The Dallas Paleontological Society was founded in 1984 for the purpose of promoting interest in and knowledge of the science of paleontology. It was intended by the founding members that the Society would be a network for the exchange of data between professionals and serious amateurs in this field.
Regular Meeting, 2nd Wednesday, June 14![]() Baculites On Wednesday, June 14th, at 7PM Central time, we will meet again in the Boonesville Auditorium (Room 125) of the Ellison Miles Building (Bldg H) at Brookhaven Campus of Dallas College, 3939 Valley View Lane, in Farmers Branch. Dr. Joshua Slattery will speak on “Baculites of the Western Interior Seaway”. The Western Interior Seaway connected the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean during the Cretaceous. It separated North America into two parts: the ancestral Rocky Mountains, actively rising on the west, from broad coastal plains and lowlands on the east. With mountains rising to the west, the west side of the seaway received huge amounts of sediment eroded off the mountains, forming deltas of sandstone and coarser sediment. Because the ancestral Rocky Mountains weighed down the crust, those sediments were trapped in the rapidly-subsiding western side of the seaway. That allowed only mud, chalk, and limestone to be deposited in the center and east side of the seaway. The abundance of limestone in the Cretaceous of North Texas indicate that the shoreline was far away to the west, and the similar fauna indicates that our sea sometimes connected to the Western Interior Seaway. The straight-shelled ammonite commonly found in the Ozan Marl of the North Sulphur River is part of that similar fauna. Joshua Slattery earned his BS in Geology from the U of Wyoming in 2007, and then a MS in 2011 from the U of South Florida in Tampa on the ammonites and other fossils from the Red Bird section of the Pierre Shale in eastern Wyoming. He continued there to earn a PhD in Geology in 2019 with a dissertation “Documenting Evolution: Comparing and contrasting Late Mesozoic and Late Cenozoic Molluscan Patterns”. Dr. Slattery is currently visiting faculty at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and continuing his research on the Campanian cephalopod fauna of North America. He has spoken before to the DPS, in September of 2021, on the ecology of ammonites. Several things will make this meeting special: 1). We just tested a new setup of web camera and microphone at Brookhaven and we have solved the delayed echo audio problem. We will be using the shared-screen feature of Zoom so you will have higher-resolution video of the presentation. 2). Joshua will receive a grant from the DPS for research on the Campanian-age Ozan Marl of the North Sulphur River and study of the ammonites, inoceramids, and microfossils (with an extended team of micro-paleontologists). There will be opportunities for DPS members to contribute to this study, both by showing your specimens and by trenching and bulk sampling this summer. 3). Several years ago, DPS received a large number of papers in vertebrate paleontology from our advisor Dr. Art Busbey when he retired from TCU. We will be giving those away, so come get something to read. There are many papers on crocodiles, the Permian of Texas and Oklahoma, and the Cenozoic of Nebraska, plus many other topics in vertebrate paleontology, and even a few on invertebrates. First come, first served. DPS meetings are always free and open to the public. Members often bring food or snacks to share, and DPS will provide water and sodas. Everyone is invited to bring fossils. We like to see your recent finds, as well as your favorite old ones and collections. We will even try to identify mystery specimens. Remote attendees can join our Zoom meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88375673507 Our ZOOM information was incorrect in the June issue of the Fossil Record. The above information is the correct access code for joining online for the June Meeting. DPS Officers for 2023The officers for 2023 are: Vice President: Joe O'Neil mailto:vp@dallaspaleo.org Fossil Record Editor Bill Weaver mailto:editor@dallaspaleo.org Secretary: Dana Baggott mailto:secretary@dallaspaleo.org Treasurer Pam (Paul) Lowers mailto:treasurer@dallaspaleo.org Fossil Bits and PiecesThe DPS offers extra benefits for Members. Types of Memberships and costs of each can be found under MEMBERSHIP choice in the menu bar, then New Member Online Application. Below is a list of what Members receive and the reasons you should plan to join (or re-join) us in our paleo adventures! MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Newsletter: The Fossil Record, the Society’s monthly newsletter, is sent to all members. Volunteerism: Volunteer opportunities to work the DPS booths provides community outreach, interaction with the public, and occasionally free entry to an event. We need volunteers for all committees (to see our list of committees, click here) and activities. Special Events: Members receive Eblasts on surprise events and reminders of upcoming events. DPS Website: Current members have access to the Members only section of the DPS website, which includes the Membership Directory, past newsletters, and more. Field Trips: Some field trips have limited access (quarries, Oklahoma trilobites, etc.), and some field trips are designated members-only. Excavations: Participation in Fossil Bureau of Investigation (FBI) excavations. Discounts: Fossil prep kits, display items, books, and other unique items are occasionally offered at a discount to members. Occasional Papers: Each Occasional Papers is a collection of in-depth articles on paleontology written by members. One copy per membership is free to members for a limited time immediately following publication. Past Occasional Papers are available for purchase. Family: Family Membership provides a discount to a second adult and allows for PIT Crew membership in which children can participate in special PIT Crew-only workshops, classroom activities, and field trips. Dues pay for: food and drinks at the monthly meetings, refreshments on field trips, scholarships, and professional speakers for special meetings. Lake Ralph Hall/North Sulphur River, Fanin County To view a new 18 minute film on Florissant Fossil Beds Monument, please click on the link below: https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=42760664-E715-FE44-F38270C2561E1366 We at SMU prepared a short video about the Smithsonian exhibit, "Sea Monsters Unearthed: Life in Angola's Ancient Seas," that has been posted on the Embassy of Angola in the United States website (https://angola.org) and on the Embassy Facebook page. To see it, click on the link (https://angola.org), which will take you to the website. The video is playing without sound on the banner. Scroll down to Highlights and you will see a photo of a fossil. Click on that photo and you will see the video with sound and Portuguese captioning on the Embassy Facebook page. Attached is an information sheet about the exhibit, prepared for the Angolan Embassy. If you would like the video with English captioning, just let me know. Enjoy! Louis Jacobs, DPS Advisor jacobs@mail.SMU.edu NMNH Notice and Links_July 2020.docx (This will download to your computer to view.) We are very happy to announce that the very first Occasional Papers Volume 1, written by 9 members of the founding group of the DPS is now available to download! It is under the HOME choice on the menu bar, then Members-Only Content and then Documents and Resources. To see the info for Earth Science week, click here. The Paleontograph back issues are now available at the following link https://www.aaps-journal.org/the-paleontograph.htmlDallas Library and DPSThe Dallas Library’s Podcast on Natural Dallas (P.O.N.D.) Annual Community Nature Expo includes a video featuring the DPS. Please watch all the videos for some interesting things to do and learn about in the outside world. Visit http://dallaslibrary2.org/pond/ for the videos. | Upcoming Events
What we are doing!!DPS field trip to Ash Grove Quarry May 7 Our Schedule of all upcoming DPS planned Events is coming soon! Now Available! Also Available Now
Join us nowCome and join us for a great time at our next meeting, and click below to become a member. Individual and Family memberships are available, and kids can participate in the PIT Crew (Paleontologists In Training). Mail Check to: DPS PO BOX 223846 Dallas, Texas 75222-3846 The PIT Crew
For more information, Click the link here or click the link under the home page called "For Kids - The Pit Crew" , to see policies, upcoming events, announcements, and how to sign up to take advantage of this new program. About Us and Our Monthly MeetingsThe Dallas Paleontological Society normally meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM. |