Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois - ESCONI

ESCONI 2023 Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show! March 18th and 19th, 2023 #gem #mineral #fossil #show #2023

Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois

ESCONI

2023

Gem, Mineral and Fossil

Show

March 18th and 19th

Dealers, Demonstrators, Displays, Live and Silent Auctions,
Book Sales, Kid’s Korner, Geode Splitting

Free Parking! Free Admission!

DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 Manchester Rd.
Wheaton, Illinois
Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM
www.esconi.org

Download Show Poster 2023

 

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Wrap Up! #fossils #show #paleontology #geology #illinois #minerals #gems #wheaton #rocks

Well that's a wrap on the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show!  We had an awesome weekend and hope you made it out and had a good time too!

Here are a few scenes from Sunday, day 2....

Friendly faces all weekend...

Ralph showing off the color in a piece of calcite

The last auction... a nice piece of fluorite!

Cracking Geodes!

Rich and Peggy Rock of Rock's Rocks relaxing for a few minutes towards the end of the show...

Southwest Treasures is a annual favorite at our show

Grab Your Rocks was there...

had some beautiful specimens....green garnets from Russia

and, an amazing Xiphactinus tattoo!

Books

Juniors

The Lizzadro Museum

Field Museum

Jeremy Zimmerman's beautiful artifacts

Irene Broede's beautiful Mazon Creek animals

 

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Day 1! #fossils #show #paleontology #geology #illinois #minerals #gems #wheaton #rocks

Well, day 1 is over, but we get to do this again today.  Come on out and see what we've got!  There's another auction and plenty of gems, mineral, fossils, and... rocks!

 

Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois

ESCONI

2024

Gem, Mineral and Fossil

Show

March 16th and 17th, 2024

Dealers, Demonstrators, Displays, Live and Silent Auctions,
Book Sales, Kid’s Korner, Geode Splitting

Free Parking! Free Admission!

DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 Manchester Rd.
Wheaton, Illinois
Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM
www.esconi.org

Download Show Poster 2024

Dealer List

Exclusive Inspirations
Fossil Hut
GrabYourRocks
Lavin’s Gems
Rock Stars
Rock’s Rocks
Mineral Miner
Rockhound Mike Minerals
Southwest Treasures
Michael’s Mineral Exchange

Yesterday was a fun day!   It was busy. 

We caught up with some old friends.  That's Andy Jansen, Charlie Schabica, Bob Ulaszek, and Ralph Jewell

We sold the beautiful (and heavy!) chunk of galena.

Lapidary Demonstration

Geode cracking

Junior tables

Found and sold some Don Auler artwork

Book tables

And, plenty of rocks!

These photos are from Ralph Jewell, Anthony Friend, and Rich Holm

 

 

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show! #fossils #show #paleontology #geology #illinois #minerals #gems #wheaton

Today is the day! Today is the day!

Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois

ESCONI

2024

Gem, Mineral and Fossil

Show

March 16th and 17th, 2024

Dealers, Demonstrators, Displays, Live and Silent Auctions,
Book Sales, Kid’s Korner, Geode Splitting

Free Parking! Free Admission!

DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 Manchester Rd.
Wheaton, Illinois
Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM
www.esconi.org

Download Show Poster 2024

Dealer List

Exclusive Inspirations
Fossil Hut
GrabYourRocks
Lavin’s Gems
Rock Stars
Rock’s Rocks
Mineral Miner
Rockhound Mike Minerals
Southwest Treasures
Michael’s Mineral Exchange

Yesterday, was setup day... here are a few photos.

Auction displays

Vendors were setting up their tables...

The junior table is ready!

We have plenty of books...

Anyone want a geode?!?

Displays... including the Field and the Burpee Museums

2023 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #22! #show #mineral #marcasite #sphalerite

This is the preview post #22 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Here is a nice specimen of Marcasite on sphalerite from Galena, IL.  This will be part of the second Saturday auction.

 

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #21! #seedfern #show #fossil #paleontology #MazonCreek #pennsylvanian

This is the preview post #21 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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We have an awesome Neuropteris vermicularis from Pit 4, which is the Shadow Lakes area in Braidwood, IL.  This one is a good size, 2 halves, but just half the frond.

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #20! #fossils #MazonCreek #paleontology #seedfeen

This is the preview post #20 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Next is a nice Alethopteris lesquereuxii collected back in the 1960's.  It's had a little repair, but is still a very nice specimen with great detail.  Come on out and have a look!

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #19! #fossils #MazonCreek #paleontology #fern

This is the preview post #19 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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We have more Mazon Creek than we've shown in these previews.   Here is a large Cyathocarpus hemiteloides from Dresden, IL.  It was collected back in the 1960's by Jim and Sylvia Konecny.

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #18! #mineral #amethyst #show

This is the preview post #18 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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This stunning chunk of amethyst will be at the first Saturday auction... lot #130.  This is a large beautiful piece that has to be seen in person!

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #17! #fossils #MazonCreek #paleontology #cast #roach #roachoid #reproduction

This is the preview post #17 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Time for another auction preview... this one is a very nice reproduction of an actual Mazon Creek fossil roachoid found by Earl and Mary Crornwall, old time ESCONI members.  This is a cast of a Promylacris rigida roach found at Dresden Lakes.  There is quite a bit of detail in the reproduction... it's not as good as the real thing, but try finding one of these!

 

 

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #16! #mineral #show #aragonite #shiny

This is the preview post #16 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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This beautiful specimen of Aragonite is very clean.  It has very nice color.  Aragonite makes up most of the mineral content in pearls.  It is a common form of calcium carbonate.

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #15! #show #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #lobfinfish #pennsylvanian #fish #scale #fishscale

This is the preview post #15 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Preview #15 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction is a nice, detailed lob finned fish scale.  The photos don't do this one any favors.  This is a beautiful piece!

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #14! #show #minerals #copper #nativecopper #michigan #michiganup

This is the preview post #14 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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We have multiple pieces of native copper from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  These were collected quite a while ago, unfortunately we don't know the locality.  They are nice examples of native copper.  A little cleanup will bring out the shine!

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #13! #show #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #hagfish #pennsylvanian #pit11 #tullymonster

This is the preview post #13 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Lucky specimen 13 is a nice partial Tullymonster.  This one includes the eye bar, some eye pigment, a good portion of the "neck", and mid-body.  Tullymonster gregarium is the state fossil of Illinois... I bet you already knew that!

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #12! #show #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #worm #pennsylvanian #pit11

This is the preview post #12 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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How about a nice Mazon Creek worm... Esconites zelus.  This a nice specimen collected by a long time ESCONI member - Dick Ade.

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #11! #show #minerals #geology #Illinois #galena

This is the preview post #11 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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We have something different for this preview.... a mineral, a large heavy mineral.  Galena is the natural mineral form for lead sulfide (PbS).  It crystallizes in cubic shapes, sometimes showing octohedral forms.  This is a large chunk of galena.  It's gorgeous as is, but add a little cleaning will make it look even better....

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #10! #show #fossils #paleontology #fern #pennsylvanian #MazonCreek #paleobotany

This is the preview post #10 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Pecopteris notata is one of the rarer fern species from Mazon Creek.   This is a very nice example with quite a bit of detail.  Come out and see it next week!

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #9! #show #fossils #paleontology #fern #pennsylvanian #MazonCreek #paleobotany

This is the preview post #9 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Another day, another Mazon Creek fossil for the 2024 ESCONI show.  This one is a gorgeous Crenulopteris acadica, which was a fern.   This one was collected by the Konecnys at the Dresden locality near Morris, IL.  That site is now unavailable for collecting.   This specimen was collected more than 60 years ago on 08/05/1962.

 

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #8! #show #minerals #geology #india #crystal

This is the preview post #8 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Today's preview is a nice Stilbite crystal from India. Stilbite is a series of tectosilicate minerals in the zeolite group.

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #7! #fossils #show #paleontology #geology #crinoid #illinois #carboniferous #mississippian

This is the preview post #7 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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Today's previous is a stunning crinoid from the Haney Shale from near Anna, IL.  This deposit dates to the Chesteran Series in the Upper Mississippian Period.  The genus of this specimen is marked as Aphelecrinus.

2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show - Preview #6! #fossils #show #paleontology #geology #fern #MazonCreek #paleobotany

This is the preview post #6 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  The ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show for 2024 will be held on March 16th and 17th at the DuPage Fairgrounds in Wheaton, IL, which is the same location as last year.   All details can be found here.

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A gorgeous Diplazites unita is preview #6 for the 2024 ESCONI Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show Live Auction.  This specimen was collected in the Morris area.  It does have a repair, but the venation is quite detailed.  Come on out on March 16th and 17th, 2024.  We have many nice auction items!