South Suburban Earth Science Club- Fossil, Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show

[Nimravis]

This morning I went with my Grandson AJ, on a quick 100 mile round trip to a suburb of Chicago, Chicago Heights, to check out the "South Suburban Earth Science Club- Fossil, Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show"- this is a show that I have never attended before and it was held in the gym at Prairie State College. It is a small show with only about 15 vendors, but it was nice to visit. They had a nice little childrens section and AJ decided that he wanted to select a free plastic spider rather than a small Mazon Creek fern, he also bought a nice little green heart for Grandma, who did not attend. 

 

Here are a few pics of the show-

 

 

Here are some of the items that were for sale-

 

 

 

I always like to support the local shows so I always buy a couple things, even when I don't need them. Here are a couple things that I bought. The first piece I bout was from Green River and it cost $12.00. I do not know it the ID is correct and the leaf is not good at all, but I did like the pieces of coprolite.

 

 

 

The last thing that I bought were these three pieces of black shale from St. Clair, Pennsylvania that I purchased for $5.00 each. These fossils are Pennsylvanian in age and from the Llewellyn Formation.

 

FRONT-

 

Alethopteris serlli

 

 

 

BACK-

 

Neuropteris ovata

 

 

 

FRONT-

 

Alethopteris serlli, Neuropteris and Sphenophyllum emergenatum

 

 

 

BACK-

 

Alethopteris-

 

 

 

FRONT SIDE ONLY-

 

Alethopteris serlli and Neuropteris ovata

 

 

The vendor that I bought these pieces from allows kids to take one rock or fossil and AJ grabbed an Essexella asherae Jellyfish half from Mazon Creek.

 

 

All in all it was a fun way to spend an hour on a nice Saturday morning - and thanks to @Bobby Rico for a quick response to a question that I had.

[caldigger]

31 minutes ago, Nimravis said:

AJ decided that he wanted to select a free plastic spider rather than a small Mazon Creek fern, he also bought a nice little gre

He probably figures grandpa has more MC fossils than he could ever handle in his lifetime.

Besides, what young man wouldn't want a plastic spider?!

[grandpa]

That's a good-looking grandson you have there, Nimravis.  Looks like you're bringing him up right taking him to a fossil show.  Thanks for taking us along with you.

BTW, I like the poop too.

[caldigger]

I can't really see the label very well. Do you remember what this was?

[Darktooth]

Nice way to spend time with your Grandson!

[Nimravis]

2 hours ago, grandpa said:

That's a good-looking grandson you have there, Nimravis.  Looks like you're bringing him up right taking him to a fossil show.  Thanks for taking us along with you.

BTW, I like the poop too.

Thanks grandpa- he is a lot of fun. After the Fossil Show, we went climbing then we visited a neighbors dog and now just finished a little football.

 

[Nimravis]

On 10/19/2019 at 3:55 PM, caldigger said:

I can't really see the label very well. Do you remember what this was?

Doren I keep looking at this piece but could not find any info on it so I left it. Here is the label and BTW, is those Pea Crabs from your neck of the woods?

 

[caldigger]

15 minutes ago, Nimravis said:

is those Pea Crabs from your neck of the woods?

Same formation, but located about 2 hours ( 118 miles ) north of me.

 

Apparently the Green River plate is some form of wide leaf flowering water plant.

[piranha]

The mystery label deciphered:

 

text and figures from:

Grande, L. 2013. The Lost World of Fossil Lake: Snapshots From Deep Time. University of Chicago Press, 425 pp.

 

Elephant Ear (Order Alismatales, Family Araceae)

There are some very large Monocot leaves found in the FBM that appear to represent at least one species of aroid, similar to the "elephant ear" plant, Colocasia (fig. 167).  While large, nearly complete leaves are rare, fragments of this leaf are relatively common elements of the FBM flora.  They were probably growing near the Eocene lake's shoreline and possibly in the shallow marshy areas of the lake.  The genus Colocasia is today native to tropical Asia and Polynesia.  There are about 25 living species in the genus today.  The FBM species awaits scientific description.

 

[Nimravis]

49 minutes ago, piranha said:

The mystery label deciphered:

Thanks for the info Scott.

[Wrangellian]

Again, lots of stuff available in your area, and seemingly reasonable prices for everything! Nothing like the shows we get over here. I would have bought one of those Crawfordsville crinoids. Any time I see specimens like that, they're far higher in price. But either way, a good way to spend the day even if you spend no money.

[Abyss]

Plenty of nice specimens to buy. Never count out smaller shows, you never know you might find something you like or want.

[Scylla]

22 hours ago, Wrangellian said:

Again, lots of stuff available in your area, and seemingly reasonable prices for everything! Nothing like the shows we get over here. I would have bought one of those Crawfordsville crinoids. Any time I see specimens like that, they're far higher in price. But either way, a good way to spend the day even if you spend no money.

I'm on the opposite side of the continent, but I have to agree, those prices are better than what we get at shows on the East Coast too. Especially that eurypterid, even with the damage.

[Randyw]

There’s several I would have bought! The euryterid, the crabs......

[Nimravis]

2 hours ago, Scylla said:

I'm on the opposite side of the continent, but I have to agree, those prices are better than what we get at shows on the East Coast too. Especially that eurypterid, even with the damage.

There was a smaller Eurypterid, maybe 3" long that had no damage and I forgot to take a picture- you would have liked that one too.

[Wrangellian]

2 hours ago, Scylla said:

I'm on the opposite side of the continent, but I have to agree, those prices are better than what we get at shows on the East Coast too. Especially that eurypterid, even with the damage.

I wonder why this is. I can't imagine that people here and on the east coast have that much more money than people in Illinois, on average.

[Nimravis]

On 10/24/2019 at 11:39 PM, Wrangellian said:

I wonder why this is. I can't imagine that people here and on the east coast have that much more money than people in Illinois, on average.

I just think it is how people price things. I have seen a couple items at some vendors booths (MAPS) and they have had a couple of the same items for years and they never sell because of the price. I think some vendors think their items are worth more money and thus have a higher price tag and usually end up taking them home at the end of the show. Dealers have to understand that a fossil is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

[Scylla]

On 10/25/2019 at 12:39 AM, Wrangellian said:

I wonder why this is. I can't imagine that people here and on the east coast have that much more money than people in Illinois, on average.

Actually we do. I got curious and looked it up. Look at this heatmap of wealth distribution in the USA.

[stats]

I was out of town or you might have seen me there.  The small shows are fun with great value!  Great pieces from St. Clair!

 

Cheers,

Rich

 

[Wrangellian]

On 10/26/2019 at 4:35 AM, Scylla said:

Actually we do. I got curious and looked it up. Look at this heatmap of wealth distribution in the USA.

Interesting... It appears, though, that the wealthy areas are generally cities (no surprise there). I suppose such a map of Canada would show my area being above average in wealth.

[Nimravis]

@Wrangellian and @Scylla again I think it is how things are priced and what people are willing to pay. The dealer that I bought these fossils from bought the from some other collector. The non- Green River plate I believed was priced at $125.00, but when I turned it over it had the price that he paid, which was $60.00. He noticed that I saw it and when I stopped back he had that tagged removed. So it looks like he was doubling the price that he paid, which is a good mark up, but if a buyer thinks it is too much, they will walk away from the piece like I and others did. Lastly, there are a lot of shows in my area and opportunities to buy stuff so a seller has to price accordingly to the market.

[Scylla]

On 10/27/2019 at 8:47 PM, Nimravis said:

@Wrangellian and @Scylla again I think it is how things are priced and what people are willing to pay. The dealer that I bought these fossils from bought the from some other collector. The non- Green River plate I believed was priced at $125.00, but when I turned it over it had the price that he paid, which was $60.00. He noticed that I saw it and when I stopped back he had that tagged removed. So it looks like he was doubling the price that he paid, which is a good mark up, but if a buyer thinks it is too much, they will walk away from the piece like I and others did. Lastly, there are a lot of shows in my area and opportunities to buy stuff so a seller has to price accordingly to the market.

Yes I agree, but the seller only has to find one buyer willing to pay the price. I have seen fossil and mineral specimens in random shops in Manhattan selling for more than 10x what you can get them for at retail rockshops. Like a 3 inch quartz crystal for $200. They are counting on wealthy novices to make the rent payments.