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…)
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Spring 2017 Gem Show Photos
The Spring 2017 Gem and Mineral Show was very successful. The parking lot was filled to capacity and we made over $3000 for the scholarship fund. I think it helped that it was so cold on Saturday, because people wanted to do something indoors. Here are some of the highlights.
My favorite exhibit: The Earth’s Rainbow by Maple Woods Community College. It shows minerals of every color and how they get their colors. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Geological features of Missouri made out of minerals by Susan Judy (Stone Quilt Design) Unfortunately, it was already sold when I saw it. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Mr. Bones was wondering what was so interesting on this person’s phone. Photo by Stephanie Reed
David and Stephanie Reed showing off the new Association banner. Photo by Bob
Cretaceous fossils from Kansas, displayed by KU. The iridescent baculite is especially nice. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Selenite crystal from Kansas. I sold it at the Association Booth. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Shea Oak slab in UMKC’s petrified wood exhibit. This specimen usually lives at the Sutton Museum at UMKC. Photo by Stephanie Reed
A blue morpho butterfly seen at Butterflies by God. Photo by Stephanie Reed
The Bead Society had a lot of great cases. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Keshi pearls (i.e. non-nucleated pearls) from Avian Oasis. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Jeanna and Jim in foreground, Chet and Bob in background. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Agatized Dinosaur bone from the Morrison Formation in Utah, seen at Science Leads the Way. We met the person who found it. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Australian Boulder Opal cabs from Dreaming Down Under. Photo by Stephanie Reed
This otherworldly glass sculpture was at Madagascar Gemstones. Photo by Stephanie Reed
Time To Spring Forward
Agate slab clock, seen at the Fall Gem and Mineral Show 2016. Photo by Stephanie Reed
We hope you are having fun at the show. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward 1 hour for Daylight Savings Time.
Spring 2017 Lectures
Lectures presented by the Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater Kansas City
Friday, March 10, 2017
3:00 p.m. “Opal Down Under”, Ron Wooly, Owner of Dreaming Down Under
Saturday, March 11, 2017
1:00 p.m. “Earth Science… Facts, Frauds and Scams”, Mark Sherwood, Independence Gem and Mineral Society
2:00 p.m. “The Life and Hard Times of the KU T. rex”, Dr. David Burnham, Research Associate, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
3:00 p.m. “Medullary bone in Tyrannosaurs: a question of chickens, eggs and possibly more”, Dr. Josh Schmerge, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
4:00 p.m. “History of Gold Mining”, Doug Foster, Show-Me Gold, Missouri
Sunday, March 12, 2017
2:00 p.m. “The Life and Hard Times of the KU T-rex”, Dr. David Burnham, Research Associate, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
3:00 p.m. “Islands in the sun: Eocene fossil mammals from Turkey”, Dr. Chris Beard, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Special Exhibits 2017
KANSAS CITY GEM SHOW SPRING 2017 FEATURE EXHIBIT
ROCK ART –Stone Quilt Design; Susan Judy; Denver, CO and WKP Accent Tables; Bill Peterson; Boulder, CO
Colorado artists Judy and Bill have brought some of their creations to the Kansas City Show. Judy inlays natural materials in a stone mosaic to create pictures and Bill uses natural materials to create tables.
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITS (more…)
56th Annual Gem and Mineral Show
Mark your calendar for the Spring 2017 Gem and Mineral Show, sponsored by the Association. Here is a flyer in PDF format you can print or send to all your friends, and a coupon for $1 off admission.
Collagen Found in Dinosaur Bones
Paleontologists at the University of Toronto just found collagen in a 195 million year old fossil. This makes it the oldest protein that has ever been found. Previously, the oldest protein sample was only 80 million years old (it was also collagen, from a dinosaur bone). They also found hematite crystals in the fossil, which possibly came from the blood. The dinosaur was a Lufengosaurus that lived in Yunnan Province, China.
Some other paleontologists didn’t like the new, non-invasive methods that the team used used to identify the collagen, but other scientists thought the methods were fine. Read the whole article here https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i6/Collagen-found-195-million-year.html and let me know what you think.
Don’t Forget to Fall Back
Photo by Stephanie Reed
Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour tonight for Daylight Savings Time! Otherwise, you might accidentally come to the show an hour early. Speaking of that, I wonder why the gem shows always seem to fall on Daylight Savings Time weekend.
November Field Trips
Our November meeting will be Saturday, November 19. On that day, you can choose from two great field trip opportunities!
Choice #1: Meet at the Firefighter’s Memorial (87th & Blue River) at 10:00 am to collect fossils, then come to the regular meeting at noon at the Kansas City Public Library.
Choice #2: Meet at the Praying Hands Memorial (Hwy 171 and Dawson Dr) in Webb City, MO at 12:30 pm. It’s about 2 hours from downtown Kansas City, so don’t be late! From there, we will drive together to see Marve’s collection of vintage mining equipment. This is a large collection that cannot be seen anywhere else. RSVP to Bruce Stinemetz.
C.L. Dake Rock & Mineral Auction
Come to the 50th annual Rock and Mineral auction in Rolla! It will support the C.L. Dake Geological Society and entrance is free.
Show-Me Rockhounds Kansas City 