In Memory of Dr. Glenn Mason

Earlier last month (November 7, 2018), Dr. Glenn Mason passed away. He was a long time geoscience professor at Indiana University Southeast (IUS) New Albany, Indiana, USA. In 2009, I met Dr. Mason while taking classes at the school. On a Saturday in July of that year, he was kind enough to give me and a small group of geology enthusiasts a tour of the Geosciences department at IUS. Glenn was especially proud of the display cabinets in the hallway outside his office that had a number of minerals, rocks, and fossils. Hopefully, IUS will retain these displays as a memory to Dr. Mason and his contributions to geological science and the local community.

Later some us were able to donate some specimens for these cabinets.

Dr. Mason's office door decorated with dinosaur imagery which was a popular class he taught at the school.

Placenticeras intercalare Ammonite Fossil

This ammonite fossil was on display at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York city in July 2018. The ammonite fossil is named Placenticeras intercalare. It was found in the Bearpaw Formation, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and dates to the Cretaceous Period (75 million years ago). Accession number is Fl-56701. Donated by Korite International and Canada Fossils Ltd.

The ammonite fossil shell is now iridescent caused by being exposed to high pressures and temperatures. The marine creature existed in the Western Interior Seaway that covered the middle of what is now the North American continent. The seaway existed from about 75-65 million years ago.

What makes the fossil so valuable is that it is composed of a organic gem-like material ammolite. Ammolite is a biogenic gemstone like pearl and amber. The material comes from the ancient shells of cephalopods.

Learn more about the museum at https://www.amnh.org/

Ameropiltonia lauradanae and Comptonaspis swallowi Trilobite Fossils

This trilobite fossils were on display at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York city in July 2018. The trilobite fossils are named Ameropiltonia lauradanae (right) and Comptonaspis swallowi (left). It was found in the Chouteau Formation of Saline County, Missouri, USA and date to the Mississippian Period. Accession number is Fl-80136. Donated by Andy Secher.

Learn more about the museum at https://www.amnh.org/

Their trilobite exhibit was made possible by Dr. Martin Shugar, M.D. and Andy Secher who are also editors for the AMNH trilobite web site.