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Showing posts from April, 2011

Oldest reptile fossil returns to N.S.

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What is reputed to be the world's oldest reptile fossil is returning to Nova Scotia for the first time since it was sent overseas more than 100 years ago. The Hylonomus lyelli is 312 million years old and was discovered in a petrified tree stump near Joggins in the Bay of Fundy, 250 kilometres north of Halifax. The fossil was uncovered by Nova Scotian geologist John William Dawson in 1859 but was handed over to the British Museum around the turn of the century. It's now part of the collection at the Natural History Museum in London. The skeleton is on display for the next six months at the Joggins Fossil Centre until Oct. 31. "If you look closely, you can see elements that you would recognize," said the centre's chief paleontologist Melissa Grey. "Bits of the jaw with teeth and the back bone and the tail and [some] of the leg as well." The fossil is so delicate, it had to be delivered by hand. The Hylonomus lyelli is only about 20 centimetr

2010 Was Good, 2011 Will Be Even Better!

I haven't updated my blog, but this time I won't blame laziness. Winter sucked. Too much snow and cold as heck. I took the time to actually start up on some online courses related in the field of Geology and Paleontology to be better prepared for the new season. I'm glad to say that I've retained a lot in the past few months and made some headway. This just made me realize how much I love rocks and the past. I've recently gone on a few fossil hunting trips, even as back as March. I just couldn't wait till the weather got warmer. I'll post the recent trips I went on a resume of how 2010 went. Stay tuned! - Keenan