Adult Door Prizes
#1 Pendant created by artist Marv Dahmen. Valued at $55 (I think it might be more valuable than that -ed.)
#2 Polychrome jasper from Madagascar. 6 1/2″ tall and weighing 5 1/2 lb. Valued at $100
#3 Large trilobite from Morocco. 16″ long. Valued at $250
Kids’ Door Prizes
#1 Bismuth specimen. 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″.
Valued at $65
#2 Sphalerite and marcasite specimen from Potosi, MO. 6″ X 7″. Valued at $75
#3 Rock Tumbler. Valued at $60
In this economy, we all could use some career advice. Here is an interview with a former curator of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, explaining how he got the job and what it entails. (more…)
The Gem and Mineral Show was once again at the KCI Expo Center
The view from behind the Association booth.
This yellow geode is from Keokuk in St. Francisville. They call it “Lemoness”.
This huge crinoid (Scyphocrinites elegans) fossil is from Morocco.
There were also fossils from Kansas available.
Plenty of beads for sale at the show.
Fossil Brittle Star from Morocco, sold by Schooler’s Minerals. Fun fact: a brittle star is from the class Ophiurida and starfish are from the class Asteroidea, so they are not really related to starfish at all.
Bob models an official Association apron and holds a pufferfish.
The preserved pufferfish close up. It is hollow and light as a feather. I don’t think anyone bought it so it will be for sale again in March.
Some of the mineral, fossil, and jewelry-related books we had for sale this year.
Carved skulls made of semi-precious minerals.
Is this a giant dinosaur showing off a giant agate, or a very small dinosaur with a tiny agate?
Martin selling pottery that he made
Everything is packed up into our big blue cube until the next show.
On Thurday, May 19, 2016, there will be a free children’s archaeology dig at the Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum in Gladstone, MO at 6607 NE Antioch Rd. It will start at 6:30 pm. There will be hands-on activities to teach children how to “think like an archaeologist” led by Gail Lundeen. You can also see the new exhibit at the museum called Archaeology: What’s Under the Farm? which will feature actual things found on the property during an excavation in 2014-15. Don’t miss this event!
The MO DNR website has these cute little geologist paper dolls (PDF) to download, print, and assemble. Here’s mine. If you make one, send it to me and I’ll post a picture of it.
Every year, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MO DNR) has an Earth Science Week full of fun activities for kids and adults. From their website: Earth Science Week aims to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth Sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. This year’s activities will be held Oct. 11-17 and will celebrate the theme “Visualizing Earth’s Systems.” This year’s theme will engage young people and others in discovering the Earth sciences, remind people that Earth science is all around us, encourage Earth stewardship through understanding, and to motivate geoscientists to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about the Earth.
Go ahead – be a citizen scientist!
Enter the photography, visual arts and essay contests! All eligible submissions must be submitted to the American Geosciences Institute and received electronically by 4 p.m. CST, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.
Participate in events during Earth Science Week. Plan a visit to the Missouri Geological Survey during Earth Science Week. The Missouri Geological Survey will be open during Earth Science Week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, Oct. 12-16.
Read our Governor’s Proclamation!
Stephen Greb, http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/trilobitecookies2.htm
Even Easier Trilobite Cookies
by Stephen Greb, Kentucky Geological Survey
You’ll need:
1 bag of oval-shaped or circular cookies. Cookies that do not already have icing work best. Several types of cookies can be used, if you want to show variety.
1 cup of M & M’s ® (mini-size works well), Skittles ® or other small, round candies for eyes
Several tubes of icing for decorating. Large tubes and small, detail tubes can both be used.
Plastic knifes for spreading icing
Paper or plastic plates to make the cookies on
Paper towels for clean up
Preparation time: 15-30 minutes, depending on how many cookies you make
Recipe:
1. Place undecorated cookies on a plate or paper towel.
2. Decorate cookies using tube icing. Try to divide the cookies into three parts. You can spread icing on the top third and bottom third to model the head (cephalon) and tail (pygidium) of the trilobite. You can also divide the cookie into three parts along the long axis and spread icing on both sides, leaving the middle strip bare. This models the three longitudinal lobes of the trilobite. You can use small tube icing to make segments across the cookie, or bumps, or spines. Use your imagination.
3. Finish by placing two candy eyes on the head. You can use a dab of icing as “glue” to help hold the candy eyes down. If the eyes don’t stick, it’s okay; some trilobites lacked eyes and were blind.
4. Eat and enjoy!
The deadline has passed to enter this poster contest sponsored by Summit Lapidary Club, but here are the rules for posterity.
Theme: The official state gem, mineral, rock, or fossil of the state you live in. Eligibility: Any student in 1st-8th grade. Prizes: Each grade will have a winner. Ribbons will be awarded for 1st-4th place. 1st-3rd place will also receive a prize. Contest Rules: All entries must be presented on 12”x18” paper. Include name, address, age, and school grade of participant on BACK of entry. No three-dimensional posters accepted. The title may be on the front or back. List your state and why you chose the gem, mineral, rock, or fossil. All entries become the property of the MWF and Summit Lapidary Club Scale of Points: Originality and Art Work: 30 points Design: 25 points Title: 25 points Listing of state gem, mineral, rock, or fossil and reason for your choice: 20 points Artwork: Artwork on posters can be pen, ink, crayons, magic marker, paint, or any other artist’s medium. Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2015 Send your entries to: [address removed because contest is over] Questions? Contact Poster Judge Jennifer Fike at [email address removed]. Hint: Missouri’s state rock is Mozarkite, state mineral is galena, and state fossil is the crinoid.
Show-Me Rockhounds Kansas City 