Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois - ESCONI

ESCONI Field Trip to Vulcan Manteno Quarry on Saturday, October 28th, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM #fieldtrip #fossil #Silurian #quarry #dolomite

This trip is full!  A waiting list is being kept.

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There will be an ESCONI Field Trip to the Vulcan Manteno Quarry on Saturday October 28, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon. We last visited this location in 2018. The rock there is Silurian dolomite. The quarry is located at 6141 Highway 50, Manteno, Illinois.

The rules are shown below:

1. You must be an ESCONI member and at least 18 years old to attend this trip. Max attendance of 24.
2. Follow any directions given by quarry management on parking.
3. We will have site-specific training from quarry management.
4. Your attendance indicates that you agree to follow the ESCONI Code of Ethics and be bound by the conditions set forth in the ESCONI Liability Waiver for this trip. The ESCONI Code of Ethics and Conduct is available on the website. The ESCONI Liability Waiver for this trip will be emailed to those who sign up.
5. Collect only in areas designated by quarry management. We will not go into the pit.
6. You must have the following safety gear: steel-toed boots, hard hat, safety glasses and safety vest. These must be worn at all times on the property.
7. No rock hammers, chisels, or large shovels. We can keep the fossils we find as long as they can easily be carried.
8. Photographs of the quarry or quarry facilities are not allowed. Photographs of fossils ARE allowed, and Vulcan management would like to have pictures of nice specimens.
   
9. To sign up, send me (Dave) an email with your name and the number of members in your party. 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]

You should be able to find this quarry by searching on "6141 IL 50 Manteno" in Google. That will provide a map and satellite view.

If there is a need to cancel (like for weather) I will send out an email as far in advance as possible. Please check your email before departing for the quarry.

 

ESCONI Events September 2023 #events #calendar #fieldtrip

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

Fri, Sep 8th	ESCONI General Meeting 8:00 PM - Topic: “Tropical rainforests - A 300-million-year-old history” by Fabiany Herrera, the Assistant Curator of Paleobotany at the Field Museum Zoom link
Sat, Sep 9th	ESCONI Junior Meeting - 6:30 PM at College of DuPage - Topic: "North Carolina Microfossils" 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 Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038A (Map).
Sat, Sep 16th	ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek  Fossils.  ***Trip Full*** Details are here.
Sat, Sep 16th	ESCONI Paleontology Meeting 7:30 PM - Topic: "Brag Night!" This meeting will be hybrid with both Zoom and in person available at the College of DuPage Tech Ed (TEC) Building, Room 1038B (Map). Zoom link
Sun, Sep 17th	ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek  Fossils. ***Trip Full*** Details are here.
Sat, Sep 23rd	ESCONI Field Trip to Danville, IL for Pennsylvanian Fossils.  ***Trip Full*** Details are here.

 

TRIP FULL: ESCONI Field Trip to Danville, IL - Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology #fern #plantfossils #coal #spoilpile

This trip is now FULL.

Danville Field Trip Rules for Sept 23, 2023

An ESCONI field trip to the Danville Shale Pile for Pennsylvanian fossils is scheduled for Sept 23, 2023 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.

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

1. The minimum age is 18 years old. Registration ends at midnight Sept 20th.
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 Sept 20th. 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 ESCONICode 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, though concretions are less common. 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 me (Dave) an email with your name and the number of members 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.

I will send a map to those that register 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.

 

ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek Fossils - Saturday, September 16th and Sunday September 17th, 2023 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology

Update: both days are FULL!

Braceville Field Trip Rules  for Sept 2023

The ESCONI field trips to Braceville for Mazon Creek fossils are set for Sept 16 and 17, 2023 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 Sept 12.
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 Sept 12. 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 (Dave) an email with your name, the number of members attending 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.

 

ESCONI Field Trip to Napoleon, IN for Silurian Fossils - Saturday, August 19th, 2023 #fossil #paleontology #silurian #trilobite #cystoid #indiana

Cystoid from a field trip to Napoleon - from a University of Kentucky website.

There will be a field trip for ESCONI members on Saturday, August 19, 2023 to the quarry in Napoleon, Indiana. The trip starts at 9 AM (Eastern) and ends at 1 PM. The rock at this location is Silurian in age, from the Osgood Member of the Salamonie Dolomite.

Rules are as follows:

1. You must register to attend this trip, and must be an ESCONI member as of August 4, 2023.
2. Everyone in your party must be at least 18 years of age.
3. The attendance limit is 25.
4. The address of the quarry is 8792 N County Rd 300W, Batesville, IN. It is located just east of Napoleon IN on SR48/229.
5. Everyone will sign a waiver.
6. You must have the following safety gear: sturdy (preferably steel-toed) boots, hard hat, safety glasses and safety vest.
7. When you register for the trip you’ll be sent 2 forms provided by the quarry. Print these out, sign them, and bring them to the quarry.

To register for this field trip, send Keith an email with the number of members attending. His email address is: [email protected]. No phone calls please. Do NOT call the quarry. He will confirm via return email within 24 hours. If you do not hear back from him within that time, send it again!

NOTE: This quarry is located southeast of Indianapolis, IN. Consider the distance when making your plans.

 

Mazon Monday #165: Braceville Spring 2023 Report #fossil #paleontology #MazonCreek #MazonMonday #braceville #concretion #pennsylvanian

This is Mazon Monday post #165.  What's your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:[email protected].

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The ESCONI Braceville field trips for spring of 2023 were well attended.  We had 50+ people for both Saturday, May 6th and Sunday, May 7th.  The weather was great.  Saturday started overcast with light sprinkles, but turned into a nice day, with highs in the low 70's.  Sunday was hot!  It was sunny all day with highs in the upper 80's.   Many concretions were collected.  Not only is Braceville an event for beginners to experience fossil collecting out in nature.  It has also become somewhat of a social event with the regular Mazon Creek collectors getting together twice a year to educate the new comers and swap stories of collecting Pit 11 and other localities both now and in years gone by.

Nick Koba, Jr, stopped by with some of his books "Strip Mining History of the Grundy, Will, and Kankakee Counties".  Nick worked in the mines a long time ago.  He has some great photos and even better stories to tell!  Stay tuned for a post about his book.

Becky Monroe was there collecting with her husband Doug.  She brought along some copies of the book "Trilobites of the Chicago Region".  Her parents Patricia and Charles Armstrong wrote the book back in 1962.  You'll be hearing more about this one soon.

We had our usual fossil dump both days.  People were very generous.  We had contributions from Ralph Jewell, Connor Puritz, Ben Riegler, Marty Houdek, Jeremy Zimmerman, Andrew Young, Keith Robitschek, and Rich Holm.  Thanks, guys!  The contributions are appreciated by all!

Photos from both days... some are courtesy of Ralph Jewell, who has a great thread running over on The Fossil Forum.  Check it out!

Mazon Monday #162: Field Trip Report for Danville Spoil Pile #fossil #paleontology #MazonCreek #danville #illinois #carboniferous #MazonMonday

This is Mazon Monday post #162.  What's your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:[email protected].

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This was our fifth field trip to the Danville spoil pile.  It's been a very productive locality over the last couple years.  The trips have been very popular, with every trip filling up quickly, even though the site is a 3 hour drive from the Chicago area.  Not much information is available about the Herrin coal fossils, but thankfully Jack Wittry compiled a handy "Herrin Coal Fossil Guide, which we posted for Mazon Monday #86.

Here is a list of prior trips.

• June 5th, 2021 - Report
• September 25th, 2021 - Announcement
• April 23rd, 2022 - Report
• September 17th, 2022 - Announcement

Saturday, April 15th was a very nice day.  The weather was summer-like with highs in the 80's.  Quite a few nice fossils were found, look for some specimens in upcoming Fossil Fridays.  Some of the following photos are from Ralph Jewell and Andrew Young,  Check out Ralph's report on the Fossil Forum for some extra photos and comments by the great group of people on that site.  Membership on the Fossil Forum is free... take advantage of it too learn more about fossils.

Of course, we took a group selfie...

Photos of the site

Arial views

Discussions and sharing of finds at the end of the day

Just a few of the many very nice specimens

Connor Puritz - Dunbarella

Gretel Monreal - Lepidophloios

Lee Sunderlin - Lobatopteris

Dan Quasny - Lobatopteris

Ralph Jewell - Lepidostrobus

Caroline Davis - Trigonocarpus

George Witaszek - Calamites suckowi

Steve Buss - Callipteridium

Elizabeth Magnus-Gentry - Lepidostrobophyllum, Annularia, Cyperites

Jeremy Zimmerman - Alethopteris

Dave Carlson - Alethopteris zeilleri

Ben Riegler - Artisia

 

 

Trip FULL! ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek Fossils - Saturday, May 6th and Sunday May 7th, 2023 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology

Unfortunately, this trip is FULL!

Braceville Field Trip Rules

May 2023

The ESCONI field trips to Braceville for Mazon Creek fossils are set for May 6 and 7, 2023 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 3rd.

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 3rd. 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 (Dave) an email with your name, the number of members attending 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.

 

***Trip Full*** ESCONI Field Trip to Danville Shale Pile Fossils - Saturday, April 15th, 2023 #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #Carboniferous #Illinois #coal #fern #plants #MazonCreek

This trip is full!

An ESCONI field trip to the Danville Shale Pile for Pennsylvanian fossils is scheduled for April 15, 2023 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.

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

1. The minimum age is 18 years old. Registration ends at midnight April 12th.
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 12th.  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, though concretions are less common. 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 me (Dave) an email with your name and the number of members 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.

I will send a map to those that register 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.

 

Canceled: ESCONI Field Trip to a Belvidere Quarry Saturday, October 8th, 2022, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM #ordovician #quarry #fossil #fieldtrip #illinois #rockford #limestone

Sorry, Canceled by Quarry!

Belvidere Quarry Field Trip

There will be a field trip to a quarry near Belvidere, Illinois on Saturday, Oct 8th, 2022, from 9AM to 12 noon.
 
The rock is Ordovician, Galena Group. This is a "hard-rock" quarry (dolomite). If you like Hormotoma or Receptaculites, this is the place for you! The quarry has been active so there is new rock exposed.

If you are sick, have symptoms of covid or have tested positive recently, DON”T COME.
 
Rules

1. Everyone in your group MUST be an ESCONI member when you register for this trip. Max attendance is 25
2. Everyone in your group MUST be at least 18 years of age.
3. Everyone MUST have and wear a hard hat, safety vest, and sturdy boots while in the quarry. No sandals, tennis shoes, and the like. No claw hammers or roofing hammers - use only rock hammers. If you plan on hammering then bring eye protection and wear it.
4. Sign up by sending me (Dave) an email with the number of members attending and their names. My email is [email protected]   No phone calls please.
5. I will acknowledge by return email. If you don't get a reply in 24 hours, send it again!
6. Maximum attendance by ESCONI members is 18. This is a shared trip with the Rock River Valley Gem and Mineral Society.
7. Please review the Code of Ethics and Conduct on the ESCONI website. You will be expected to check-in at the quarry. By doing so you agree to follow the Code of Ethics and the conditions on the ESCONI Liability and Waiver form (sent by email to those that sign up). You do not need to print out the ESCONI waiver form, just know what you’re agreeing to. There may be an additional waiver from the quarry.

The address of the quarry will be sent to those that sign up.

I will distribute the waiver forms by email to those signed up just before the trip.
 
Questions? Send me an email...

TRIP FULL!: ESCONI Field Trip to Danville, IL - Saturday, September 17th, 2022 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology

This field trip is full.  We are taking names for the waiting list.

Danville Field Trip Rules

Sept 17, 2022

An ESCONI field trip to the Danville Shale Pile for Pennsylvanian fossils is scheduled for Sept 17, 2022 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.

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

1. The minimum age is 18 years old. Registration ends at midnight Sept 10th.

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 Sept 10th. 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, though concretions are less common. 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 me (Dave) an email with your name and the number of members 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.

I will send a map to those that register 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.

TRIP FULL!: ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek Fossils - Saturday, September 10th and Sunday September 11th, 2022 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology

This field trip is full.  We are taking names for the waiting list.

Braceville Field Trip Rules - Sept 2022

The ESCONI field trips to Braceville for Mazon Creek fossils are set for Sept 10 and 11, 2022 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 Sept 3rd.
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 Sept 3rd. 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 (Dave) an email with your name, the number of members attending 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.

 

 

Fossil Friday #115: Ordovician Conulariid #fossil #paleontology #conularid #fossils #Ordovician #galena

This is the "Fossil Friday" post #115.  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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For this weeks Fossil Friday, we have something different... very different.  It's a Conulariid.  It was found by Connor Puritz on the May 21st, 2022 ESCONI field trip to a Belvidere, IL quarry.

Conulariia are mystery animals.  They are often classified with Cnidaria, but may represent a separate, extinct phylum.  UCMP has a nice description of them.

Conulariids have been the subject of speculation for a century and a half. They aren't that uncommon; there are a number of genera, and they ranged from the Middle Ordovician to the Triassic. There are even a few cases in which conulariid soft parts have been preserved. Nonetheless, exactly what they were is still not settled. Because of their fourfold symmetry, they have often been placed in the Cnidaria by analogy with the fourfold Scyphozoa. However, their skeleton was very different from anything known in the Cnidaria, and they may represent a separate, extinct phylum, probably triploblastic (see Babcock 1991 for a defense of the separate phylum hypothesis, and Van Iten 1991 for a defense of the cnidarian hypothesis).

What can we say about conulariids? They had elongated, pyramidal exoskeletons, made up of rows of calcium phosphate rods. Most were square or rectangular in cross section, with prominent grooves at the corners. They lived attached to hard objects by a flexible stalk, and often lived in groups. Presumably they were filter feeders; how they reproduced is not known.

Thanks for the interesting contribution, Connor!  These are fascinating animals and you have a very nice specimen!  Connor has a nice field trip report over on the Fossil Forum.

TRIP FULL! - ESCONI Field Trip to a Belvidere Quarry Saturday, May 21st, 2022, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM #ordovician #quarry #fossil #fieldtrip #illinois #belvidere #limestone

THE TRIP IS FULL!  It filled up in less than an hour!  We are still accepting requests, which will place you on the waiting list.  Please let us know if you can't make it, as it makes room for those on the waiting list.  Thanks!

There will be a field trip to a quarry near Belvidere, Illinois on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 9 AM to 12 noon.

The rock is Ordovician, Galena Group. This is a "hard-rock" quarry (dolomite). If you like Hormotoma or Receptaculites, this is the place for you! The quarry has been active so there is new rock exposed.

If you are sick, have symptoms of Covid 19 or have tested positive recently, DON'T COME!

Rules

1. Everyone in your group MUST be an ESCONI member when you register for this trip.
2. Everyone in your group MUST be at least 18 years of age.
3. Everyone MUST have and wear a hard hat, safety vest, and sturdy boots while in the quarry. No sandals, tennis shoes, and the like. No claw hammers or roofing hammers - use only rock hammers. If you plan on hammering then bring eye protection and wear it.
4. Sign up by sending me (Dave) an email with the number of members attending and their names. My email is [email protected] No phone calls please.
5. I will acknowledge by return email. If you don't get a reply in 24 hours, send it again!
6. Maximum attendance by ESCONI members is 18. This is a shared trip with the Rock River Valley Gem and Mineral Society.
7. Please review the Code of Ethics and Conduct on the ESCONI website. You will be expected to check-in at the quarry. By doing so you agree to follow the Code of Ethics and the conditions on the ESCONI Liability and Waiver form (sent by email to those that sign up). You do not need to print out the ESCONI waiver form, just know what you’re agreeing to. There may be an additional waiver from the quarry.

The address of the quarry will be sent to those that sign up.

I will distribute the waiver forms by email to those signed up just before the trip.

Questions? Send me an email...

 

TRIP FULL! - ESCONI Field Trip to the St. Paul Quarry in St. Paul, IN - Friday, May 27th, 2022, 8:30 AM - 3:00ish PM #silurian #fossil #quarry #fossil #fieldtrip #indiana #paleontology

Trip full!  A waiting list will be kept.  Please let us know if you can't make it.

On Friday, May 27, there will be a ESCONI Field Trip to the St. Paul quarry , St. Paul, Indiana. We have been instructed to meet at the quarry office just south of the town of St. Paul at 8:30 a.m. EASTERN time to sign waiver forms. The ending time for the trip has been variable over the years but 3:00-4:00 p.m. is reasonable. You will need to sign out at the quarry office when you leave. This quarry exposes the fossiliferous shales of the Silurian Waldron Formation.

Register by e-mailing (no phone calls) John Catalani at [email protected].

Trip rules:

1. There is an attendance limit of 20 participants--a wait list will be recorded.
2. All participants must be ESCONI members by end of day May 22.
3. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
4. All participants need a hard hat and safety vest to be worn at all times.
5. Acceptable field trip attire includes sturdy construction/hiking boots and long pants--no shorts. No other footwear is acceptable such as, but not limited to, sandals, open-toed shoes, dress shoes, canvas/tennis shoes, sneakers.

TRIP FULL! - ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek Fossils - Saturday, May 14th and Sunday May 15th, 2022 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology

The trip is full!  It filled up in just a couple of days!  We are still accepting requests, which will place you on the waiting list.  Please let us know if you can't make it, as it makes room for those on the waiting list.  Thanks!

Braceville Field Trip Rules May 2022

The ESCONI field trips to Braceville for Mazon Creek fossils are set for May 14 and 15, 2022 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 8^th.

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 8^th. 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 (Dave) an email with your name, the number of members attending 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.

 

TRIP FULL! - ESCONI Field Trip to Braceville, IL for Mazon Creek Fossils - Saturday, May 14th and Sunday May 15th, 2022 #MazonCreek #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #paleontology

Braceville Field Trip Rules May 2022

The ESCONI field trips to Braceville for Mazon Creek fossils are set for May 14 and 15, 2022 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 8^th.

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 8^th. 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 (Dave) an email with your name, the number of members attending 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.

 

TRIP FULL! - ESCONI Field Trip to Vulcan DeKalb Quarry Field Trip May 7, 2022 #fieldtip #fossil #ordovician #paleontology

The trip is full!  It filled up in about a day!  We are still accepting requests, which will place you on the waiting list.  Please let us know if you can't make it, as it makes room for those on the waiting list.  Thanks!

Vulcan DeKalb Quarry Field Trip May 7, 2022

There will be an ESCONI Field Trip to the Vulcan DeKalb (aka Larson) Quarry on Saturday May 7, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The quarry is located at 15622 Barber Green Road. The rock at this location is predominantly Ordovician from the Maquoketa and Galena formations.

Everyone in your party MUST be an ESCONI member as of 11:59 PM May 5th and at least 18 years old to attend this trip.

1. The attendance limit is 24.
2. The parking lot is on the south side of the Barber Green Road, but it isn't big. Follow any directions given by quarry management on parking.
3. Everyone will sign a waiver from the quarry.  Waiver forms will be distributed by email a few days before the trip. You DO need to print out and sign the Vulcan waiver, and bring it along. You DO NOT need to print out the ESCONI Accident and Liability form. Your signature on the sign-in sheet affirms that you have read the ESCONI Accident and Liability form and agree to the conditions in it.
4. We will be collecting in a designated area on the overburden shale dump only.  We cannot go anywhere else in the quarry.
5. You must have the following safety gear: steel-toed boots, hard hat, safety glasses and safety vest.  These must be worn at all times on the property.
6. No rock hammers, chisels, or large shovels.  We can keep the fossils we find as long as they can easily be carried. A wagon can be helpful.
7. Photographs of the quarry or quarry facilities are not allowed.  Photographs of fossils ARE allowed, and Vulcan management would like to have pictures of nice specimens.
8. Please review the ESCONI Code of Ethics available on the ESCONI website.  This applies to field trips.

If you have unique or impressive specimens found at this quarry, and are willing to bring them for the group(s) to see, please do so.

To sign up for this field trip, please send Dave an email with the number of members attending. The email address is: [email protected]  No phone calls please. You will receive a confirmation via return email within 24 hours. If you do not hear back within that time, send it again!

 

TRIP FULL! - ESCONI Field Trip to Vulcan DeKalb Quarry Field Trip May 7, 2022 #fieldtip #fossil #ordovician #paleontology

Vulcan DeKalb Quarry Field Trip May 7, 2022

There will be an ESCONI Field Trip to the Vulcan DeKalb (aka Larson) Quarry on Saturday May 7, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The quarry is located at 15622 Barber Green Road. The rock at this location is predominantly Ordovician from the Maquoketa and Galena formations.

Everyone in your party MUST be an ESCONI member as of 11:59 PM May 5th and at least 18 years old to attend this trip.

1. The attendance limit is 24.
2. The parking lot is on the south side of the Barber Green Road, but it isn't big. Follow any directions given by quarry management on parking.
3. Everyone will sign a waiver from the quarry.  Waiver forms will be distributed by email a few days before the trip. You DO need to print out and sign the Vulcan waiver, and bring it along. You DO NOT need to print out the ESCONI Accident and Liability form. Your signature on the sign-in sheet affirms that you have read the ESCONI Accident and Liability form and agree to the conditions in it.
4. We will be collecting in a designated area on the overburden shale dump only.  We cannot go anywhere else in the quarry.
5. You must have the following safety gear: steel-toed boots, hard hat, safety glasses and safety vest.  These must be worn at all times on the property.
6. No rock hammers, chisels, or large shovels.  We can keep the fossils we find as long as they can easily be carried. A wagon can be helpful.
7. Photographs of the quarry or quarry facilities are not allowed.  Photographs of fossils ARE allowed, and Vulcan management would like to have pictures of nice specimens.
8. Please review the ESCONI Code of Ethics available on the ESCONI website.  This applies to field trips.

If you have unique or impressive specimens found at this quarry, and are willing to bring them for the group(s) to see, please do so.

To sign up for this field trip, please send Dave an email with the number of members attending. The email address is: [email protected]  No phone calls please. You will receive a confirmation via return email within 24 hours. If you do not hear back within that time, send it again!

 

Trip Full: ESCONI Field Trip to Danville Shale Pile Fossils - Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 #fossils #fossil #FieldTrip #Carboniferous #Illinois #coal #fern #plants #MazonCreek

The trip is full!  It filled up in about 8 hours!  We are still accepting requests, which will place you on the waiting list.  Please let us know if you can't make it, as it makes room for those on the waiting list.  Thanks!

Danville Field Trip Rules

April 23, 2022

An ESCONI field trip to the Danville Shale Pile for Pennsylvanian fossils is scheduled for April 23, 2022 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.

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

1. The minimum age is 18 years old. Registration ends at midnight April 18th.

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 18th. 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, though concretions are less common. 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 me (Dave) an email with your name and the number of members 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.

I will send a map to those that register 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.