Cipangopaludina japonica River Snail

 This is not a fossil but it could be one day.  Snail shells found in the White River of  Indianapolis, Indiana.  Some how this Asian snail has gotten loose in the river and is multiplying.  I found 6 shells on a 5 meter stretch of river bank.  A naturalist at the Indiana State Museum identified it as maybe a Cipangopaludina japonica.

Two specimens are shown in these images.  The largest is 5.2 cm long, 4.0 cm wide, and 3.8 cm tall.  I wonder if these creatures are edible?

In addition, I found two types of river bivalves and two other types of smaller snails.

KYANA Geological Society Show 2010 Pictures

A very nice show this year with an observed good size crowd.  The Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum display was great with Ben Clement's son hosting the display.  My pictures of specimens from the show are limited to minerals.  The tables I looked at had trilobite fossils from Morocco and fish from the Green River Formation.  I saw some Ordovician trilobites as well.  Lots of jewelry, polished rocks, and mineral specimens were on display.

This next picture is of a malachite with azurite specimen collected in Namibia, Africa.  A very friendly dealer let me take its picture.  A mistake by me in not getting his contact information.  His mineral specimens were very nice.

These last two pictures show specimens from the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum display.  Mr. Clement was very kind in letting me take pictures and informative in describing fluorite.  Fluorite is known for is use as a flux in steel making, production of hydrofluoric acid, and fluorine for dental use.  One aspect that is probably not known is its use in American nuclear weapons production.  During World War II, the mines were getting orders for fluorite that was being shipped to Oak Ridge Tennessee.  It was thought to be for steel production but it was being used for production of uranium 235 and plutonium 238.

The picture above is of a fluorescent mineral from Franklin, New Jersey illuminated with UV light.

This last picture is of purple fluorite.  Learn more about the museum and its activities: http://www.clementmineralmuseum.org

KYANA Geological Society Show 2010

If you are near the Louisville, Kentucky area this weekend (November 12-24, 2010) consider visiting the KYANA Geological Society Mineral, Gem, & Fossil Show.  Pictures shown in this post are from the 2009 event.  It is held at a church's gym with a number of dealers selling polished rocks, jewelry, minerals, fossils, and toys.  Admission is free as is parking.  The featured exhibit will be minerals from the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum of Marion, Kentucky.

Learn more at this web page: http://www.kyanageo.org/showflier.htm

I am a member of KYANA Geological Society and also Cincinnati's Dry Dredgers though I do not attend meetings very often at either group.  Last year, I created an Ordovician fossil display for the show.  It was designed for the general public being the main audience.  In retrospect, if I designed a display again I would obtain the case to assemble the fossils in ahead of time.  Improvements would be: to attach the display cards at better viewing angles, attach cloth to stands so there are no wrinkles, and use fluorescent lights instead incandescent.