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I&M Canal Corridor Mazon River Fossil Collecting Trip


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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.

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Andrew Young

IMG_20190817_132412.jpg.faeca2c31695d5997f212fa2cc7e7cf0.jpg

 

Dave Dolak

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River Pictures

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5d630a8360bb7_19.A.YoungCCAMazonRiverfieldtripKodatFarmAugust2019.JPG.b719efcbc37b337de6b7e3f9e2487ca3.JPG

 

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.

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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

5d630b6a13157_32.A.YoungCCAMazonRiverfieldtripKodatFarmAugust2019.JPG.2f6329038fdeced1baa9265cf8751417.JPG

 

Cyclopteris

5d630b6a825ee_33.A.YoungCCAMazonRiverfieldtripKodatFarmAugust2019.thumb.JPG.f2f6f86e65af17a6ea70eaa8e7a62d41.JPG

 

Laveineiopteris rarinervis

5d630b6ada7d2_34.A.YoungCCAMazonRiverfieldtripKodatFarmAugust2019.JPG.563eb69838b6eae783dcb68e13eb9c2a.JPG

 

Another cone.

5d630b6b4f17d_42.A.YoungCCAMazonRiverfieldtripKodatFarmAugust2019.JPG.56f0687149108fe873f346a888eea851.JPG

 

Some of many Macroneuropteris

IMG_20190822_210723.jpg.5350dc74baafb59f86d05aecd7412182.jpg

 

Pecopteris mazonia

IMG_20190823_194753.thumb.jpg.1c11f5e1cb542f42602d9964ad1a912c.jpg

 

 

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Wow,  a pity i wasn't there.:envy:

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"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

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Those all look great, but I especially like the Pecopteris mazonia - what a beautiful, complete specimen!!! :wub:

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Cool, thanks for the report! One of these years I am going to make it on the trip. I love the variety of Macroneuropteris. 

 

 

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Excellent report and finds! 

Thanks for taking us along for the trip!  :) 

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    Tim    VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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2 hours ago, Monica said:

Those all look great, but I especially like the Pecopteris mazonia - what a beautiful, complete specimen!!! :wub:

Thanks!  That is my favorite, too!

 

Cheers,

Rich

 

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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

 

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53 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

Excellent report and finds! 

Thanks for taking us along for the trip!  :) 

Thanks!

 

Cheers,

Rich

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3 hours ago, fifbrindacier said:

Wow,  a pity i wasn't there.:envy:

Come on over.  Do you have similar Pennsylvannian plants in France?

 

Cheers,

Rich

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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

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theme-celtique.png.bbc4d5765974b5daba0607d157eecfed.png.7c09081f292875c94595c562a862958c.png

"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

photo-thumb-12286.jpg.878620deab804c0e4e53f3eab4625b4c.jpg

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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.

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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

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Very nice report and finds!

 

I have to get up to Mazon Creek one of these days!  :envy:

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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)

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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.

 

IMG_3023.jpg.72b8e059e898a3491bac8f2726d06ada.jpg

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3 hours ago, FossilNerd said:

Very nice report and finds!

 

I have to get up to Mazon Creek one of these days!  :envy:

Thanks!

 

Cheers,

Rich

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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.

 

IMG_3023.jpg.72b8e059e898a3491bac8f2726d06ada.jpg

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

 

 

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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

 

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Those are some fantastic finds! :wub:  How do we find out about this trip in enough time to sign up?

 

Don

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1 hour ago, FossilDAWG said:

Those are some fantastic finds! :wub:  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

 

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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. :hammer01: 

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I just had this Macroneuropteris open.  The little missing piece on the top left is insect damage.

 

IMG_20190901_113531.thumb.jpg.15b6c1b599dea0899d86c31e50e14d2f.jpg

 

Here are a few pictures from others on the trip.  Enjoy!

 

5d6d966ee3455_1.MariePsaroniusstemMazonRiverAugust2019.JPG.5dcec3bf1ea6ef939fa550421c25ab61.JPG

5d6d966f6ef4b_2.MarieMacroneuropterisMazonRiverAugust2019.JPG.91778da9134a9af3dced8f72ff0ab6ab.JPG

5d6d966fe2c62_4.MarieMacroneuropterisMazonRiverAugust2019.JPG.be7b8a9fa59829cccb4bd36a497d3ef5.JPG

5d6d96707120c_8.MarieCrenulopterisMazonRiverAugust2019.thumb.JPG.a6f9496dfc62e1e82d3f3f94ceb670b2.JPG

5d6d9670eb153_9.MarieCrenulopterisMazonRiverAugust2019.thumb.JPG.ada98015f3e3591a1179be0aa83f431a.JPG

5d6d967173181_10.MariepetrifiedwoodMazonRiverAugust2019.JPG.9dcfd9144c68d379c7a540a42e714c37.JPG

5d6d9671e8ecb_11.A.YoungCrenulopterisplateMazonRiverAugust2019.thumb.JPG.f1495e2aeab45f8fc770fa3b02aa3982.JPG

5d6d9672730af_13.A.YoungMacroneuroptersMazonRiverAugust2019.JPG.e1b420ca565ef60cd9a613bc3a50aef5.JPG

5d6d9673069c2_14.A.YoungmysteryfossilMazonRiverAugust2019.thumb.JPG.50b3108ef003b0160acad2441191ec5c.JPG

5d6d96f93542d_1.MarieMazonRiverMacroneuropterisscheuchzerii.JPG.6a7d56fd96ea4e4b5e17d2ce6dcbe16b.JPG

5d6d96f9abe80_3.MarieMazonRiverCodonothecacaduca.JPG.6b2ce1efbeec3338333f317414b97f2a.JPG

5d6d96fa25057_5.A.YoungMazonRiverCrenulopterisacadica.JPG.39761be5bd706c83884b6b925e2f0df9.JPG

5d6d96faa88c2_6.A.YoungMazonRiverAnnulariainflata.JPG.9b400fd3c363665794e18374e46eccd3.JPG

 

Cheers,

Rich

 

 

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@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 :look:

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Nice finds

The triangular shaped fossil tenth down is quite interesting.

might be a bone or piece of cartilage.

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