Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois - ESCONI

ESCONI Events for April 2025

Field trips require membership, but visitors are welcome at all meetings!

Sat, Apr 5th	ESCONI Mineralogy Study Group - 7:30 PM - Topic: "Fluorescent Minerals" by Dave Carlson In-person at College of DuPage: Technical Education Center (TEC) Building - Room 1038B (Map).
Fri, Apr 11th	ESCONI General Meeting - 8:00 PM via Zoom - Topic: "The Geology of Indiana" by Todd Thompson Zoom link
Sat, Apr 12th	ESCONI Junior Meeting - 6:30 PM (starts at 7:00 PM) at College of DuPage Room TEC 1038B - Topic: "Rock , Mineral, and Fossil Identification" Specifics of this meeting are available from Scott Galloway, 630-670-2591, [email protected]. The meeting will be in person at the College of DuPage Technical Education Center (TEC) Building - Room 1038B (Map).
Sat, Apr 19th	ESCONI Paleontology Study Group  - 7:30 PM via Zoom - Topic: "A New Cincinnatian Crinoid Species: Discovery, Research, Publication and Working with the Pros" by Jack Kallmeyer Zoom link

 

Intelligence Evolved at Least Twice in Vertebrate Animals #evolution #intelligence #animals #animalintelligence #birds #mammals

Did the neural circuits that support intelligence evolve once in vertebrates, or independently in birds and mammals?

Quanta Magazine has an interesting piece about the evolution of intelligence.  A variety of nonhuman species display intelligent behavior and advanced cognitive abilities.  When did it evolve?  Were the basic neural pathways inherited from a common ancestor or did it evolve separately in a case of convergent evolution?  A series of studies published in the journal Science provide evidence that birds evolved intelligence independently.

Humans tend to put our own intelligence on a pedestal. Our brains can do math, employ logic, explore abstractions and think critically. But we can’t claim a monopoly on thought. Among a variety of nonhuman species known to display intelligent behavior, birds have been shown time and again to have advanced cognitive abilities. Ravens plan for the future, crows count and use tools, cockatoos open and pillage booby-trapped garbage cans, and chickadees keep track of tens of thousands of seeds cached across a landscape. Notably, birds achieve such feats with brains that look completely different from ours: They’re smaller and lack the highly organized structures that scientists associate with mammalian intelligence.

“A bird with a 10-gram brain is doing pretty much the same as a chimp with a 400-gram brain,” said Onur Güntürkün, who studies brain structures at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany. “How is it possible?”

Researchers have long debated about the relationship between avian and mammalian intelligences. One possibility is that intelligence in vertebrates — animals with backbones, including mammals and birds — evolved once. In that case, both groups would have inherited the complex neural pathways that support cognition from a common ancestor: a lizardlike creature that lived 320 million years ago, when Earth’s continents were squished into one landmass. The other possibility is that the kinds of neural circuits that support vertebrate intelligence evolved independently in birds and mammals.

It’s hard to track down which path evolution took, given that any trace of the ancient ancestor’s actual brain vanished in a geological blink. So biologists have taken other approaches — such as comparing brain structures in adult and developing animals today — to piece together how this kind of neurobiological complexity might have emerged.

The largest flood in Earth’s history burst through Gibraltar and Sicily and refilled the entire Mediterranean in just a few years #geology #europe #mediterranean #flood

Sicily (the large island next to the ‘toe’ of Italy) still forms part of a divide between the Mediterranean’s darker basins, shaded in deeper blue. GEBCO / National Oceanographic Centre, UK, CC BY-NC-SA

The Conversation has an article about the mother of all floods... the flooding of the Mediterranean about 5 million years ago.  The Atlantic Ocean seeped it's way through Strait of Gibraltar, which was blocked by the movement of tectonic plates. This caused the Mediterranean Sea to dry up and led to the formation of large salt deposits - kilometers thick in some places.

The Med was, at the time, a largely dry and salty basin, but so much water poured in that it filled up in just a couple of years – maybe even just a few months. At its peak, the flood discharged about 1,000 times the water of the modern-day Amazon river.

At least, that’s the thesis one of us put forward in a 2009 study of an underwater canyon excavated along the Strait of Gibraltar, which he presumed to have been carved out by this massive flood. If correct, (and some scientists do dispute the theory), the so-called Zanclean megaflood would be the largest single flood recorded on Earth.

But extraordinary claims like this require extraordinarily solid evidence. Our latest research investigates sedimentary rock from the Zanclean era that seems to record how the water surged through a gap between modern-day Sicily and mainland Africa to refill the eastern half of the Mediterranean.

Fossil Friday #261: Crossotheca boulayi #fossils #paleontology #FossilFriday #MazonCreek #pennsylvanian #seedfern

This is the "Fossil Friday" post #261.  Expect this to be a somewhat regular feature of the website.  We will post any fossil pictures you send in to [email protected].  Please include a short description or story.  Check the #FossilFriday Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!

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From George's Basement

We have one of the rarer Mazon Creek seed ferns for this week's Fossil Friday.  This is Crossotheca boulayi, which we featured for Mazon Monday #264. Crossotheca boulayi was described by Charles Rene Zeiller in 1886.

This specimen was collected from Pit 3 and opened via freeze/thaw in January 2025.

 

Throwback Thursday #261: Roger Bohn #history #ThrowbackThursday #TBT

This is Throwback Thursday #261.  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 sent them to [email protected].  Thanks!

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We are saddened to share that Roger Bohn (1932–2024) passed away in October 2024. Roger served as ESCONI’s 1st Vice President in 1991. He joined in 1985 and remained a member until 2011. Beyond his involvement with ESCONI, he volunteered as a docent at the Field Museum, where his favorites included the SUE and Evolving Planet exhibits. He was also a member of the Mid-American Paleontological Society (MAPS) and the Chicago Area Paleontological Society (CAPS). You can read his obituary here.

 

ESCONI VP Roger Bohn with Michael Bartosz - COD Scholar in January 1991

His daughter, Shelley (Bohn) Korth, shared the following memories about her father.

Roger Bohn

My father’s interest in fossils and minerals probably began about 60 years ago. He'd plan two- or three-week-long trips to somewhere with his wife and three kids at the end of each school year. In 1964, we took our first trip out west to follow a trail of National Parks. Notable stops included Dinosaur National Monument in Utah (where we gawked at the Wall of Bones) and the Petrified Forest in Arizona (where we marveled at petrified wood that was millions of years old).

A few years later, my father’s interest in collecting was probably sparked when my brother visited a campground near Braidwood with a friend. While he sat on the shore of a small lake after a swim, my brother noticed some rocks and remembered a lesson from school. He tapped one rock on another and split it open to find a fern leaf fossil inside. My father was so impressed with this fossil that he kept it on display for years in the family room. That fossil may have led him to Mazon Creek where fossils were all over the place at the time; we heard a lot about my father’s trips to hunt for fossils in all kinds of places thereafter.

For many years, my father volunteered as a docent at The Field Museum in Chicago; there, he was usually stationed at the SUE the T. rex display in the main hall. My father moved with SUE to the new Evolving Planet exhibit when it opened in 2018.

As best we can remember, my father connected with ESCONI through one of the Gem and Mineral Shows. Over the years, he acquired hundreds of books and maintained membership to several paleontology groups (e.g., MAPS and CAPS). When my father was interested in something, he studied it—sometimes obsessively.

She generously donated quite a few of his fossils and books to ESCONI.  Photos below...

ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek Fossils - Saturday, May 17th and Sunday, May 18th, 2024 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology

Braceville Field Trip Rules for May 2025

The ESCONI field trips to Braceville for Mazon Creek fossils are set for May 17 and 18, 2025 from 9 AM to 3 PM. You can attend one or the other, but not both days. There is an attendance limit of 50 people each day.

You must register to go on this trip. See rule 6 below for instructions. This is the only way to register.

If you are sick, have any symptoms of Covid-19 or have recently tested positive, DO NOT COME.

1. Families are welcome, but the minimum age is 5 years old. Children must be supervised at all times by their parent or guardian. Registration ends at midnight May 11th.

2. You and everyone in your party must be members of ESCONI. No membership dues will be accepted at the field trip site. Have your membership status resolved before the trip, no later than May 11th. You can pay dues by mailing a check, or with a credit card using the PayPal link on the ESCONI website.

3. You will be required to check-in at the collecting site. By attending, you agree to follow the ESCONI Code of Ethics and Conduct (available on the ESCONI website) and agree to the conditions set forth in the ESCONI Accident Waiver and Release of Liability Form (sent by email to those that register). You don’t need to print it out, just know what you’re agreeing to.

4. You’re going to be digging in clay and rocks – dress accordingly! Boots and gloves are strongly recommended. No open-toed shoes or soft climbing shoes. Hard hats are not required. You may want to bring a shovel, pickaxe, trowel, or hammer. Use only a rock hammer, not a claw hammer or roofing hammer. If you decide to hammer on something, use eye protection. There may also be insects and poison ivy. Bring a bucket to carry your fossils in. The collecting site is an old spoil pile on private property. There may be old rusty tools or other iron pieces embedded in the pile. Sliding down the hill could be very painful.

5. The top of the pile is unstable and not safe to stand on. Do not go above the flags/caution tape markers. Anyone found above the markers will be asked to leave and may not be allowed to sign up for future field trips.

6. Sign up for the trip by sending me (Jeremy) an email with the names of all members in your group, and the day you are attending. I will acknowledge by return email within 24 hours. If you don’t hear from me in that time, send it again! My email is [email protected]

7. If the trip is full I will keep a waiting list in case there are cancellations. If you are signed up and can’t make it, please let me know.

Meet at 9 AM at the entrance to the collecting site on S Berta Road, just east of the intersection with Division St (Braceville IL). A nearby landmark for driving directions is the Braceville Gardner Cemetery, 7295 East Braceville Road, Braceville. I can send a small map to anyone that needs it.

 

Scientists shed light on life and times of 'Fiona' the pregnant ichthyosaur #fossils #paleontology #reptile #cretaceous #ichthyosaur #chile #patagonia

A researcher with "Fiona" at the Natural History Museum Río Seco, in Punta Arenas, Chile. The fossil is 11 feet long. Credit: Irene Viscor

Phys.org has a story about Fiona, the pregnant ichthyosaur.  Fiona lived about 131 million years ago during the early Cretaceous Period.  Her remains were discovered a few years ago in a glacian ice field in Patagona.   Her story was published in a paper in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Fiona is the only fully preserved and excavated pregnant ichthyosaur from Chile, and is the only known pregnant ichthyosaur from the Hauterivian, a time period during the Early Cretaceous. Her remains, which are complete and largely intact, provide a detailed look into the anatomy of ichthyosaurs, an apex marine predator that resembles a dolphin of today.

What's more, the details about how Fiona—and 87 other ichthyosaurs in the glacial field—became buried in the seafloor could be part of a larger story of continental breakup, creating new ocean habitats, said study co-author Matt Malkowski, an assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin's Jackson School of Geosciences.

Malkowski, in collaboration with researchers at Boise State University, conducted the high-precision isotope dating that determined Fiona to be 131 million years old, a point in Earth's history where South America was undergoing big changes. The continent was in the process of separating from what is now Africa. Malkowski said the opening up of a narrow oceanic passageway between the continents may have affected global climate, currents and habitats for marine life.

Mazon Monday #264: Crossotheca boulayi #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #MazonMonday #pennsylvanian #paleobotany

This is Mazon Monday post #264.  What's your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:[email protected].

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From George's Basement

Crossotheca boulayi is one of the rarer seed ferns in the Mazon Creek fossil biota.  It was first described as Alethopteris hymenophylloides by Leo Lesquereux in 1870.  The name was changed to Crossotheca boulayi by Charles Rene Zeiller (1847-1915).  Zeiller was French paleontologist, geologist, and mining engineer.  He is known particularily for his work on the Carboniferous plants of France and Algeria.  JSTOR has a nice memorial of his life, published in 1916.

Crossotheca boulayi appears on page 156 of Jack Wittry's "A Comprehesive Guide to the Fossil Flora of Mazon Creek".

Crossotheca boulayi Zeiller, 1886

1870. Alethopteris hymenophylloides Lesquereux: p. 393, pl. 10, fig. 1, non figs 2-4 = Sphenopteris illinoisensis
1879-80. Pseudopecopteris hymenophylloides Lesquereux: p. 196, pl. 56, fig. 2, non fig. 3 = S. illinoisensis
1886. Sphenopteris (Crossotheca) boulayi Zeiller: p. 115, pl. 4, figs. 4-4c
1924. Crossotheca boulayi Zeiller; Kidston: p. 352, pl. 91, figs. 1-6
1938. Crossotheca boulayi Zeiller; Bell: p. 47, pl. 36, figs. 1-4; pl. 96, fig. 1; pl. 97, fig. 4
1940. Callipteris sp.; Janssen: p. 63, pl. 17, fig. 1
1958. Crossotheca boulayi Zeiller; Langford: p. 184, figs. 321, 322
1962. Crossotheca boulayi Zeiller; Bell: p. 18, pl. 5, figs. 2, 3; pl. 7 figs. 1, 2

DESCRIPTION: The penultimate rachis is smooth and has a wing. The ultimate pinnae rise obliquely at nearly
a 45° angle. They are close, alternate, lanceolate, and decurrent in the wing of the penultimate rachis. At the apex is a small lobe. The pinnules are either entire or undulate. They are oblique, decurrent, rounded at the apex, and free. At the base of larger pinnules, there is a wide footstalk with a sinus on the acroscopic side and a slight, rounded constriction on the basiscopic side. The midvein is heavy and decurrent. The lateral veins arch slightly and are distant. They rise at an acute angle and fork near the middle. In the lower lateral veins, the upper veinlet divides again. Fertile pinnules are oblong and have sporangia forming a fringe along the lateral margin.

REMARKS: Crossotheca boulayi is rare. Sterile foliage most resembles Oligocarpia gutbieri in size and venation, but they can easily be separated. Of the two, only C. boulayi has a winged penultimate rachis and pinnules constricted at the base.

Specimens

Field Museum P31121

Field Museum PP15308

Field Museum PP43483

Crossotheca boulayi, fertile form from George's Basement

Crossotheca boulayi, sterile form from George's Basement

 

7,000-Year-Old Skeletons From the ‘Green Sahara’ Reveal a Mysterious Human Lineage #fossils #sahara #history #archaeology

Archaeologists found 15 skeletons in a rock shelter in southwest Libya, including two naturally mummified women who died roughly 7,000 years ago. Archaeological Mission in the Sahara, Sapienza University of Rome

Smithsonian Magazine has a story about two mysterious skeletons found in Libya.  As recent as 5,000 year ago, the area of the Sahara desert was a lush and green landscape with lakes and rivers.  The land sustained a diverse variety of animals.  It shouldn't be surprising that humans were also lived there.  Recently, 15 human skeletons, including 2 mummified women, were found in a rock shelter in southwesterm Libya.  According to a study published in the journal Nature, they were largely genetically distinct.

The individuals who lived in the green Sahara showed “no significant genetic influence from sub-Saharan populations to the south or Near Eastern and prehistoric European groups to the north,” says study co-author Johannes Krause, a geneticist at Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, to Reuters’ Will Dunham.

“This suggests they remained genetically isolated despite practicing animal husbandry—a cultural innovation that originated outside Africa," Krause adds.

That finding was unexpected, as researchers had long theorized the green Sahara was a human migration corridor between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. “It’s surprising,” says Eugenia
D’Atanasio, a geneticist at the Sapienza University of Rome who was not involved with the research, to Science’s Andrew Curry. “I would have expected more gene flow across the green Sahara.”

PBS Eons has a new video.  Pandas in America?!?  How?

How did a relative of the red panda end up in North America? What can this tell us about how long ago – and how many times – North America was connected to Europe and Asia?

 

 

Fossil Friday #260: Lobatelson mclaughlinae #fossil #paleontology #FossilFriday #MazonCreek #Pennsylvanian #shrimp

This is the "Fossil Friday" post #260.  Expect this to be a somewhat regular feature of the website.  We will post any fossil pictures you send in to [email protected].  Please include a short description or story.  Check the #FossilFriday Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!

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Today, we have a very nice Pit 11 Lobetelson mclaughlinae from Pit 11.  This fossil shrimp was collected on June 29th, 1978 by Walter Lietz.  Walter collected with many people over the years, including his wife Rita, Francis Tully, George Agazzi, Bob Ulaszek, Ralph Jewell, and Marty Houdek.  Ralph refers to Walter as his "Fossil Mentor".  He tells many nice and interesting stories about Walter.  See "Walter's Spider" in Mazon Monday #209.

George Agazzi, Rita Lietz, Bob Ulaszek, and Francis Tully

The longer rostrum and the wider shape of the telson are the distinguishing features between it and Belotelson magister.  L. mclaughlinae  was described in 2006 by Frederick Schram, who described many Mazon Creek crustaceans.  For more details, see Mazon Monday #120.

Throwback Thursday #260: New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) #gems #minerals #history #TBT #ThrowbackThursday

This is Throwback Thursday #260. 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 sent them to [email protected]. Thanks! email:[email protected].

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William (Bill) Allaway was one of the founding members of ESCONI in 1949.  And actually, the first few meetings were held at his home and a group of Western Electric engineers and scientists discussed the formation of a Earth Science oriented club to educate both adults and children.  The effort was a resounding success.  Bill and Helen moved west to the Los Gatos, CA area in 1962,  where he set up the Santa Clara Valley Gem and Mineral Society.  One thing led to another and he became involved in the founding of a museum, which is now called the New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU).  He even ended up being its first director.  He donated a collection of gems and minerals to the museum. 

Bill & Helen Allaway in 1952

Here is an article from the April 1971 edition of the ESCONI newsletter.

PERSONAL NEWS - ESCON'S FIRST PRESIDENT 1949

Mineralogist is Named First Los Gatos Museum Director-by Jeannette Befame---San Jose News, Jan. 26, 1971

One of the men who.pioneered the founding of the Los Gatos Museum has been named its first director.

He is William H. Allaway, who has spent a lifetime gathering knowledge in many fields of the earth sciences.

In 1965, when the museum was in the beginning stages of becoming a reality, Allaway was among those who scrounged around for displays and other materials needed for the project.

He was a natural for the position to which the Los Gatos Museum Association Board appointed him this week.

In 1952 he was named assistant editor of the Earth Science Magazine, which he also helped to acquire. Today he serves as its West Coast representative.

Before his move to Los Gatos in 1962, he helped organize the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts in Elmhurst, Ill., to house a friend's collection of jade and rare Chinese art. His friend had been storing the treasures in his home.

During his years in Los Gatos, Allaway has written a book, "Basic Mineralogy." He teaches mineralogy in the Campbell Rock Shop.

His life-long igneous rock collection is now en display at the Los Gatos Museum. It is organized into basaltic and granitic categories, and from fine to coarsely grained types within each of the two groups.

Allaway plans to use such "family" categories in the grouping of displays of fossils, snails and shells.

The new museum, director also is one of the directors of the Santa Clara Valley Gem and Mineral Society.

Among his other accomplishments is building the membership of the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois from a group of five children and their parents into a thriving organization of 700 members today.

The museum's About page has a short history.

New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU), formerly the Museums of Los Gatos, founded in 1965, is a public non-profit art and history museum located in the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Los Gatos. NUMU has gone through many transformations throughout our history as part of the Los Gatos community. Here's the backstory:

The Museums of Los Gatos sprang from the inspiration of resident, Dr. Ethel Dana, who felt that no town could be complete without a museum. In May 1965 the Town of Los Gatos agreed to lease the vacated firehouse at the corner of Main Street and Tait Avenue to the Los Gatos Museum Association for $1 per year. A fund drive was conducted and the town merchants contributed materials to refurbish the interior of the firehouse. After volunteers converted the building, The Los Gatos Museum opened its doors with ceremonies on May 20, 1967. The Forbes Mill Museum, the remaining two-story annex of James Alexander Forbes’ flour mill completed in 1854, housed the history collections, displayed in permanent and temporary exhibitions. The first artifact donated to the Museum was a money vest from the 1849 Gold Rush, given by George Lagormarsino, Alice McCammon, and William Allaway who also donated the mineral and gem collections. The Association was incorporated for the purpose of bringing the natural history, art, and history of Los Gatos and the region to the public. The Museum celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2015, which culminated in its opening in June as New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) at the Los Gatos Civic Center Plaza. 

252-Million-Year-Old Fossils Reveal Secrets of Triassic Life #triassic #fossils #paleontology #germany

Dinosaurs in southwest Germany: The dinosaur Plateosaurus was a particularly large sauropodomorph. 210 million years ago, it was the largest terrestrial tetrapod, but still a very small forerunner of the later giant, long-necked dinosaurs. Plateosaur fossils have been found, for example, in Stuttgart-Degerloch and Trossingen. 210 million years ago, the climate was warm and dry. Credit: SMNS, M. Rech

SciTechDaily has an article about a new survey of the Triassic fossils from Germany.   Researchers found interesting correlations between fossil animals and their associated palaeoenvironments with implications for modern day consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss. The study "Triassic terrestrial tetrapod faunas of the Central European Basin, their stratigraphical distribution, and their palaeoenvironments" was published in the journal Earth-Science Reviews.

The Triassic period marks a crucial chapter in the evolution of life on Earth. Following one of the largest mass extinctions 252 million years ago, dinosaurs and many other groups of terrestrial tetrapods appeared and spread across a wide range of habitats. Since the early 19th century, the Central European Basin has played a key role in Triassic research and continues to produce remarkable fossil discoveries. In particular, the rock layers and fossil preservation in southwest Germany are exceptional.

An international research team from the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, led by paleontologists Dr. Eudald Mujal and Prof. Rainer Schoch, has now published a comprehensive overview of Triassic terrestrial tetrapods from this region.

For the first time, the study combines all known fossilized skeletal remains and footprints. Many of these specimens come from the museum’s extensive paleontological collections. Published in the journal Earth-Science Reviews, the research offers a detailed reconstruction of Triassic tetrapod faunas, their ancient environments, ecological roles, and evolutionary history.

The Dinosaur Database #fossils #paleontology #dinosaurs

Featured: Dicraeosaurus

The Dinosaur Database looks to be an interesting resourrce for all things dinosaur!  Dinosaurs are categorized by region/continent and time period.  A great place for dinosaur fans of all ages!

Welcome to the internet's largest dinosaur database. Check out a random dinosaur, search for one below, or look at our interactive globe of ancient Earth!

Whether you are a kid, student, or teacher, you'll find a rich set of dinosaur names, pictures, and facts here. This site is built with PaleoDB, a scientific database assembled by hundreds of paleontologists over the past two decades.

DinosaurPictures.org curates high quality, realistic illustrations of dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. All credit for images goes to the original authors and creators. If you would like to add a picture, please email us or use this form.

The pages are filled with facts with a good amount of interesting art.  Check out the Giganotosaurs page.

Giganotosaurus was a carnivore. It lived in the Cretaceous period and inhabited South America. Its fossils have been found in places such as Argentina and Argentina.

A carnivorous theropod similar to—but larger than— the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the remains of Giganotosaurus were discovered in what is now Argentina. Its name is very similar to that of Gigantosaurus, but the two are very different; the former being a bipedal meat eater and the latter a quadrupedal herbivore.

Giganotosaurus remains have been found close to fossils of Titanosaur and other large hebivorous dinosaurs, so many researchers have theorized that Giganotosaurus preyed primarily on these creatures.

It is depicted in art as similar to other theropods, with an enormous reptilian head bristling with teeth, small dangling clawed arms, powerful legs and a balancing tail. Some artists depict a row of spines running down the back to the tip of the tail.

Quick facts about Giganotosaurus:

• Existed from 99.6 million years ago to Turonian Age
• Lived in a terrestrial
• Was a carnivore
• Reproduced by laying eggs
• Had a body mass of approximately 6000 kg
• 3 different specimens have been found by paleontologists

All the Giganotosaurus illustrations below were collected from the internet. Enjoy and explore:

• View Giganotosaurus on ancient earth globe
• Random dinosaur
• More from the Cretaceous period
• More in South America
• All dinosaurs
• Search: 

Mazon Monday #263: Dinner With Dr. Frederick Schram in August, 2011 #fossils #paleontology #MazonMonday #shrimp #pennsylvanian #MazonCreekProject #schram #history

This is Mazon Monday post #263.  What's your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:[email protected].

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Mary Fairchild did an excellent report about her dinner with Dr. Frederick Schram in August, 2011.  There is much to enjoy in the report, including facts about early Mazon Creek research, the people that did research, and the collectors who contributed fossils.  You'll find many familiar names listed with details about their contributions.  It's a good thing many are still with us, so many years later.  Enjoy!

Rob Sula, Dr. Frederick R. Schram, Jack Wittry, Jim Fairchild.--August, 2011.

The Mazon Creek site is very significant because of the diversity of life compared to other Lagerstatten.  Frederick R. Schram (2)

In August,  ESCONI members Rob and Sondra Sula, Jack and Charlene Wittry, and Jim and I met with Dr. Frederick Schram at the Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois.  Dr. Frederick Schram had been spending some time at the Field Museum where, in 1965, he first began his work with Mazon Creek fossils as a graduate student.  The Field Museum's collection is considered the most comprehensive collection of Mazon Creek fossils.  

Dr. Frederick R. Schram is a palaeontologist and carcinologist who has roots in the  The Mazon Creek Project. Schram received his B.S. in biology from Loyola University in 1965, and a Ph.D. on palaeozoology from the University of Chicago in 1968 and has written over 200 papers on various aspects of crustacean biology, taxonomy and systematics, as well as several books, including the standard text Crustacea. He also wrote a chapter on crustaceans in The Richardson's Guide to the Fossil Fauna of Mazon Creek. (1) 

In 1983, Schram founded the journal Crustacean Issues, which he continued to edit for over twenty years. Much of his career has been spent at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from which he retired in 2005. In July 2005, he became the Editor of the Journal of Crustacean Biology which is a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of carcinology (crustacean research).

In the fall of 2006, Schram was the special guest speaker at the Mazon Creek Open House hosted at the Lizzadro Museum in Elmhurst. The night before, he spoke at the ESCONI General Meeting and discussed his roots in the  The Mazon Creek Project: 

Forty years ago, Gene Richardson and Ralph Gordon Johnson were the founders of the first real Mazon Creek study in Braidwood. George Langford structured the project and was able to get grant money for it. 

Ferns were always plentiful, but Gene Richardson chose to do his PhD at Princeton on the insects of Mazon Creek. In 1958 Mr. Tully came to the Field Museum with his Tully Monster.

In 1965 Fred Schram arrived. He was was a graduate student of Ralph Gordon Johnson and he described two faunas of Braidwood clams. 

Then June Douglas (Mother of Dave Douglas of Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop) found the first coleiod cephelopd that was published in Science and funds started to come in. Gene Richardson was focused on working with amateurs and was a gracious diplomat. He worked well with amateur collectors as he tried to build up the Field collection. 

When they began to put more field crews from the Museum into the field to collect. Charlie Shabica was the field boss of the students and Milburn MacKay was the Peabody geologist on the site. Many of the people involved then have gone on to noteworthy careers today. 

Charlie Shabica, a specialist in regional geology, developed how Pit 11 was deposited in a Pennsylvanian-deltaic model.

Ida Thompson developed an early interest in annelid worms and did a monograph on polychaete worms. 

Jim Edwards went to the National Science Foundation and then to become the Director of GBIF in Copenhagen.

Richard Wassersug is Professor of Biology at Dalhousie in Nova Scotia.

After the 1960s Ralph Johnson and Gene Richardson ended their partnership. Gene remained with Mazon Creek and Ralph moved on to other projects. Gordon Baird mapped Mazon Creek in the 1970’s. Gene retired in 1983 and died shortly thereafter and the Mazon Creek Project moved to Northeastern Illinois University. Later an NSF grant to the Field Museum in the late 1980’s with Brent Beall was to catalog the massive collection. This was a chance for Schram to rewrite his dissertation.  Frederick Schram (2)

The Mazon Creek area includes the following counties of Northeastern Illinois: Will, Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, and Livingston. The fossils are preserved in ironstone concretions or nodules which preserved many soft-bodied animals and plants that are rarely fossilized. During the Pennsylvanian this area of Illinois was covered with coastal swamps, deltas, and upland forests situated along an estuary bay. The fossils include animals and plants that lived in the surrounding swamps and forests; as well as animals that lived in fresh and brackish water of the rivers, ponds, and estuary; and some marine animals that lived in the shallow sea covering Western Illinois. The Field Museum's collection is the most comprehensive collection of these fossils. (5)

Mazon Creek fossils are most complete known record of late Paleozoic life. These extraordinary fossils rank impressively alongside with the Cambrian Burgess Shale fauna of Canada, the Devonian Bundenbach and Jurassic Solnhofen faunas of Germany, and the Cretaceous Santana fauna of Brazil. (3)

References
1. Frederick R. Schram; Wikipedia.
2. 11/10/06, ESCONI Newsletter. 
3. Mazon Creek Fossils  
4.  The Mazon Creek Project
5.  Mazon Creek Fossil Invertebrates ; The Field Museum.
6.  Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop; Evanston, Illinois.
7.  Mazon Creek Fossils; Illinois State Museum.

 

References
1. Frederick R. Schram; Wikipedia.
2. 11/10/06, ESCONI Newsletter. 
3. Mazon Creek Fossils  
4.  The Mazon Creek Project
5.  Mazon Creek Fossil Invertebrates ; The Field Museum.
6.  Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop; Evanston, Illinois.
7.  Mazon Creek Fossils; Illinois State Museum.

PBS Eons Shorts: Where did the dinosaur-killing asteroid come from?

PBS Eons has a new video short on Youtube.

 

 

CHICAGOLAND GEMS & MINERALS ASSOCIATION 48th ANNUAL SHOW · May 24th & 25th 2025 #show #gems #minerals #fossils #rocks #chicagolandshow

The 2025 show is on!
Can’t wait to SEE you at the Kane County Fairgrounds!!

Featuring nationally-known dealers of: jewelry, fossils, semi-precious and precious stones, lapidary arts and artists; there will also be geode splitting, silent auction, Kids Korner, “blacklight” fluorescent mineral display, exhibits, demonstrators, door prizes, and more!

Show Hours
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m

LOCATION

Kane County Fairgrounds 
525 S Randall Rd
St Charles, IL 60174

FREE PARKING 
INDOORS – AIR CONDITIONED – FOOD AVAILABLE
Camping Available

Visit our Location page for directions.

ADMISSION PRICES

One Day Show Pass
$5.00 Adults
$3.00 Seniors & Students
Children (Under 13) Free

Two Day Show Pass 
$8.00 Adults
$5.00 Seniors & Students
Service Personnel w/ID and Scouts in uniform free.

WHOLESALE ROOM — Requires Current State Tax ID and Trade Credentials
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Want to be a demonstrator or exhibitor at the show?
Demonstrators and exhibitors must have a current membership in one or more of the CGMA clubs. Our clubs benefit by members’ participation in the show. Contact your club’s CGMA representative about demonstrating and/or exhibiting in the show.

CGMA Clubs include:
• Chicago Rocks and Minerals Society (CRMS)
• Des Plaines Valley Geological Society (DPVGS)
• Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois (ESCONI)
• Elgin Rock Club (ERC)
• West Suburban Lapidary Club (WSLC)

Fossil Friday #259: Myriacantherpestes from Indiana #fossils #paleontology #FossilFriday #arthropod #millipede #myriapod

This is "Fossil Friday" post #134.  Expect this to be a somewhat regular feature of the website.  We will post any fossil pictures you send in to [email protected].  Please include a short description or story.  Check the #FossilFriday Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!

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Today, we have a absolutely breathtaking Myriacantherpestes sp. from the Pennsylvanian of Indiana.  It was collected in Greene County, Indiana many year ago.

This gorgeous specimen was brought to the 2025 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil show by Jeanine Mielecki.  Thanks for sharing, Jeanine!

Throwback Thursday #259: Looking Back At ESCONI For April 2025 #history #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #petrifiedwood #iowa

This is Throwback Thursday #259. 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 sent them to [email protected]. Thanks! email:[email protected].

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25 Years Ago - April 2000

• The March show was a huge success.  Dave Bergmann was Show Chairman.
• The ESCONI General Meeting featured Lisa Bergwall and James Holstein spoke about "Fossil Preparation and Research Projects at the FIeld Museum".
• Mineralogy was disussing Mont St. Hilaire a world class locality known for rare minerals in micro and macro sizes.
• There was a field trip to Braceville if the roads were good...
• Karen's Komments had a piece about the discovery of Giganotosaurus in Patagonia, Argentina.
• New members included Dave Dolak!

50 Years Ago - April 1975

• The "Indoor Field Trip" featured the talk "History of the Dinosaurs" by Tony Sobolik.
• Dick Ade spoke on Aluminum for the Mineralogy Study Group.
• Micro-mounting had Dan Behnke using a camera through a microscope to photograph micro-minerals.
• Vi Sobolik did a presentation on "Plant Fossils" for Paleontology
• Archaeology learned about the discovery of the giant stone heads of Easter Island from the firm "Aku Aku".

70 Years Ago - April 1955

• The Archaeology Study Group had a presention on "Flint Workings" and "The Indian Flint Miner".
• Paleontology was learning about "Index Fossils".
• The Regular ESCONI Meeting was about "Petrified Wood".  It was presented by Mr. Halver R. Straight. Mr. Straight brought 300 lbs of specimens to exhibit at the meeting.
• "Some Fossl Plant Types of Illinois" by Janssen and "Coal Age Fossils from Mazon Creek" by Carpenter were added to the ESCONI library.
• Funny facet entry...  Mrs. Mildred Babbitt tells us of a tourist who was astonished by the rocky far lands in the New England States and asked one of the natives "Where did all these rocks come from?" The native replied, "The glaciers carried them down here". Tourist: "And, where are the glaciers now?" Native "They've gone back for another load!"

A 30,000-Year-Old Fossil Frozen in Volcanic Ash Holds an Unbelievable Secret #fossils #paleontology #birds #dinosaurs #italy

A Fossilized feather preserved with the volcanic rock. Credit: Edoardo Terranova

SciTechDaily brings news of a unique fossil discovery in Italy.  A 30,000 year old fossil of a vulture shows that soft tissue can be preserved in volcanic rock deposits.  The research was published in the journal Geology.

The vulture fossil was originally discovered in 1889 near Rome by a local landowner, who recognized its exceptional state of preservation. The entire body was fossilized as a three-dimensional impression, retaining remarkable details such as eyelids and wing feathers. The new research confirms that this preservation extends to microscopic feather pigment structures, offering unprecedented insight into ancient plumage.

Dr. Rossi said: “Fossil feathers are usually preserved in ancient mudrocks laid down in lakes or lagoons. The fossil vulture is preserved in ash deposits, which is extremely unusual. When analyzing the fossil vulture plumage, we found ourselves in uncharted territory. These feathers are nothing like what we usually see in other fossils”.

By analyzing tiny samples of the fossil feathers using electron microscopes and chemical tests, the team revealed that the feathers are preserved in the mineral zeolite, a mode of fossil preservation never reported before.

Fossilized Evidence Reveals Extinction Of Dinosaurs Led To Brief Epoch When Asteroids Ruled The Earth #fossils #paleontology #asteroids #dinosaurs

It's a few years old, but The Onion had a story about the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs...

MÉRIDA, MEXICO—Shedding new light on a rarely discussed prehistoric era, paleontologists from the Ohio State University announced Friday they had uncovered fossilized evidence that confirmed the extinction of dinosaurs led to a brief epoch when asteroids ruled the Earth. “The fossil record clearly shows that after annihilating the non-avian dinosaurs that dominated the planet 65 million years ago, these round, rocky carnivores quickly rose to the top of the food chain,” said Peter Jameson, head of an excavation team in the Yucatán that took core samples of the Chicxulub crater, from which the asteroids are believed to have first emerged before quickly spreading across the globe. “Their tough, craggy hide gave them an advantage over contemporary species. Small, rodent-like mammals, the early progenitors of human beings, survived by outrunning these lumbering predators during their short reign, and soon, cooling global temperatures led to a mass erosion event, wiping the asteroids out completely.” Jameson added that the descendants of the asteroids lived on to this day in the stones and pebbles that are still plentiful across the planet. 

Mazon Monday #262: Kankakeea grundyi #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #MazonMonday #pennsylvanian #paleobotany

This is Mazon Monday post #262.  What's your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:[email protected].

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Kankakeea grundyi was a bud used for vegetative reproduction, that, once shed, would grow a new fern. It has been associated with Crenulopteris acadica, as they have been found in association. It is rare and a usually found in small round concretions.

Kankakeea grundyi was initially described as Hymenophyllites thallyformis in 1870 by Leo Lesquereux.  It was reclassified as Kankakeea grundyi by Herman W. Pfefferkorn in 1973 in the papser "Kankakeea gen. nov., buds for vegetative reproduction in Carboniferous ferns", which was published in the journal Palaeontologische Zeitschrift.  Pfefferkorn is a professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania paleontologist and geologist known for his work in paleoclimate, landscape reconstruction, paleoecology, plant taphonomy, and whole plant reconstruction for the Carboniferous and Permian Periods.  His is still an active researcher.

Jack Wittry wrote of Kankakeea grundyi on page 239 of his book "Comprehensive Guide to the Fossil Flora of Mazon Creek".

Kankakeea grundyi Pfefferkorn, 1973

1870. Hymenophyllites thallyformis Lesquereux: p. 417, pl. 16, fig. 5 (non fig. 3)
1963. Hymenotheca sp.; Langford: p. 273, fig. 919a
1973. Kankakeea grundyi Pfefferkorn: pl. 25, figs. 1-6; pl. 26, figs. 1-6

DESCRIPTION: These are Y-shaped stalks that widen from the base toward the tip. At the tip are two, up to four, rounded and blunt lobes. On the surface of the axis are elongated bumps that run parallel to its length. Hairs are also seen in some specimens. This form is highly variable in size, shape, and surface pattern.

REMARKS: Kankakeea grundyi is rare and known only from the Mazon Creek area and the upper Carboniferous of France. It is thought to represent a bud used for vegetative reproduction, that, once shed, would grow a new fern. Fig. 1 is an example of K. grundyi attached to the rachis of a fertile specimen of Crenulopteris acadica. This is evidence that both forms of reproduction occurred in this species, and on occasion, at the same time. Also see Rhacophyllum cornutum.

Specimens

Field Museum PP27718 - in association with Crenulopteris acadica

Field Museum UP50

Field Museum PP9613

Field Museum PP55091

ESCONI Member Chris Berg - Fossil Friday #53

Refuge from the worst mass extinction in Earth's history discovered fossilized in China #fossils #paleontology #extinction #evolution #refugia

Fossils in China suggest the "Great Dying" mass extinction wasn't as catastrophic in some regions. (Image credit: YANG Dinghua)

Live Science has an interesting piece about refugia during the "Great Dying".   The End Permian mass extinction was Earth's worst with an an estimated 80% of life going extinct. A new paper "Refugium amidst ruins: Unearthing the lost flora that escaped the end-Permian mass extinction" in the journal Science Advances, describes a refuge from the disaster unfolding around it some 250 million years ago.

A new study of one of these spots — located in what is now northeastern China —revealed a refuge where the ecosystem remained relatively healthy despite the Great Dying. In this place, seed-producing gymnosperm forests continued to grow, complemented by spore-producing ferns.

"At least in this place, we don't see mass extinction of plants," study co-author Wan Yang, a professor of geology and geophysics at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, told Live Science.

...

Yang and his colleagues looked at rock layers in Xinjiang that span the mass extinction event.

A major advantage of this now-desert site is that the rocks include layers of ash that hold tiny crystals called zircons. The zircons include radioactive elements — lead and uranium — that gradually decay, which enables researchers to determine how long it has been since the crystals formed. This means the researchers can more accurately date the rock layers here than they can at other sites.

Some of these layers also hold fossil spores and pollen. These fossils reveal that there wasn't a massive die-off and repopulation but a slow changeover of species, Yang said.

Abstract from "Refugium amidst ruins: Unearthing the lost flora that escaped the end-Permian mass extinction"

Searching for land refugia becomes imperative for human survival during the hypothetical sixth mass extinction. Studying past comparable crises can offer insights, but there is no fossil evidence of diverse megafloral ecosystems surviving the largest Phanerozoic biodiversity crisis. Here, we investigated palynomorphs, plant, and tetrapod fossils from the Permian-Triassic South Taodonggou Section in Xinjiang, China. Our fossil records, calibrated by a high-resolution age model, reveal the presence of vibrant regional gymnospermous forests and fern fields, while marine organisms experienced mass extinction. This refugial vegetation was crucial for nourishing the substantial influx of surviving animals, thereby establishing a diverse terrestrial ecosystem approximately 75,000 years after the mass extinction. Our findings contradict the widely held belief that restoring terrestrial ecosystem functional diversity to pre-extinction levels would take millions of years. Our research indicates that moderate hydrological fluctuations throughout the crisis sustained this refugium, likely making it one of the sources for the rapid radiation of terrestrial life in the early Mesozoic.

PBS Eons: The Arms Race That Made Insects Take Flight #fossils #evolution #paleontology #spiders #insects

PBS Eons has a new episode.  This one is about the co-evolution of spiders and insects.

Spiders and their ancestors have been driving an arms race that began before either stepped foot onto land and resulted in the first powered flight on Earth.

 

Fossil Friday #258: Asterophyllites equisetiformis from Braceville! #fossils #paleontology #FossilFriday #MazonCreek #Braceville #pennsylvanian #carboniferous

This is the "Fossil Friday" post #258.  This is a regular feature of the website.  We will post any fossil pictures you send in to [email protected].  Please include a short description or story.  Check the hash tag #FossilFriday on Twitter/X and Bluesky for contributions from around the world!

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We have another Calamites related specimen for this week's Fossil Friday.  Asterophyllites equisetiformis was part of the foliage for Calamites.  Remember Calamites is an extinct species of modern day horsetails, which belong to the genus Equisetum.  During the Carboniferous, they were quite diverse, with some forms growing very tall, reaching 30 meters (98 feet!).  They made up a large part of Carboniferous coal deposits.  Modern horsetails can be found in wet swampy environments.  They rarely grow taller than a few feet.

A. equisetiformis was described in 1829 by Alexandre Brongniart, a French chemist, mineralogist, geologist, paleontologist, and zoologist.  He described many of the species of Mazon Creek plants from specimens found in France in the early 1800's.  He is probably most known for his work that classified reptiles into four different groups, one of which eventually became Amphibia.  Later he collaborated with Georges Cuvier to study the geology of the region around Paris, France.  To learn more see Mazon Monday #103.

This gorgeous specimen of Asterophyllites equisetiformis was found in September of 2024 at the Braceville spoil pile by member Jeff Allen. It recently via freeze/thaw.  While plants are rarely found at Braceville, "Worm Hill" occasionally yields beautiful plant treasures.  Thanks for sharing photos of this beautiful fossil, Jeff!

Throwback Thursday #258: Field Museum in March 1920 #history #TBT #ThrowbackThursday @FieldMuseum

This is Throwback Thursday #258. 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 sent them to [email protected]. Thanks! email:[email protected].

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The Field Museum moved into its current home in March of 1920.  In a recent post on LinkedIn, they posted some photos of the move in...

Pivot… Turn… PIVOT!!!

Moving a couch is hard enough—try moving a herd of elephants. 🐘🐘

In March of 1920, we officially outgrew our home in Jackson Park (the current Griffin Museum of Science and Industry 👋) and needed to move to our new facility on Museum Campus. 🏛

It took a full 3 months and nearly 12,000 crates and cases to transport the entire collection a distance of less than 10 miles—Including Field taxidermist Carl Akeley’s famous fighting African Elephants.

Over a hundred years later and millions of visitors later, we still call the Lakefront home. 💙

Learn more about the Field's 130+ years of history. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gucRXJCW

ESCONI Field Trip to Danville Shale Pile Fossils - Saturday, April 26th, 2025 #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #Carboniferous #Illinois #coal #fern #plants #MazonCreek

This field trip is full

Danville Field Trip Rules for Saturday, April 26th, 2025

An ESCONI field trip to the Danville IL Shale Pile for Pennsylvanian fossils is scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2025 starting at 10 AM. This is on private property and there is an attendance limit of 25 people. The gate will be secured once we are in and locked when we leave. Plan on being off the hill at 3 PM to give time for specimen identification and pictures.

You must register to go on this trip. See rule 6 below for instructions. This is the only way to register.

1. The minimum age is 18 years old. Registration opens on March 26th and ends on April 24th.
2. You and everyone in your party must be members of ESCONI. No membership dues will be accepted at the field trip site. Have your membership status resolved before the trip, no later than April 24th. You can pay dues by mailing a check, or with a credit card using the PayPal link on the ESCONI website.
3. You will be required to check-in at the collecting site. By attending, you agree to follow the ESCONI Code of Ethics and Conduct (available on the ESCONI website) and agree to the conditions set forth in the ESCONI Accident Waiver and Release of Liability Form (sent by email to those that register). You don’t need to print it out - just know what you’re agreeing to.
4. The pile is a mixture of “Red dog” shale (bisque-fired shale), gray shale, and black shale. You’ll be collecting from loose shale which can be hard and sharp. If you decide to dig for concretions, it is much like Braceville. Sturdy boots are highly recommended as are gloves. No tennis shoes or soft climbing footwear. Wear eye protection if using a hammer.
5. Parts of the pile are unstable. You must not go into areas marked with flags/caution tape. Anyone found beyond the markers will be asked to leave and may not be allowed to sign up for future field trips.
6. Sign up for the trip by sending Connor Puritz an email at connorpuritz AT gmail.com with your name and the number of members attending. If you don’t hear back within 24 hours, send another email.
7. If the trip is full there will be a waiting list in case there are cancellations.

If you are signed up and can’t make it, please let Connor know.

Those that register will be sent a map and more information a few days before the trip. The driving distance is significant. Depending on where you live, it could take 2 to 4 hours to get there.

 

‘This is a crisis’: A southern Utah city is set to build a power station on top of a premier dinosaur fossil site #fossils #paleontology #dinosaurs #utah

(Andrew Milner | The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site) A one-acre site being excavated by scientists and volunteers before St. George begins construction on an electric power substation.

The Salt Lake Tribune has a story about the potential loss of a "paleontological jackpot" in Utah.  St. George, Utah has an amazing dinosaur locality that dates to the beginning of the Jurassic Period about 200 million years ago.  Unfortunately, the city of St. George plans to build a new electric substation on one of the best sites.

Fossils on the site, including the area slated for the substation, date back roughly 200 million years to the beginning of the Jurassic period, which followed a mass extinction event in the Triassic period that destroyed about 75% of life on Earth and ushered in the Age of the Dinosaur.

Andrew Milner, lead paleontologist and curator of the museum said the mass extinction paved the way for dinosaurs to become the dominant species for the next 100 million years. He said that also accounts for the importance of the area where crews have uncovered some well-preserved fossilized dinosaur tracks or footprints, among other major finds.

“It is one of the few known early Jurassic sites in western North America,” said Milner, who is overseeing the latest excavation.

Globally, according to Kirkland and Milner, the museum and surrounding areas are viewed as an important reference point for the boundary separating the Triassic and Jurassic periods and are regarded as the second-most important track site in the United States and 18th-most important in North America.

City officials say the new electric substation is needed to keep pace with the fast-growing population and energy demand in southern St. George.

Mazon Monday #261: Bear Gulch Cyclids #fossils #paleontology #MazonMonday #MazonCreek #BearGulch #mississippian #cyclid #arthropod

This is Mazon Monday post #261.  What's your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:[email protected].

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Who doesn't like a nice cyclid fossil?  Well, the Lauers (and friends) are here with a full plate of them...  The fossil plate comes from the legendary Bear Gulch locality in Montana, US. The Bear Gulch Beds of the Heath Formation date to the Mississippian Period, some 320 million years ago.  It's well known for its diverse assemblage of well preserved offish, arthropods, and soft-bodied animals.  For more information about the Bear Gulch fossil locality, see "The geological and biological environment of the Bear Gulch Limestone (Mississippian of Montana, USA) and a model for its deposition" on ResearchGate.

Abstract

2002. — The geological and biological environment of the Bear Gulch Limestone (Mississippian of Montana, USA) and a model for its deposition. Geodiversitas 24 (2) : 295-315. ABSTRACT The Bear Gulch Limestone (Heath Formation, Big Snowy Group, Fergus County, Montana, USA) is a Serpukhovian (upper Mississippian, Namurian E 2 b) Konservat lagerstätte, deposited in the Central Montana Trough, at about 12° North latitude. It contains fossils from a productive Paleozoic marine bay including a diverse biota of fishes, invertebrates, and algae. We describe several new biofacies: an Arborispongia-productid, a filamentous algal and a shallow facies. The previously named central basin facies and upper-most zone are redefined. We address the issue of fossil preservation, superbly detailed for some of the fish and soft-bodied invertebrates, which cannot be accounted for by persistent anoxic bottom conditions. Select features of the fossils implicate environmental conditions causing simultaneous asphyxiation and burial of organisms. The organic-rich sediments throughout the central basin facies are rhythmically alternating microturbidites. Our analyses suggest that these microturbidites were principally generated during summer mon-soonal storms by carrying sheetwash-eroded and/or resuspended sediments over a pycnocline. The cascading organic-charged sediments of the detached turbidity flows would absorb oxygen as they descended, thereby suffocating and burying animals situated below the pycnocline. Seasonal climatic vari-ability would have provided the cycling between vertically mixed to density-stratified water column. These dynamics are likely to have promoted the high biodiversity of the bay, would have produced the rhythmic repetition of microturbidites that characterize the Bear Gulch Limestone, and provide a compelling explanation for the detailed preservation of its fossils.

Details of the crustacean's legs, antennae and gills can be made out in the fossil. Credit: Bicknell et al.

The cyclid paper "Gregarious behaviour in Carboniferous cyclidan crustaceans" was published in The Royal Society's journal Biology Letters. There are 50 articulated cyclid, Schramine montanaensis, specimens on the plate, which show appendages and possible gill preservation.

Abstract

Gregarious behaviours in modern and fossil arthropods are commonly associated with defensive strategies, mass moulting and synchronous reproduction. Such behaviour is scarcely documented in the crustacean fossil record. Identifying clusters in extinct Pancrustacea is, therefore, important for understanding the evolutionary history and origin of crustacean gregariousness. Cyclida, an order of extinct, enigmatic pancrustaceans that have been subject to limited palaeoecological examination, represents an ideal group for testing the presence of gregarious behaviour. Here, we report a cluster of 50 Schramine montanaensis individuals from the Serpukhovian-aged Bear Gulch Limestone of Montana, USA, expanding the exceptionally rare record of cyclidan aggregations. The presence of articulated specimens with appendages and possible gill preservation supports the interpretation of carcasses that were preserved during a rapid burial event. We propose that this cluster records either a mass moulting event or clustering for shelter, representing one of the oldest records of crustacean gregariousness. These findings provide important insights into cyclidan life modes and ecological interactions in Carboniferous marine environments.

Close up of Schramine montanaensis in figure 1 showing anatomical information. (A) Individual showing possible gill structures (grey arrow). (B) Individual
showing antennules (black arrow) and walking legs (white arrows). (C) Individual showing antennules (black arrow) and walking legs (white arrows). All images under
simultaneous UV A, UV B and UV C lighting. Scale bars: all 2.0 mm.

Phys.org has a nice summary by one of the paper's authors.  

The slab was found in the Bear Gulch Limestone of Montana, U.S.. These rocks are renowned for preserving fossils in fine detail, including the remains of sharks, worms and even an octopus ancestor named after former US President Joe Biden.

They're the last remnants of a marine ecosystem that existed over 320 million years ago in a monsoon climate of alternating dry seasons and heavy rain. During the rainy season, vast amounts of sediment were swept into the bay and buried anything unfortunate enough to be caught in its path.

This process was so quick that the bodies of the animals were rapidly cut off from oxygen, which stopped their remains from decaying as quickly. As a result, their soft tissues fossilized rather than rotting away.

In the case of the cyclidans, details of their walking legs, antennae and gills can still be made out in the rock. This allowed paleontologists to identify the crustaceans as the species Schramine montanaensis and investigate what they were up to.

"There's no sign that the cyclidans were washed together as they're not arranged with a preferred orientation as you'd expect from a current," Greg says. "As a result, we can be confident that they've clustered together for a behavioral reason. That's not unexpected, as living crustaceans are known to aggregate for many different reasons."

 

Video for ESCONI February 2025 Paleontology Study Group Meeting - "How to Explore the Incredible World of Microfossils" #fossils #paleontology #fish #fishfossils #microfossils #howto

The February 2025 Paleontology Study Group Meeting was held on February 15th, 2025.  Our speaker was Katherine Howard.  Her title of her persentation was "How to Explore the Incredible World of Microfossils".

This presentation is geared for anyone who is interested in pursuing microfossils. Prepare to be amazed at the plethora of microfossils that can be found in a cup of fossilized matrix.

PBS Eons: Will We Survive The Future? (with John Green) #fossils #paleontology #future #past #geology #extinction

PBS Eons has another of their long form videos.  This one is about the future... will we survive?

Just because our ancestors have made it through every major period of upheaval in the Earth’s history so far doesn't mean that our survival through future changes is guaranteed. Humans have become a force of nature, but will we survive ourselves?