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Post by DirtCleaner on May 13, 2015 9:52:21 GMT -5
Will be in Chicago for a week soon and was wondering if anybody knows of any shops there that might be interesting to stop at. Searching the 'Net was futile. A few healing stone places was all I found. Found a thread here from 2006 that did not have too much either. So....any thoughts?
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on May 13, 2015 15:34:49 GMT -5
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on May 13, 2015 15:38:53 GMT -5
Rock Shop Chicago
231 N. Milwaukee Ave Unit 7, Wheeling, IL 60090 - (847) 419-1772
Chicago Rock Shop or The Gems of Nature carries a beautiful selection of rocks. Find at our location Agate, Amethyst, Ametrine, Apophyllite, Aventurine, Citrine, Emerald, Fluorite, Garnet, Jasper, Labradorite, Lodolite, Moss, Clear Quartz, Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz, Stilbite etc.
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Post by parfive on May 13, 2015 18:33:32 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on May 13, 2015 23:07:52 GMT -5
Digging areas?? Heck yes!
5046 S Greenwood Avenue
That's obama's house. Look for buried college transcripts and admittance application.
They would be worth a fortune.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on May 13, 2015 23:26:29 GMT -5
LMAO!!!!!!!!!! Probably digging up old family!!
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Post by snowmom on May 17, 2015 5:40:21 GMT -5
Not sure of precise locations but check to see what you can find around Coal City and Joliet, there is a stretch of fossil bed through that area which was untouched by glaciers and they find spectacular preserved fossils, I think there is a rock club near there which would give you a few contacts for the area. will try to dig up a few links. Museum of natural history has a great rock and mineral collection if you don't have time or wherewithal to go to out of town locations. Science and Industry museum has a coal mining tour which replicates going down in an old mine and is real fun for the whole family. Those 2 museums alone would take all day to get through. don't forget to post a follow up of what you find to do while you are there.
www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-vanishing-mother-lode-of-mazon-creek/Content?oid=915941 more info coming.
http:/ /www.esconi.org/esconi_earth_science_club/esconi-gem-mineral-show/
dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r2/mazonia.htm
this last looks great if you can make it out there. they even list fossil hunting among activities on the page.
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Post by Peruano on May 17, 2015 8:13:06 GMT -5
You probably need a local to take you to a suitable gravel pit. Everything was glaciated and transported in from further North so its always a wonder what you will find. However you need a gravel pit or river bar where hounding is tolerated and or encouraged. The fossils around Coal City etc are need but you need time and luck to score the unusual. You might be better off checking on mineral exhibits at the Field Musuem. I'm not sure what they have these days, but it could be wonderful. Tom
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Post by DirtCleaner on May 17, 2015 8:27:28 GMT -5
The Mazon fossils look intriguing!
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Post by snowmom on May 18, 2015 5:34:54 GMT -5
I was in gravel pits near Mazon as a child, waiting while my father went fishing. I picked up fossils, they were pretty abundant in those days. wish I still had them. I had one about the size of a quarter with a perfect maple leaf. so cool! If you check almost any resale shop or gift shop which sells items of local interest, and also antique type shops, you are likely to find some Mazon fossil ferns or leaves. I grew up taking them for granted but now of course realize what a unique phenomenon they represent. look for round, pancake like rocks that look like mud in red, grey or black. The ferns are more oval. when you split them open the fossil impression is inside. Rocks that look like buns or hamburgers usually have some sort of fossil impression inside them. There has been heavy rain in IL the last couple of weeks, rain may have washed outcrops and gulleys open to new material to hunt. Best wishes no matter what you decide to do, rock related activities are everywhere in northern il. especially fossil related ones.
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Post by Peruano on May 18, 2015 17:45:36 GMT -5
Mazon fossils can be neat if you hit them. I made a run at them a year or so ago in the winter time. After reading all the info, a friend and I went to some spoil islands near Braidwood Lake off of I-55 and Rt 53. We foraged around in some hillocks and found lots of nodules. Many broken ones visible (whether by natural action or foraging efforts of previous collectors was uncertain). I collected a bunch, opened several without finding much beyond a possible jellyfish and amorphous blobs, but I understand the way to open them is by freezing and thawing causing them to split naturally along the lines of sedimentation and fossil deposition. I ended up sending a SFRB to Don (Jakesrocks) knowing his love for fossils but have not heard back as to whether anything resulted from his South Dakota freezing and thawing (maybe he's still waiting for them to thaw). If you really like fossils and have a day to kill, go for it, but I'm not sure I was rewarded with much more than a day of fresh air and an outing with keen prospects. Tom
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Post by DirtCleaner on May 18, 2015 18:15:58 GMT -5
If you really like fossils and have a day to kill, go for it, but I'm not sure I was rewarded with much more than a day of fresh air and an outing with keen prospects. Tom I have worked a lot harder for a lot less.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on May 19, 2015 10:08:05 GMT -5
One thing I always wanted to do was go on a private dig in Chicago,with the old housing areas....Use to have a show about the subject.. They would dig up some cool stuff in the basements of old housing and businesses which had history with gangsters and bootleggers from the 20's and 30's.....
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Post by DirtCleaner on May 23, 2015 22:57:42 GMT -5
We did manage to get to the Mazon Creek area but it was a bust (as far as fossil finding went.) But we had a wonderful walk, spoke with several people who were enjoying the day fishing and got some badly needed sunshine. When we get home I will post a few pics of the trip.
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Post by snowmom on May 24, 2015 4:15:37 GMT -5
disappointing, but I know that area is very heavily hunted. looking forward to hearing about the trip.
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