stats Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 Last weekend, August 17th and 18th, 2019 was the annual I&M Canal Corridor Mazon River Fossil Trip. We were collecting Mazon Creek concretions on private property. The site is designated a National Historic Landmark and is a protected site. It's only accessible once a year by permission of the land owner. The weather was rainy in the morning for both days, but managed to clear up by 1:00, when the event began. On Saturday, Andrew Young gave an interesting lecture about the history and science of Mazon Creek fossils. He mentioned Lagerstatte, Cyclothems, Tidal Rhythmites, Braidwood Biota, and Authigenic Mineralization/Precipitation. How often do you hear those terms in one lecture? I have collected with Andrew for many years, he never fails to get you excited about collecting Mazon concretions. On Sunday, it was Dave Dolak's turn to give the opening talk. He covered the history and science from a slightly different view... also, interesting. Along with teaching geology at Columbia College in Chicago, Dave is known for his original music and songs on various Chicago subjects. Check him out on Youtube. Both speakers did a great job mixing personal experience with the actual science and history. This is a paid event and dinner is provided after collecting. The dinner is always excellent! Lecture photos. The first one is Anna Koval, President of the I&M Canal Corridor Association. Andrew Young Dave Dolak River Pictures Some already open concretions are the next post. BTW, there were a few fossil forum people there, @flipper559, @bigred97, and possibly others. Please speak up if you were also there. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 25, 2019 Author Share Posted August 25, 2019 Open concretions from the trip. These are not all mine. I found the Cyclopteris, Pecopteris mazonia, and the Macroneuropteris. I'll try to post more as concretions open. I have a bunch in the freezer. Lepidophloios Cyclopteris Laveineiopteris rarinervis Another cone. Some of many Macroneuropteris Pecopteris mazonia 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 Wow, a pity i wasn't there. "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Those all look great, but I especially like the Pecopteris mazonia - what a beautiful, complete specimen!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Cool, thanks for the report! One of these years I am going to make it on the trip. I love the variety of Macroneuropteris. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Excellent report and finds! Thanks for taking us along for the trip! 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM - APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 2 hours ago, Monica said: Those all look great, but I especially like the Pecopteris mazonia - what a beautiful, complete specimen!!! Thanks! That is my favorite, too! Cheers, Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 2 hours ago, deutscheben said: Cool, thanks for the report! One of these years I am going to make it on the trip. I love the variety of Macroneuropteris. Thanks! Macroneuropteris are very common there. I have one with some insect damage from a few years ago. Come on out next year. The food they provide is excellent and we sit around for a few hours talking Mazon Creek. The old timers like Rich Rock are full of stories! Cheers, Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 53 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Excellent report and finds! Thanks for taking us along for the trip! Thanks! Cheers, Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 3 hours ago, fifbrindacier said: Wow, a pity i wasn't there. Come on over. Do you have similar Pennsylvannian plants in France? Cheers, Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 8 hours ago, stats said: Come on over. Do you have similar Pennsylvannian plants in France? Cheers, Rich We do have similar Pennsylvanian plants, but not in that state of conservation. I like very much Mazon Creek fossils. I have some from Ralph and i bought a Neuropteris this year. Cheers Sophie 1 "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-tree Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 9 hours ago, stats said: I'll try to post more as concretions open. I have a bunch in the freezer. Great report hope you get some good finds to show us all. Cheers John Be happy while you're living for you're a long time dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 3 hours ago, t-tree said: Great report hope you get some good finds to show us all. Cheers John Me, too! I have a couple buckets, so hopefully plenty of chances to get something. Cheers, Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Very nice report and finds! I have to get up to Mazon Creek one of these days! 1 The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigred97 Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Thanks for the report, Rich, it was a wonderful trip and I enjoyed talking to you and Andrew and Keith about all things Mazon Creek. How did I not find an opened Macroneuropteris???? I'm going to have to follow you next year, to learn at the feet of the master! Here are our finds for the day. Melanie and I each have a Tupperware in the freezer, we'll see what kind of luck we had in the upcoming weeks. I'll put up some pictures when I can. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 3 hours ago, FossilNerd said: Very nice report and finds! I have to get up to Mazon Creek one of these days! Thanks! Cheers, Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 21 minutes ago, bigred97 said: Thanks for the report, Rich, it was a wonderful trip and I enjoyed talking to you and Andrew and Keith about all things Mazon Creek. How did I not find an opened Macroneuropteris???? I'm going to have to follow you next year, to learn at the feet of the master! Here are our finds for the day. Melanie and I each have a Tupperware in the freezer, we'll see what kind of luck we had in the upcoming weeks. I'll put up some pictures when I can. It was great to match you with your FF handle. Many good conversations over dinner. I really enjoy this trip. Can't wait until next year! I see a bunch of good shapes there! I'm sure you'll have a few Macroneuropteris in there... You can't avoid them. Cheers, Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 Looks like you had a great time Rich- keep us posted on the finds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 27, 2019 Author Share Posted August 27, 2019 8 minutes ago, Nimravis said: Looks like you had a great time Rich- keep us posted on the finds. Definitely! First time out of the freezer yesterday. I fern opened in a bad way. Hopefully better luck on Wednesday. That's the next opportunity. Cheers, Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 Those are some fantastic finds! How do we find out about this trip in enough time to sign up? Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted August 27, 2019 Author Share Posted August 27, 2019 1 hour ago, FossilDAWG said: Those are some fantastic finds! How do we find out about this trip in enough time to sign up? Don It's happens in August, second or third weekend. I'll try to post next year. They announce it pretty early in the year... February or March. Cheers, Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deutscheben Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 On 8/25/2019 at 10:19 PM, stats said: Thanks! Macroneuropteris are very common there. I have one with some insect damage from a few years ago. Come on out next year. The food they provide is excellent and we sit around for a few hours talking Mazon Creek. The old timers like Rich Rock are full of stories! Cheers, Rich Sounds wonderful, it is definitely on my list (my literal list!). I love hearing Mazon Creek stories. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share Posted September 2, 2019 I just had this Macroneuropteris open. The little missing piece on the top left is insect damage. Here are a few pictures from others on the trip. Enjoy! Cheers, Rich 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyB Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 @stats thanks for sharing, these are amazing. Please keep me in mind when you get details for next year as I would love an opportunity to collect and learn. Cant wait to see what else pops out 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFossils Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Nice finds The triangular shaped fossil tenth down is quite interesting. might be a bone or piece of cartilage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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