The Bulletin
Editor - Jack Kallmeyer

March 2024
Those Seven Hills

Our featured presentation this month will be given by Dry Dredgers past president, Greg Hand. His topic will be, The Hills of Cincinnati and Implications for Paleontology: Everybody knows that Cincinnati is built on seven hills, but no one can agree on which seven constitute that list. Over the years, Cincinnatians have named and then renamed all sorts of locations as hills. That ever-evolving nomenclature is substantially important to paleontologists because location information for key specimens in museums or in the literature may refer to a location that now carries a completely different name. In this presentation, we'll review some of the dozens of historic names that were once used to identify Cincinnati hills and discuss how to track down obscure toponomical sources.

Greg Hand, proprietor of the "Cincinnati Curiosities" blog and author of a book titled, coincidentally, "Cincinnati Curiosities," is a past president of the Dry Dredgers. Greg contributes regularly to Cincinnati Magazine and the WCPO-TV "Cincy Lifestyles" show. With a rotating cast of characters, he presents entertaining history chats in bars and saloons through a program called "Stand-Up History." You will find him each year at the Fossil Identification booth at GeoFair.

TIME: 8 pm
DATE:
Friday, March 22, 2024
PLACE:
Room 201 Braunstein Hall
                University of Cincinnati Clifton Campus
SIMULCAST: via Zoom - Link sent no later than March 20

Here are some directions to our meeting room.

We are still asking that members attending our meetings in person wear a mask. Most people have complied but we still see people ignoring our request. Remember that masks are primarily to protect others from you, not you from others. Even if you think you are immune for whatever reason, we still strongly suggest that you wear a mask to protect others. Some of our members who attend these meetings are in high risk groups (including me) so please be courteous and sensitive to their situation. Vaccination is also highly recommended. If you forgot your mask we have a limited number of free ones at the front of the room.



Beginner's Class
By Greg Courtney

There will be no Beginner’s Class this month as the Silent Auction will use Room 300


“I Saw This in a Museum” – 2024 Field Trip Season Begins
by Bob Bross

Those of you who have visited the Ordovician section of the Cincinnati Museum Center will notice some of the spectacular crinoid and edrioasteroid specimens on display. Some of them came from the site of our first 2024 field trip – a Northeastern Kentucky road cut.

To those who are visiting this site for the first time: it is impossible to miss the imposing road cut, 70-80 feet tall. There is plenty of room to park on the shoulder on either side; however, the east side offers somewhat easier access. It has multiple levels, several of which can be accessed from the south end. While the terraced sections are wide, please keep away from the edges; there are plenty of fossils to be found at the lower levels. Local vehicle traffic varies, so use caution if you cross the street.

This exposure of the Latonia (Kope) and Fairview formations is famous for edrioasteroids and crinoids; however, many other Ordovician fossils will be found as well. As this site will probably be seeing its first visitors of the New Year, there will be a lot of loose rock from winter snows and (mostly) rains; however, these same rocks will help expose fossils hidden deep within its various layers.

Remember that our field trips are rain or shine – and an overcast early morning does NOT necessarily mean rain is coming. We will also monitor weather reports at the site in case conditions change. Bring your loupes and collecting containers; let’s see what Maysville has to offer – whether for your home collection or a special museum-worthy discovery!

Editor's Note: The driving instructions to this site was sent out in the March 2024 Bulletin via email to Dues-paying members. If you are not a dues-paying member, but would like to be, here is how to join - Dry Dredger Membership Registration


2024 Geofair Display Invitation
by Marie Huizing

We would love to see your minerals, fossils, or lapidary/faceting work on display at Geofair 2024, the 59th Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show cosponsored by the Cincinnati Mineral Society and the Dry Dredgers. It will again be held at the Sharonville Convention Center; dates are the weekend of May 4 and 5. All displays are eligible for cash prizes. Display applications can be downloaded from the show website, www.geofair.com. The theme is “Crystal and Fossil Treasures.” Note the addition of an Ugly Rock Contest again this year. I look forward to hearing from you. Please let me know if you have questions. rocksandminerals@fuse.net; 513/574-7142


More interesting and informative information, along with color illustrations is available in the full E-Bulletin that was emailed to dues-paying members. It is also found in the members-only area of the website.


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