MEMPHIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS
Volume 64 ◊ Number 01 ◊ January 2018 ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS MAGSters Travel The World In this issue Iceland and South America January Program MAGSters Travel The World P. 1 December 2017 Holiday Party P. 1 MAGS And Federation Notes P. 2 Hospitality P. 5 Membership P. 5 Show News P. 5 Field Trip Report P. 6 Adult Membership Programs P. 6 January Birthdays P. 7 Memphis Finds P. 7 Fabulous Tennessee Fossils P. 7 Jewelry Bench Tips P. 8 November Board Editor’s Note: Numbers in fortunate to visit this beautiful Minutes P. 9 parentheses are keyed to the list of country last September. Iceland is November Meeting websites at the end of this section. also a unique geological site. It Minutes P. 10 Iceland is known as the land of was formed by volcanic eruptions Footprint In The Sand P. 10 along the Mid-Atlantic ridge. fire and ice. Because of its breath- Long and Mysterious P. 11 taking beauty and dramatic land- "Iceland's landscapes forged by the MAGS At A Glance P. 12 scapes, Iceland has become a pop- processes of volcanism include rift ular tourist destination. We were valleys, geysers, hot Continued, P. 3
DECEMBER 2017 HOLIDAY PARTY Sherri and I planned the MAGS Party MAGS Holiday Party in at least ten years. into our vacation. We drove through a Lots of people were there (approximately snowstorm to get back in time. We 100) with only four visitors. The food was arrived home with barely enough time left abundant and delicious. Lots of children to make a pumpkin crisp and rush out the were in attendance and they were all hav- door to get to the church. We were not ing a great time. MAGS bingo was tons of disappointed. We talked about it off and fun. The gifts and prizes were great. We on all weekend. I believe this is the best loved the table trees. Ours is Continued, P. 4
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS 2017-2018 MAGS BOARD MAGS AND FEDERATION NOTES President–Charles Hill 1070 Park Swain Road, Grand Junction, TN 38039 Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society, ◊ (901) 626-4232 ◊ [email protected] Memphis, Tennessee 1st VP (Field Trips)–James Butchko The objectives of this society shall be as set out in the Charter 4220 Dunn, Memphis, TN 38111 ◊ (901) 743-0058 ◊ of Incorporation issued by the State of Tennessee on September [email protected] 29, 1958, as follows: for the purpose of promoting an active 2nd VP (Adult Programs)–W. C. McDaniel interest in the geological finds and data by scientific methods; to 2038 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 ◊ (901) 274-7706 ◊ [email protected] offer possible assistance to any archaeologist or geologist in the general area covered by the work and purposes of this society; to Secretary–Mike Baldwin 367 North Main Street, Collierville, TN 38017 ◊ discourage commercialization of archaeology and work to its (901) 853-3603 ◊ [email protected] elimination and to assist in the younger members of the society; Treasurer–Bonnie Cooper to publicize and create further public interest in the archaeo- 8695 Baylor Road, Arlington, TN 38002 ◊ (901) logical and geological field in the general area of the Mid-South 444-0967 ◊ [email protected] and conduct means of displaying, publishing and conducting Director (Asst. Field Trips)– Kim Hill public forums for scientific and educational purposes. 4755 Royal Elm Cove, Memphis, TN 38128 ◊ (901) 388-7572 ◊ [email protected] MAGS General Membership Meetings and MAGS Youth Director (Asst. Adult Programs)–Dave Clarke ◊ Meetings are held at 7:00 P. M. on the second Friday of every 456 North White Station Road, Memphis TN 38117 month, year round. The meetings are held in the Fellowship ◊ (901) 308-0334 ◊ dclarke@fieldmuseum.org Hall of Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, 5530 Shady Grove Director (Youth Programs)–Open Road, Memphis, Tennessee. Director (Asst. Youth Programs)–Open memphisgeology.org Director (Librarian)–Leah Gloyd MAGS Website: 2151 Dogwood Creek Court, Apartment 202, MAGS Show Website: www.theearthwideopen.com Collierville, TN 38017 ◊ (270) 847-3170 ◊ [email protected] We aren’t kidding when we say this is a newsletter for and by the Director (Asst. Librarian)—Jane Brandon members of MAGS. An article with a byline was written by a 4384 Castle Avenue, Memphis, TN 38122 ◊ (901) MAGS Member, unless explicitly stated otherwise. If there is 374-0366 ◊ [email protected] no byline, the article was written or compiled by the Editor. Director (Membership Services)–Bob Cooper Please contribute articles or pictures on any subject of interest 8695 Baylor Road, Arlington, TN 38002 ◊ (901) to rockhounds. If it interests you it probably interests others. 444-0967 ◊ [email protected] The 15th of the month is the deadline for next month’s issue. Director (Historian)–Carol Lybanon Send material to [email protected]. 2019 Littlemore Drive. Memphis, TN 38016 ◊ (901) 757-2144 ◊ [email protected] January 2018 DMC Field Trip Newsletter Editor–Matthew Lybanon 2019 Littlemore Drive. Memphis, TN 38016 ◊ (901) WHERE: Vulcan Limestone Mine, Brooksville, FL 757-2144 ◊ [email protected] WHEN: Saturday, January 13, 2018 Webmaster–Mike Baldwin 367 North Main Street, Collierville, TN 38017 ◊ COLLECTING: Echinoids, druzy calcite crystals, chert (901) 853-3603 ◊ [email protected] INFORMATION: Fred Hendershot, (813) 892-5864 Show Chairman–James Butchko 4220 Dunn, Memphis, TN 38111 ◊ (901) 743-0058 ◊ Links to Federation News [email protected] ➡ Past President–W. C. McDaniel AFMS: www.amfed.org/afms_news.htm 2038 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 ◊ (901) ➡ SFMS: www.amfed.org/sfms/ 274-7706 ◊ [email protected] ➡ DMC: www.amfed.org/sfms/_dmc/dmc.htm
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS MAGSters Travel The World would like to learn more. Age, enormous dinosaurs and Continued fom P. 1 1. http:// other fossils—and had a good springs, rhyolite mountains, exploringtheearth.com/2016/07/05/ time. We also tapped into a good columnar basalt formations, lava geological-journey-iceland-land-fire- bit of history and culture. We will fields, and lunar-like craters." (2) ice-part-1/ show some of what we saw on two Iceland is one of the most active 2. https:// visits to South America, primarily volcano regions on earth. It is www.icelandontheweb.com/articles- pictures from a cruise we took estimated that about one-third of on-iceland/nature/geology almost a year ago. all lava eruptions since 1500 have 3. https://waterfire.fas.is/ Remember the Falklands War? occurred in Iceland. (4) During Iceland/Geology.php In 1982 Margaret Thatcher’s Eng- the last Ice Age, Iceland was 4. https:// land fought Argentina for control buried under ice resulting in the www.icelandontheweb.com/articles- of the Falkland Islands, South numerous glaciers that still make on-iceland/nature/geology/ Georgia, and the South Sandwich up a large percentage of the land- volcanism Islands. We spent some quality scape. During the Ice Age, the 5. https:// time with some of the Falklanders; volcanic eruptions were subglacial. www.icelandontheweb.com/articles- some of them spoke English while Since many of the ice caps remain, on-iceland/nature/geology/ others didn’t speak at all. geothermal-heat Iceland continues to have many We saw many natural wonders, subglacial eruptions. (4) Debbie and Alan Schaeffer as well as big cities and small The Mid- Atlantic Ridge towns. Take both these trips with which separates the Eurasian and us at the January meeting. North American Plates runs You can get more information through Iceland. Iceland is the from these websites. only place on earth where you are 1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/ able to stand on the ridge between 2451733? the two plates on dry land. (3) The seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents continued separation of these Geology of South America plates is responsible for the 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ prolific seismic and volcanic Geology_of_the_Falkland_Islands activity of Iceland. Geology of the Falkland Islands Because it is straddling the The South American conti- 3. http://darwin-online.org.uk/ Mid-Atlantic Ridge, heat and nent stretches from north of the EditorialIntroductions/ magma come close to the surface equator almost to Antarctica. Chancellor_South_America.html of the earth and provide enormous There are 12 countries and three Darwin in South America geothermal resources for Iceland. territories. We didn’t see all of (5) Driving around the south part Carol and Matthew Lybanon South America. But we journeyed of Iceland it is common to see from Buenos Aires around Cape steam rising from colorful, mineral Horn and up to Santiago. Unlike rich pools and mud formations. Debbie and Alan’s trip, we visited This geothermal activity formed a many geological and climate zones. number of hot springs around Iceland that attract visitors and We followed some of the route natives alike. A number of geysers Darwin took when he visited are also found in Iceland making South America in the early 1830s. them a popular tourist destination. We saw beautiful beaches, vol- canos, glaciers, spectacular Here are some helpful waterfalls, relics of the last Ice websites that you can visit if you
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS December 2017 Holiday Party Many of our Members helped desserts. We had a great crowd, Continued fom P. 1 to make our Holiday Party a wonderful gifts, and lots of bingo prominently displayed in the foyer success. There are a few people fun. Thanks for calling bingo, of our house. But the best part of for special thanks but many more Nannett. And thanks, Charles, for all this was the fellowship. I just lent a hand. There were the table and chair setup. Thanks to sat back a few times and listened holiday tree helpers: Mildred, all who helped with the cleanup. to all the conversations and laugh- Bonnie, Dee Dee, Cornelia, W. C., We hope our Members agree that ter taking place. The MAGS Party and Debbie. And the food we had a fun and fabulous time for was a warm place to be Friday helpers: Bonnie, Bob, Matthew, all. Carol, and all our Members who night. Thank you all very much. Carol Lybanon brought delicious food and Mike Baldwin
Everyone loved their MAGS holiday gifts.
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Hospitality Show News Thanks to all who signed up to We (that means all of us) have work hospitality at the Member- committed to 3 more years of hav- ship Meetings. You make that ing the annual Earth Wide Open part of the meeting work better. Show at the Agricenter. This locks The duties are simple: in the dates and the price of rent. Thanks to James Johnson for a big 1. Before Meeting: Arrive donation of specimens for the around 6:30. Help set up and grab bags and prizes. We now organize tables. All items are need volunteers to clean and sort located in a rolling cabinet. the specimens and fill the grab 2. Monitor snacks, drinks, ice You can renew at the MAGS bags. We will probably fill them at 3. After Meeting: Clean up, put Membership Meetings or by mail. Cooper Moving & Storage in all items back in cabinet. When renewing by mail, make Bartlett in March. If you can take 4. Two Members per meeting. your check payable to MAGS and a bucket or two home to clean, Here is the schedule for the mail it to Bob Cooper, 8695 contact Jim Butchko at (692) 7518 next three months: Baylor Rd., Arlington, TN or [email protected]. Also, we 38002. Those of you who have January 12: Kim Hill, Amy have cards printed to advertise the already renewed or will renew by Smith Show. Spread the word by passing the end of the January 12th, 2018, these out wherever and whenever February 9: Charles and Emily Membership Meeting will have a you can. Hill, Christine Lemons chance to win a unique specimen March 9: Sherri Baldwin (need of calcite and pyrite (see pictures). Jim Butchko one more volunteer) The drawing for the specimen will • The Show Committee is up If you would like to volunteer, be held at the end of the January and running, meeting once a or if you can’t come when sched- 12th, 2018, Membership Meeting. month and planning the 2018 uled, contact Charles Hill. You do not need to be present to Show. win. • Members are Continued, P. 6 Membership Bob Cooper Memphis Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show Membership Director THE EARTH WIDE OPEN Greetings MAGS Members, Rocks, Fossils, Sat. April 28, 9-6 Sun. April 29, 10-5 Minerals, Gems, Agricenter- 7777 Walnut Grove, Memphis One more year has come Jewelry, about and now is the time to start Lapidary Equipment and Beads thinking about renewing your MAGS membership for 2018. Some Members have already renewed and you can also. Remember, the MAGS member- ship runs from January 1 to December 31. The renewal Presented by the membership fees for 2018 are: Adults - $5, 2 day pass - $8, 12 & under - $2 Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society ★ $25.00 (Family) Scouts in Uniform - Free www.theearthwideopen.com [email protected] 901-692-7518 / 901-490-3575 ★ $15.00 (Individual) ★ $10.00 (Junior) 2018 Show Notecard
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Show News requested and Continued fom P. 5 encouraged to mark off the dates of April 27-29. We need lots of help, volunteers and work. Support your club. Please note we will not be able to move in and set up on Thursday. WE DO IT ALL ON FRIDAY. • Dealer contracts have been extended and most spaces have been contracted. • Exhibits and demonstrators invitations will be issued in early January. • Donations for the Rockzone A group of MAGS Members got together and helped to decorate and Grab Bags are encouraged our Holiday Party trees. Thanks go to Bonnie Cooper, Carol and really needed. Please note Lybanon, Cornelia McDaniel, and Dee Dee Goossens. Not these activities are very popu- pictured but lots of help: Debbie Schaeffer (photographer), lar with our attendees and Mildred Schiff, and Arlene Oleartchick. produce good and necessary income MAGS2018—Adult Membership Programs • 5000 notecards have been Date Program printed and available for distribution; they will be January 12 “Iceland,” Schaeffers; “South America,” Lybanons available.at all Membership Meetings. Promote the Show February 9 G. F. T. P (more later); live auction of MAGS stuff by distributing them all over March 9 Treasure Hunting with Lou White town and out of town. W. C. McDaniel MAGS History April 13 AND “15 Days to the Show” Field Trip Report Jim Butchko May 11 TBA Only 3 MAGsters broke June 8 “Mount Kilimanjaro,” Keith Riding through the ice at Crow Creek in December. Why go out on a cold July 13 “Minerals of South Africa,” Jimmy McNeil rainy day when you can go any- August 10 Indoor Rock Swap and Picnic time? However, Vulcan Quarry near Parsons, Tennessee, is only September 14 “Lonnie Looper Fossil Collection,” Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding open to geology clubs by appoint- ment. Our turn is on Saturday, October 12 “Amber,” David Clarke (need to confirm) January 20, 2018. If you like Devonian Age fossils, this is the November 9 MAGS Members: Make It, Give It, or Take It place to go. This trip is limited to December 14 Holiday Party 25 Members who Continued, P. 7
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Field Trip Report have paid their Fabulous Tennessee Fossils Continued fom P. 6 dues by then. Dr. Michael A. Gibson, We will meet at University of Tennessee at Martin 7:30 A. M. and collect until noon. FTF 36 Email [email protected] or The Brachiopod Platystrophia, now sign up at the meeting January 12. Vinlandostrophia January Birthdays Platystrophia Kingdom Animalia (Fig. 1) is one of the Phylum Brachiopoda 2 Justin Coulson most recognized 3 Mary Kratz Middle to Upper Class Rhynchonellata 6 Nick Fowler Ordovician brachi- Order Orthida 10 Noa Parks opod fossils from Family Plectorthidae 11 Sarah Stockwell Tennessee and Genus Platystrophia King, 1850 Grayson Hebert from Kentucky. Genus: Vinlandostrophia Zuykov and Harper, 2007 For those paleon- 12 Angie Menne Species: Vinlandostrophia ponderosa (Foerste, 1909) tologists that are 13 Vincent Schultz either inclined to delve into the these changes. And boy is it 16 Francis “Mitch” Mitchell minutia of taxonomy or like to use complicated, so I will only Brandon Hubble a real situation of taxonomic revis- summarize the most important 18 Ricky Waters ions to teach the rules of taxon- highlights below. 21 Brooke Ledbetter omy to budding students, Platy- The genus Platystrophia was Richard Gunter strophia is the ideal poster child. erected in 1850 by the British 24 Dr. Jon Stanford In my paleontology course at UT Queens College paleontologist 28 Lannah Ferri Martin, I use Platystrophia naming William King (1809-1886) for history as the case study for all of 31 Teressa Noyes specimens in Permian strata of the possible changes and revisions Abigail Loyd Europe by assigning specimens of in nomenclature that are possible Ivie Tully Orthis biforata to his new genus, for and the rules established to govern which the type species in the new genus was Platystrophia biforata. Memphis Finds Later, August F. Foerste (1862- Dan Baker sent some nice pictures of stuff he found in and near 1936) described what he called Memphis. Thanks, Dan. We’ll go with you next time. Platystrophia ponderosa in 1909 for specimens in the Ordovician of the Eastern United States. Foerste was a pioneering paleontologist who grew up and worked in the Dayton area and I introduced him to you in Famous Tennessee Fos- sils #2 in 2015. Foerste went to Denison University where he was a very successful undergraduate, publishing several geological papers. He returned to Dayton after graduation with a Ph. D. from Harvard, teaching high school for 38 years. When he retired he was Continued, P. 8
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS Fabulous Tennessee Fossils offered a Kenneth R. Walker, made history Continued fom P. 7 teaching in the 1970’s by pioneering many position at concepts of paleoecological recon- the University of Chicago, but struction, especially the applica- instead went to work at the Smith- tion of community succession to sonian Institution until the end of bryozoan reef build-ups in the his life. It is at this point that the middle and east Tennessee. naming begins to get complicated As good as Len Alberstadt’s because the “type” specimen for 1979 contribution was to the tax- Platystrophia was later lost and Figure 1. Vinlandostrophia onomy and systematics of this ponderosa specimens used by there was disagreement over iconoclastic Paleozoic brachiopod, which specimens to use. Vanderbilt paleontologist Len more work ensued. Over the next Alberstadt to revise Kentucky In 1919 Eula Davis McEwan several years there was consider- and Tennessee species of (1919) from Northwestern Univer- able work attempting to deter- Platystrophia in 1979 illustrating sity in Illinois re-evaluated Platy- mine the taxonomic relationships the basic morphology (photo by strophia as U. S. National Museum of this group of brachiopod that Michael A. Gibson; scale in cm). Proceedings 2297, which became led to much confusion in the Albserstadt’s specimens are the “standard” reference for the literature, and a 1999 the Interna- housed at UT Martin in their systematics of this common fossil. tional Commission on Zoological Vanderbilt Fossil Collection. Then in 1973 and 1979, Vanderbilt Nomenclature (ICZN) formali- paleontologist Leonard Alberstadt zation of a type species to replace expanded our understanding of the original type that was lost. Jewelry Bench Tips by Platystrophia by recognizing that Then, in 2007 newer nomencla- Brad Smith there are no fewer than three ture was proposed by the Russian MINI DRILL PRESS morphology variations at the paleontologist Michael A. Zuykov If you find yourself drilling a genus level for this common and the Danish paleontologist number of small holes for your spiriferid brachiopod and revised David A. T. Harper that moved work, you might want to look at many taxa. The number of species the ponderosa species into a their the small, inexpensive drill presses quickly ballooned to over twelve newly erected genus Vinlandostro- now available. They take up just for the Tennessee and Kentucky phia. Now our beloved Platystro- minimal space on your bench and regions alone, with the “ponderosa” phia ponderosa is more properly are always ready to give you nice species group being the most identified as Vinlandostrophia straight holes. Some models even recognizable and well-known. ponderosa, so you will need to have a variable speed control. I've Alberstadt’s 1979 U.S. Geological revise your specimen tags and put been very pleased with a low- Survey Professional Paper 1066-B notes in your identification books. priced one that's been well-used in remains the best resource for Even though there are many spe- my classes for over a year. identifying the many species of cies variations within the Platystro- Platystrophia in our region because phia-Vinlandostrophia brachiopod Because these machines are of its numerous illustrations. taxonomy, specimens remain only a foot high, they're limited as While the type specimens in this readily identifiable to genus level to the size of workpieces that can study remain at their repositories, by their strong straight hingeline, fit into the machine and the size UT Martin’s Vanderbilt Collection pronounced biconvex shape with of the drill bits you can use. But now houses all of the other speci- distinct fold and sulcus with four I've had no problems with drill mens used by Alberstadt in that plications on the central fold, bits up to about 3/16" (4.5mm), study…literally hundreds of them three in the sulcus, and seven to even drilling steel. (Fig. 1). As an aside, now professor nine on the lateral sides. Science The machines are sold by a emeritus Len Alberstadt, along marches on. Merry Christmas number of companies. If you do with UT Knoxville paleontologist fellow fossickers! get one, be sure to Continued, P. 9
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS
Jewelry Bench Tips buy a spare belt stores have laser welders these have joined since the last Board Continued fom P.8 because they are days, and the cost of having it Meeting. Bob picked up a specimen generally not done is quite affordable. They to be given as the prize for the available at local hardware stores. used to have problems doing silver, membership drawing in December. but now seem to do it routinely. Library: Leah now lives in Kentucky. I've used a local shop twice Jane Brandon is assistant. W. C. suggested that we ask Michael recently, once for a piece with Montgomery to be the librarian if little emeralds that a "friend" Leah determines she cannot fulfill the asked me to repair and for a responsibilities of librarian. second piece where I needed a Field Trips: 25 people went to safety catch and didn't want the Richardson’s Landing. November 18 torch heat to expose all the solder field trip will be to Livingston (mor- lines again. ning) and Dale Hollow (afternoon). Delta State Geology Museum or November Board Minutes Parsons would be a good field trip for Mike Baldwin February. David reported that there was a group of men shooting rifles Called to order 6:35 P. M. Present: LASER WELDING during the Richardson’s Landing field Charles Hill, Bob Cooper, Bonnie trip. Carol suggested that we wear A question came up recently Cooper, Kim Hill, W. C. McDaniel, orange vests and perhaps MAGS about how to solder some jump David Clarke, James Butchko, Ron could purchase some to take on field rings to hold blue topaz briolettes Brister, Carol Lybanon, Matthew trips and be available for Members to onto a necklace. We've all heard Lybanon. borrow. David suggested that we about ways to do some soldering Secretary: October minutes distrib- mention this prior to future trips close to a stone, and some of us uted electronically; Hard copies also during hunting season[s] to areas like distributed. Minutes were reviewed have sized a ring without taking Richardson’s Landing. James will and approved (two corrections). the stones out of their mounts. research bulk rate vests on U-line. Treasurer: Bonnie circulated the We've used wet paper towels, Board authorized James to purchase checking summary. She reminded the some if he finds a good price point. garnet sand, cooling gels, and my Board that the Members who have favorite of suspending the stone in Newsletter: Matthew reminded check-signing authority need to get Board Members to provide three a dish of water. All techniques together to take care of a little bit of months of information for the news- bank on the principle of using a banking. Board approved a total of letter. David volunteered to be the small, hot flame to do the job $5000 in donations at the last Board point person to collect meeting/event quickly before the stone gets hot Meeting. Bonnie will find out the information and send it to the mem- enough to crack or change color. contact for Ronald McDonald House. bership. Matthew will send Mike the Carol suggested that we discuss our But each job is somewhat of a November newsletter, to post online donation to Chucalissa at this point in and mail to the non-email Members. gamble. Some stones are hardy the meeting, since Ron Brister is with and some are frail. Jades and Programs: Next Friday’s program us tonight. Ron addressed the Board will be “The Truth About Radiation” jaspers will generally take some with thanks for the donation to heat, but I'd never chance it with by Konrad Armstrong. MAGS will Chucalissa. He suggested that the present Konrad with $100 for travel the likes of topaz or opal. Trying funds be used for improvements in expenses. W. C. asked if there is a to shield a stone from the torch is the hands-on lab, either an AV System November junior program. Juniors always a betting game, and or a specimen cabinet. Ron stated will join the adults for the Radioactive that Chucalissa would like to offer a sometimes you lose. Minerals program. December will be MAGS Day at the museum. Carol the Holiday Party. If soldering something close to recommended that MAGS donate a stone is too risky, perhaps it's $1000 to be used for the AV system. Rock Swaps: The weather held off for the rock swap at the park in time to consider a no-heat method Membership: Two new Members like laser welding. Most jewelry Bartlett. All those Continued, P. 10
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS
November Board Minutes who be entered for the drawing. Footprint In The Sand Continued fom P. 9 attended Holiday Party: We’ve created an Matthew Lybanon, Editor had a good invitation for the December 8 party. time. Now we will start on next year’s It will be emailed and will also be in swaps. the December newsletter. The club Show: James is looking for Members provides a nice holiday gift for all to be on the Show Committee. Rent attendees. If you would like to make for the 2018 has been paid. November some holiday decorations after the 27 is the next Show Committee meet- program tonight, there are supplies up ing. W. C. suggested that Debbie send front. Anyone who would like to sign the Show Committee minutes to up to come early before the party to Matthew for the newsletter each help set up should let Carol know. This August, researchers from month. Library: Leah has moved back home Okayama University of Science Old Business: to Kentucky, but she is still coming to and the Mongolian Academy of • T-shirt discussion. Mike will work the Membership Meetings. Science discovered one of the on several versions of the mastodon Field Trips: Our trip to Livingston largest dinosaur footprints in for the back of the shirt. The and Dale Hollwow will be a week recorded history. The footprint is volunteer t-shirt was tabled. from tomorrow. We are thinking believed to have belonged to • Holiday Party: All the holiday gifts about a trip to Potosi over the New Titanosaur, a long-necked dino- are in the shed. Members will be Year’s weekend. saur that could have been more asked to bring food according to Show: The grand door prize is on than 30 m long and 20 m tall, their last name first initial. We need display tonight at the back of the according to the researchers. to check to make sure we have room. We need to do a lot of little heavy duty plates, cutlery, napkins, things to plan the Show (April 28 and The dinosaur left the footprint etc. We need to check the dating on 29). We can’t move in on Thursday behind roughly 70 to 90 million the drinks and water in storage at this year so we will need a lot of help years ago in what is now the Gobi the church. Instead of poinsettias, setting up on Friday. desert. The footprint measures Carol suggested that we use minia- Two displays. Junior Member Konrad 106 cm long and 77 cm. wide The ture fir trees as table center pieces. Armstrong presented the program, biggest of several footprints dis- W. C. will get round tablecloths for “The Truth About Radiation.” covered in the vast Mongolian the 70” tables. The Lybanons will desert, the huge trace fossil was put together a short video of past discovered in a geologic layer holiday parties. We would like to get into the fellowship hall very early to formed between 70 million and 90 get everything all set. Charles will million years ago, researchers said. call Nannett to ask her to be our "This is a very rare discovery bingo caller. as it's a well-preserved fossil Adjourned 8:08 P. M. footprint that is more than a meter long with imprints of its November Meeting claws," said a statement issued by Minutes 117 Okayama University of Science. Mike Baldwin The Titanosaur is one of the Called to order by First Vice Presi- largest dinosaurs paleontologists dent W. C. McDaniel at 7:03 P. M. have ever uncovered, and esti- One visitor. mates of its size go up to 65 feet in Membership: Bob showed a calcite height and 100 feet in length. As and pyrite specimen that was once part of the sauropod family, the owned by idajean Jordan. It will be Titanosaur has a characteristically the Membership Renewal Prize. Dues long neck most associate with the must be paid by December in order to Continued, P. 11
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MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS FootprintIn The Sand Brachio- Long and Mysterious over its lava field or harrat. The Continued fom P. 11 saurus (a Matthew Lybanon (Editor) Saudi Arabian structures were dinosaur discovered mainly through satel- depicted in Jurassic Park). Despite Indiana Jones could have had a lite images. A few of the gates are its cousin’s pop culture depiction quieter life if a certain computer actually located on the side of a as a treetop eating menace, sauro- program had been around. For volcanic dome that once spewed pods such as the Titanosaur got years, amateur and professional basaltic lava, researchers found. most of their food from the archaeologists have used Google ground, eating mostly ferns and Earth’s satellite imagery to dis- conifers. cover mysterious earthworks in Kazakhstan, Roman ruins, a for- Paleontologists believe the gotten fortress in Afghanistan, and dinosaur held the tail out straight more. In the past decade, it also above the ground, rather than has helped identify thousands of wagging its tail from side to side burial sites and other “works of as shown in the movie. “They the old men,” as they’re called, The gates "are stone-built, the were big lawnmowers,” Mark scattered across Saudi Arabia. walls roughly made and low," Norell, the chair of the American Now, archaeologists have according to Kennedy. The gates Museum of Natural History’s "appear to be the oldest man- paleontology division, said in an uncovered nearly 400 previously undocumented stone structures made structures in the landscape," interview. “They would take a Kennedy noted, adding that "no step, then eat everything on the they call “gates” in the Arabian desert that they believe may have obvious explanation of their ground in a giant semicircle in purpose can be discerned." front of them.” been built by nomadic tribes thousands of years ago, with a few The smallest of the gates The Titanosaur is thought to of these wall-like formations drap- extends about 13 m, while the have weighed around 70 tons, or ing across old lava domes. Many longest is 518 m long, or longer eleven times the average weight of of the gates were found in clusters than a football field. Many have a Tyrannosaurus rex. The dinosaur in a region in west-central Saudi multiple stone walls that, in some fossil skeleton discovered in Arabia called Harrat Khaybar. instances, form a rectangular Argentina (see “Argentine Discov- design; others, called "I" type eries” in the June 2014 issue of “We tend to think of Saudi Arabia as desert, but in practice gates, have only one stone wall MAGS Rockhound News) is that of with heaps of stone at each end. a Titanosaur. That dinosaur was there’s a huge archaeological Thousands of years ago, the recently given the name Patago- treasure trove out there and it researchers note, the landscape titan mayorum. needs to be identified and mapped,” said David Kennedy, an was more hospitable to human Ref: José L. Carballido et al., A archaeologist at the University of life. Archaeological fieldwork is new giant titanosaur sheds light on Western Australia. “You can’t see necessary to determine what the body mass evolution among them very well from the ground gates are and when, exactly, they sauropod dinosaurs, Proc. R. Soc. level, but once you get up a few date to, Kennedy said. B 2017 284 20171219; DOI: hundred feet, or with a satellite You can see much more detail 10.1098/rspb.2017.1219. Published even higher, they stand out in Dr. Kennedy’s 2:33 YouTube 9 August 2017. beautifully.” video: https://www.youtube.com/ Have you renewed Since 1997, Dr. Kennedy has watch?v=7hakGJU9xco. your membership? flown planes and helicopters over Ref.: Kennedy D. ‘Gates’: a new Saudi Arabia’s neighbor Jordan, archaeological site type in Saudi photographing the angular and Arabia. Arab Arch Epig. See P. 5. wheel-like structures scattered 2017;28:153–174.
JANUARY 2018 PAGE 11 MEMPHIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
MAGS Rockhound News ◊ A monthly newsletter for and by the members of MAGS MAGS At A Glance January 2018
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, St. Francis Hospital 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Show Committee Membership Meet- DMC Field Trip, Meeting, 6:30 pm, ing, 7:00 pm, prize Vulcan Limestone Agricenter, Members drawing, “Iceland Mine, Brooksville, FL welcome and South America” 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 MAGS Field Trip, Vulcan Quarry, Parsons, TN 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31 1 2 3 Show Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm, Agricenter, Members welcome
Memphis Archaeological and Geological Society 2019 Littlemore Drive Memphis, TN 38016
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