an AMFS "All American Federation Club" for "Outstanding Service to Members, to their community, to others."

At the Midwest Federation Convention in Normal, Illinois, the list of ESCONI participants was lengthy. The American Junior Trophy in Fossils was won by David Douglass while J.C. Konecny was awarded the Midwest Junior Trophy for Archaeology. The George family received the American Trophy in Educational Exhibits and Jim Konecny received a blue ribbon for his Educational Exhibit. The Matthies won a blue ribbon in the Fossil Division and the Prepps displayed Eskimo carvings non-competitively. The Earth Science News was judged the 10th best bulletin in the Midwest.

A new junior group began to meet regularly in Lockport as ESCONI continued to expand its youth program.

The Meritorious Service Award for members who have given "long and meritorious service to ESCONI" was instituted by the Executive Committee. The first recipients of the award were:

    Earl and Mary Cornwell
    Orval and Mary Fether
    Max and Hazel Hillmer
    Bill and Wylma Kelly
    Harold and Ethel McCleery
    Jerry and Martha Prepp
    Harry and Nellie Witmer

During the year, Claude Warren and George Mallot passed away.

*1969*

In this year of our twentieth anniversary ESCONI is well represented in the Midwest Federation. Jean Reynolds is Secretary, Verne Montgomery is Director of Supplies and Information, Dick Ade is Archaeology Division Chairman, Tom Wheatly is Illinois State Vice-President for the fifth consecutive year and A. A. Catlin is Assistant for Nomenclature.

At the Midwest Federation Convention in Murdo, S.D., ESCONI received its second Meritorious Service Award.

A new junior group was formed in Western Springs under the guidance of Dorothy Hart, bringing the number of such groups to five. The Berwyn group is led by Barbara Stvan, the Downers Grove group by Bill Popp, the Lockport group by Connie Johnson, and the Mokena group by Charlene,Crenscenzo.

A special meeting of persons interested in microminerals and microfossils has met and plans to meet again.

ESCONI's first chairman, Bill Allaway has been named Honorary President of the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois by the membership at the October meeting.

The ESCONI Meritorious Service Award was bestowed upon:

    John and Dorothy Ade
    Miles and Thelma Gates
    Anton and Viola Sobolik

Members were saddened by the death of Max Hillmer and Margarett Cunningham.

PBS Eons: The Case of the Dinosaur Egg Thief @EonsShow #dinosaurs

 

There's a new PBS Eons episode.  This one's about Oviraptor.  The would be "Egg Thief" is now a caring mother...

Paleontologists found a small theropod dinosaur skull right on top of a nest of eggs that were believed to belong to a plant-eating dinosaur. Instead of being the nest robbers that they were originally thought to be, raptors like this one would reveal themselves to actually be caring parents.

Happy National Fossil Day! #NationalFossilDay @NatFossilDay #fossils

Today, October 16th, 2019 is National Fossil Day!  In the Chicago area, the Burpee Museum and Cosley Zoo have events.  Check for events around you here.  Pass it around and hug your favorite fossil!  It was appreciate it!

The Mirror: Earth Science Week photo competition winners - including stunning shot of Rainbow Mountain #EarthScienceWeek #nature #photography

The winning photo was taken in The Gerlache Strait, Antarctica by Ingrid Demaerschalk

The Mirror has a post with pictures from the winners of the 2019 Earth Science Week photography competition, "Geoscience for everyone".

Rainbow Mountain in Vinicuna, Peru by Leith Livingstone (Image: Leith Livingstone)

Reminder: ESCONI October Paleontology Study Group Meeting October 19th, 2019 - Waves, Winds, and Tides: Fossil Collecting on the West Dorset Coast of Southern England @LymeRegisMuseum @MaryAnningRocks

Waves, Winds, and Tides: Fossil Collecting on the West Dorset Coast of Southern England.

Presentation by: Andrew Young, with Marie Angkuw, Jann Bergsten, Rhonda Gates, and Deborah Lovely.

For the last several years, a group of ESCONI members have traveled to England in winter to collect fossils on its famous Jurassic Coast. Contrary to the time of year when vacationers typically hit the beaches looking for calm water and sunny skies, these enthusiasts plan their adventures precisely when the weather promises to be most violent and the tides most dramatic. It is when the fragile cliffs along the shoreline are fast-eroding from surf action that the incredible geologic history of the place is in best view.

Low tide on Charmouth Beach with Golden Cap in the distance, the highest point on the southern coast of Great Britain.

Twice now, our intrepid explorers have delivered ESCONI club presentations on Lyme Regis and its surroundings. They have covered the town’s fascinating and centuries-old religious, economic, and industrial history, the accomplishments of its most famous citizen – paleontologist Mary Anning – as well as their own experiences combing the beaches for fossil treasures. Their excitement for these trips is truly contagious.

Newly found pyritized Echioceras sp. ammonite on Charmouth Beach.

This past February, I was invited to join the expedition and it proved to be even more remarkable than any photo can capture. Though familiar beaches and fossil shops were revisited, this trip expanded to new locations and introductions with locals whose addiction and knowledge about collecting in the area were most helpful to us. It was really an evolution of discovery: new techniques of searching, new species found, and new relationships with similarly passionate people, all of which build on previous visits.

Rhonda Gates, Jann Bergsten, and Marie Angkuw at Seatown Beach.

On Saturday, October 19^th, at the ESCONI Paleo Group Meeting, I will lead a slide show presentation about this recent collecting adventure. Marie Angkuw, Jann Bergsten, Rhonda Gates, and Deborah Lovely will be present to contribute their stories and perspectives as we discuss what we’ve learned about collecting at the edge of an ocean, what we found, and the richness of the landscape overall. We’ll also bring our specimens for show-and-tell. Please join us for an exciting evening of further exploring the Jurassic Coast of southern England.

- Andrew Young

A large, water-worn ammonite in matrix at Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis.

Happy Earth Science Week, October 13-19, 2019! #EarthScienceWeek

 

This week is Earth Science Week.  Look here for the details.  Check out the newsletter.

Sunday, October 13
International Earthcache Day. Explore the world with this GPS scavenger hunt!

Monday, October 14
Earth Science Literacy Day. Learn the fundamentals of geosciences with Earth Science: Big Idea, a video series developed to explain why Earth science literacy is important.

Tuesday, October 15
Earth Observation Day. Engage students and teachers in remote sensing as an exciting and powerful educational tool.

No Child Left Inside Day. NCLI Day encourages students to go outside and research Earth science in the field like a professional geoscientist.

Wednesday, October 16
National Fossil Day. The annually held National Fossil Day celebration is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of fossils.

Thursday, October 17
Geoscience for Everyone Day. Do your part to help young people from underrepresented communities explore exciting careers in the geosciences.

Friday, October 18
Geologic Map Day. Hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, Association of American State Geologists, National Park Service, Geological Society of America, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in partnership with AGI, this special event promotes awareness of the study, uses, importance of geologic mapping for education, science, business, and a variety of public policy concerns.

Saturday, October 19
International Archaeology Day. Hosted by the Archaeological Institute of America, this special event is a celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery.

National Fossil Day 2019 Event: Lauer Foundation at the Cosley Zoo on October 19th, 2019 #MazonCreek #fossils @LauerFoundation

The National Fossil Day has a page with events planned for on and near the actual date of Wednesday, October 16th, 2019.  There's quite a few events listed and an interesting one listed for Illinois.  The Lauer Foundation and the Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, IL are holding an event on Saturday, October 19th, 2019.  There will be Mazon Creek fossils, including the Illinois State Fossil Tully Monster.  Additionally, they plan to have shark teeth and dinosaur teeth and bones.   It should be a great time!  Here are all the details.

Cosley Zoo

Celebrate National Fossil Day

Lauer Foundation for Paleontology, Science and Education and the Cosley Zoo

Join The Lauer Foundation and Cosley Zoo on Saturday October 19, 2019 to Celebrate National Fossil Day.

See first hand some of Illinois’ famous Mazon Creek fossils, including the state fossil the Tully Monster.  Also see Megalodon shark teeth and dinosaur teeth and bones.  Learn about fossils and geology. Have a chance to touch real fossils and take home a free fossil.  All free with admission to Cosley Zoo.  We will be open from 10-4.

Date(s) of Event: Saturday October 19, 2019

Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Location: Cosley Zoo 1356 N. Gary Ave Wheaton, IL

Contact Information: Bruce and Rene Lauer Lauer Foundation for Paleontology, Science and Education 630.408.9304,Tami Romejko Education & Guest Experience Manager Cosley Zoo 630.665.5534

Website: Lauerfoundationpse.org, Cosleyzoo.org

 

ESCONI Flashback Friday #22: Interesting Memories From the Early Days of ESCONI (15th Anniversary)

As part of the run up to ESCONI's 70th Anniversary, here is Flashback Friday post #22.  If you have pictures or stories to contribute, please send them over to [email protected].  Thanks!

-----------------------------

For this Flashback Friday post, we have two letters that appeared in the 15th Anniversity issue of the Earth Science News.  The first is from Bill Allaway, one of the founding members and the first chairman/president of ESCONI.  The second is from Jay and Elizabeth Farr, also founding members.  Both letters convey the same vision of ESCONI when it was first founded.  ESCONI was very much (and still is) a scientific organization that specializes in education, both through monthly educational meetings and community outreach.

The Allaways and the Farrs in 1951

BEST WISHES TO ALL OUR ESCONI FRIENDS-

Greetings from the Allaways in sunny Los Gatos, California. The only thing we haven't got is Esconi with all of its many fine activities and friendly people which we miss greatly. We look forward each month to receiving the fine bulletin which you produce so efficiently, as it keeps in touch with our friends and the wonderful way they continue to carry on the ideals that were set up when Esconi was organized.

On this 15th Anniversary year, it seems as though it was just yesterday that Roy Beghtol and I were producing the first Earth Science News and I might mention that there has never been a gap in all the months that have passed since that time, that a great bulletin has failed to roll off the press.

Probably nobody realizes the extent of the influence that Esconi has had in the field of earth science. The many clubs that have been formed in local communities by Esconi members - the Earth Science Magazine which reaches out all over the world - the Langford Books on Wilmington fossils - the Armstrong book on Trilobites - the many contributions by Esconi members in the Illinois Archaeological Bulletins, which are really great books - the junior members who are now making a mark in a number of fields of earth science. I believe I could go on all day citing these many achievements but I must try not to be too windy.

I would like to mention, however, that Esconi members have played a great part in the miracle called the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts, which I am proud to say I served for a time as Vice President of the Board of Directors. I do not need to mention what that institution means to the Chicago area.

Little did we dream what we were starting on that cold night back in November 1949, when a small group of boys and their fathers met with Jay Farr, Steve Norvell, Roy Beghtol and myself in our basement on Prince Street.

We can thank a long, long list of loyal, hardworking officers and members for the great organization and the amazing achievements of Esconi and hope it will continue for many, many years to come.

We are both well, have most of our rocks unpacked, sawing, grinding, and polishing equipment set up and have our museum in good shape, which my daughter Peggy has dubbed "Pappy's Play Pen".

We have joined the local church and rock club and our greatest difficulty is to find enough hours in the day to do all the things we vould like to do.

We would be very happy to see any of our friends that happen to come out this way, and will guarantee to show them roses in December.

Sincerely yours,

J.H. Allaway                            J. H. (Bill) Allaway
15790 Loma Vista                     1st Chairman of Esconi
Los Gatos, Calif. 95030

 

Interesting memories of the early days of Esconi

by Jay and Elizabeth Farr-Charter Members

Over the years we have had many experiences well worth repeating over and over again, however, only five short years ago most of these stories were told by various persons in our 10th Anniversary issue, (November 1959) which is in volume 10 of our bound bulletins in our library.

We therefore, shall limit ourselves to the last five years, and since there are other charter members who may submit long stories we shall limit ourselves to one experience. It had to do with certain reports we were obliged to file with the United States Government, defending our dignity as an organization.

The essence of these reports should be of interest to every member. ESCONI is a "Non-profit" organization, incorporated under the laws of the state of Illinois, NOT as a "Hobby Club", NOT as a bunch of "Rock Hounds", NOT as "Pebble Polishers", but as a CCRPORATTON organized for the purpose of STUDYING AND PROMOTING INTEREST IN THE EARTH SCIENCES. By virtue of our declared purpose and what we really do, ESCONI enjoys certain legal priveleges under the Federal laws. These priveleges were not granted automatically but were procured by effort and formal process of law. They can be preserved only by achievement and guarded demeanor.

1. We are exempt from Federal Income Tax and furthermore, gifts to ESCONI are deductable from estate and income taxes by donors.

2. We mail our bulletins to certain non-profit at a special postage rate available only organizations.

Both of these priveleges are available to us because we are organized and operated for educational and scientific purposes.

The minute we cease to fit into this category we cease to qualify; so let us all enter into our activities. The minute we become a hobby club we cease to qualify; so let us continue to be devoted to our declared task, and let us not overwork the expression "wonderful hobby". We do not exclude from membership, persons who consider some of our activities as their hobbies; yet we did not organize and do not operate as a hobby club. Our record stands as a witness to our devotion to our declared objectives.

Some items from our record are listed below:

-     ESCONI successfully launched the first government inspired Earth Science Veek ever held in this part of the United States of America (Oct. 8-14, 1951). This was educational.

-     ESCONI since organizing in 1949 has presented monthly programs open to the public without charge. These are educational programs devoted to the earth sciences.

-     ESCONI has always published a bulletin, The Earth Science News, and it always has contained information that is educational.

-     ESCONI since December of 1952 has conducted formal Earth Science classes for elementary school children in various metropolitan villages. Our Junior membership ranges around 200.

-     ESCONI members in 1953 took special training and then conducted what is probably the most complete Archaeological excavation ever made in the Chicago Area. The data and material from the "Thornton Dig" were turned over to the Chicago Museum of Natural History. This was scientific.

-     ESCONI members (4 teachers and 3 others) in 1955 produced a "Science Curriculum Guide" (text book) which was adopted and put into use in the Hinsdale school system. This was educational.

-     ESCONI members in 1958 published the now famous Paleontology reference book "The Wilmington Coal Flora", and in 1963 they published its sequel 'The Wilmington Coal Fauna". This was educational.

-     ESCONI has a library of well over 100 books for the use of students and members and others studying the earth science: This is educational.

-     ESCONI members, each year, serve as judges at exhibits of the Illinois Junior Academy of Sciences at local schools and at the final contest at the University of Illinois. This is Educational.

-     ESCONI maintains educational exhibits in various libraries in this vicinity. This is educational.

-     ESCONI by invitation assisted with the design of the educational exhibit on Paleontology in the Lizzadro Museum. This is educational.

-     ESCONI pays for subscriptions to "Earth Science" magazine for thirty schools in the Chicago suburbs.

It has been our good fortune to participate in most of these activities and therefore, it is natural that helping compile these reports is one of our outstanding memories for this period.

                                                Jay and Elizabeth Farr Charter members.