All things Natural History

Lark Quarry

2010-07-11T21:39:00.004+10:00

Wonderful mesa in Lark Quarry Conservation Park

Dinosaur Foot prints

Lark Quarry is certainly worth the visit - its about 120 kilometers over unsealed road - but certainly a trip one in a life time to experience an event that happened 98 Million Years Ago.

Whale Sharks

2010-05-31T20:43:00.001+10:00

Whale Sharks Coming Soon

2010-05-01T18:55:00.002+10:00

Thunder Struck

2010-04-24T23:05:00.003+10:00

Wildfires near Julia Creek - caused by lightning

Storms over the Richmond Fossil Fields

Three ways to save the planet

2010-04-24T22:50:00.002+10:00

Well, we all know that the planet is in trouble - surprisingly its not global warming that it the problem - its humans in general. Here are 3 simple ways to help save the planet - It all starts with you at home -

1# Refuse plastic bags if your only getting 1 item - You don't need a bag for a bottle of milk - it has a handle just carry it. Even better take your own along if your planing to do a large shop - Don't use the ones you can buy at the supermarket - they are made also of plastic - the best ones are material bags that are made from natural fibres.

2# Reduce reuse and recycle. The average Australian pumps approximately 2.5 kilograms of rubbish into land fill every day. Think - Recycle if it can be - arrange for pick up of chemicals from your local council.

3# Don't cut back - Just think smart. If your not in a room, make sure the light and air conditioning is off.

Happy saving the Planet

Australian Age Of Dinosaurs

2010-03-26T22:49:00.003+11:00

I was really looking forward to visiting the Australian Age Of Dinosaurs Museum at Winton. The new museum displays three of Australia's newest dinosaurs; Clancy, Matilida, and Banjo. Unfortunately for me the road into the museum was closed. I guess this just highlights the dangers of regional museums who access roads can be cut by wet-season weather.

Nice sunset

2010-03-26T22:44:00.001+11:00

What a great Sunset! Taken today, west of Hughenden.

Into the dark

2010-02-07T18:31:00.001+11:00

Lots of Rain

2010-02-01T21:10:00.005+11:00

After lots of rain here in the Blue Mountains, waterfalls were flowing like nether before.

I got a new camera

2010-02-01T21:01:00.002+11:00

I recently got a new camera, a Olympus 9000 tough. Here is one of the pictures, I think that the quality is great. The reason for this new camera, is for a planed trip to Exmouth, where I plan to swim with the Whale sharks! How excitement.

Glossopteris Leaves - Beauchamp Falls - Blue Mountains

2010-01-06T20:43:00.006+11:00

Carbonised Trees

Fossil Glossopteris Leaves - Permian - 10 cm scale bar

Well after a long time, and not much geological info - here is some fossils from Beauchamp Fall in the Blue Mts west of Sydney. These fossils date from the Permian.

The Insect World - Simply amazing

2010-01-06T00:13:00.007+11:00

Today has been the first sunny day in at least a week - so I got out side to see what I could capture. Here are the pictures! This afternoon was followed by, you guess it - More rain!

Storms over Sydney

2010-01-06T00:08:00.004+11:00

Fishes from Achanarras

2009-12-29T23:14:00.004+11:00

Cheiracanthus

Dipterus

just some of the fishes collected from Achanarras quarry in northern Scotland. This area is Middle Old Red Sandstone - Devonian!

Rain Drops are falling on my head

2009-12-29T23:04:00.005+11:00

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-29T23:02:00.001+11:00

Night Scapes

2009-11-16T23:01:00.000+11:00

Sydney lights from Blackheath!

Needs no explanation - Sydney Opera House

Darling Harbor

I have always enjoyed taking pictures at night - just simply its so peaceful and relaxing. Night time shooting is a difficult medium - but the results can be simply stunning. Sorry nothing scientific / geologically related in this story!

Gemstone Hunting

2009-11-16T22:47:00.000+11:00

Setting of the Oberon Gemfields

The heavy material in the centre of the sieve. The red translucent stones are Zircons.

Achanarras Quarry

2009-10-24T00:13:00.000+11:00

Achanarras Quarry in Northern Scotland is where great devonian fish fossils are found. The Lungfish Dipterus is the most common fish found. I have fossils been preped - Photos will be posted when finnished.

Eichstätt - A Jurassic Lagoon

2009-09-30T07:32:00.000+10:00

Various fossil fish

Photos from the Jura-Museum, Eichstätt Germany. A fossil lagerstatten from the Jurassic.

Thank you Sir David

2009-09-30T07:26:00.001+10:00

As part of the Bristol Centenary and the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology annual meeting, Sir David gave a talk on his passion - The Birds of Paradise - Thank you Sir David, for your time and effort.

Lyme Regis and the Jurassic Coast

2009-09-13T17:16:00.000+10:00

Part of the Jurassic Coast near Charmouth showing
the grey rock where you find the fossils.

A Large Ammonite on the Beach

Dapedum Fish found in the Lyme area.

Ammonite Pavement on Mounmoth Beach

Well arriving in London the other day, our first port of call was Lyme Regis / Charmouth and the Jurassic Coast. Lyme Regis is a typical English town with stone cobble pathways, and four fossil shops!!
The Cliffs along the beach front in this area are about 200 Million Years Old and originate from the Jurassic Period, I guess hence the name "Jurassic Coast".

On Monumoth Beach there is a large Ammonite grave yard with ten of thasond Ammonites. In the other direction toward Charmouth you can find pyritied Ammonites.

Over all, we really wanted to find a Ichthyosaur, but we only found 2 vertebrae, I guess better luck next time.

As the Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Area, NO hamering of the cliffs is permitted. Because the cliffs are unstable visitors are advisted to keep at least 8 metres away from the cliffs.

What is it??

2009-07-21T16:46:00.001+10:00

It is a Cox Comb Oyster. These funny looking animals are commonly sickle shape but this can vary depending on the size and space the animal has to grow. They existed from the Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous in a similar niche to modern day oysters. This one pictured is from Madagascar, but can also be found in Asia and Europe.

The Australian Opal Centre

2009-07-19T12:26:00.000+10:00

An opalised yabby button preserved in gem grade opal.

The Australian Opal Centre in outback New South Wales is a must see attraction. What better than opal and fossils made of opal. These fossils have been found in the process of opal mining. If you are ever in the area, it is certainly well worth the visit.
Check out http://www.australianopalcentre.com/

SVP 2009

2009-07-19T12:23:00.000+10:00

Hope to see you all at the 69th SVP Annual Meeting and the 57th Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy (SVPCA) held in Bristol the UK. September 23 -26, 2009.

Govetts Leap, Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

2009-05-20T17:13:00.000+10:00

Govetts Leap Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is only 2 hours from Sydney. Its amazing what you can do with still photos.

Cotton Hill Quarry Trilobites

2009-05-08T22:53:00.000+10:00

one of the trilobites (ODONTOPLEURA MARKHAMI)! about 1 cm in size.

The outcrop producing the trilobites! with mobile phone
for scale.

Cotton Hill Quarry near Forbes in New South Wales
is a wonderful fossil site with Graptolites and Trilobites.

Is it a horsetail?

2009-04-25T13:24:00.000+10:00

Is the fossil in the center a horsetail? I was found in the Blue Mountains, where fossils are normally rare!

Solnhofen Fossils

2009-04-25T13:05:00.001+10:00

Solnhofen Fossils from Germany, I would have to say are my favorite types of fossils. Why? Well the preservation and display quality of the fossils is just amazing. See for your self, here are some photos from my collection.

Storm on the horizon

2009-04-16T14:42:00.000+10:00

Last night in the Blue Mountains there was this wonderful light show, I thought I would share the pictures with you.

Going through my collection.

2009-03-22T13:34:00.000+11:00

I am currently cataloging and writing tags for my collection. I though that as I go through it, you might like to see what I have.
This Pic is of a the placoderm fish Cowralepis from the Devonian near Cowra in New South Wales.

12th Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution Palaeontology and Systematics (CAVEPS) 2009

2009-02-23T15:10:00.000+11:00

The 12th Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution Palaeontology and Systematics is going to be held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia. CAVEPS is a biennial meeting of vertebrate palaeontologists from Australia and overseas. I will be there, will you?
The second circular can be found at http://www.bees.unsw.edu.au/research/caveps2009/caveps_2009_second_circular.pdf

A Blue Wren

2009-02-16T18:09:00.001+11:00

Yesterday, I spotted this Blue Wren (Malurus cyaneus) in the Garden, So I thought that I would share the picture. These little birds tend to live in family groups. The one pictured is the male of the species with females being a dull brown color. Their distribution is only on the east coast (Australia) from Brisbane south to Tasmania and through into southern South Australia.

What do you think

2009-02-09T12:31:00.000+11:00

I was thinking of sending this photo to the Wildlife Photographer of the year. What do you all think. I captured it in Mt Isa by the dam.

I've been everywhere man!

2009-02-05T18:36:00.000+11:00

Create your own travel map or travel blog

Travel Info at TripAdvisor

Where's the BIF

2009-01-18T00:08:00.000+11:00

BIF or Banded Iron Formation is found near Port Headland in Western Australia. It consists of alternating bands of red jasper, hematite, and pyrite. This unusual rock also occurs in Namibia. Scientists are not quite sure how BIFs form. Although a theory by Beukes Et al. 2002, suggest that it may have formed from upwelling of iron rich waters from Mid Oceanic Ridges into areas of shallow oxygen rich waters.

My office.

2009-01-16T21:19:00.000+11:00

Sorry for not posting anything sooner. As you can see from this photo. I had to sort out my home office. If all goes well more post will be coming shortly.

Happy New Year

2009-01-08T22:48:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year!

Hope it's a great 2009.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Dinosaurs in Their Time

2008-12-02T19:07:00.000+11:00

The new exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Dinosaurs in Their Time, shows great ingenuity in the way the displays are organized. Its one of those exhibits where no expense was spared. I particularly like the fossil fish tank with fossil fish from the Kansas Chalk pictured above.

With Thanks

2008-12-02T18:24:00.000+11:00

Dunkleosteus terrrelli

After a recent conference trip, I would like to thank the following for their enthusiasm towards palaeontology.
Lucy Leahey and Steve Salisbury, The University of Queensland. www.uq.edu.au/dinosaurs
Stephen J. Godfrey and Yasemin Tulu, Calvert Marine Museum.
Denny Diveley, John Maisey, Jennifer Lane, AMNH.
Amelia May, Research Casting International. www.rescast.com
Alison Murray, University of Alberta
Bill and Jane Murray, Paleo tools.
Christopher Shaw, La Brea Tar Pits.
Tracie Bennitt, Triebold Palaeontology, Inc.
Allan Langheinrich, Langs Fossils.
Ben Matzen, GANDA.
John Scott Lucas, Phil Fraley Productions, Inc.

A novel idea

2008-12-02T18:14:00.000+11:00

Passing through Taipei International Airport recently, a new approach to get visitors into museums is to bring the exhibits to the airport. Not only does it provide something for travellers to do other than shop, but provides excellent learning environment, it also serves as a place to chill, especially after flying for 10 hours.

More opal fossils for sale

2008-11-11T20:30:00.000+11:00

A Theropod dinosaur tooth for sale on http://www.opalauctions.com/auctions/opalized-fossil/item-38074 for $80 000 Australian dollars. This is an unusual fossil coming from the opal fields in Queensland. Certainly a rare fossil. Good to see that Australians value their fossil heritage !

Still no sign of wet season in Mount Isa

2008-11-11T19:58:00.000+11:00

Mount Isa last Friday

Despite occasional storms in the remote outback town of Mount Isa, the dams are at all time lows. The towns main water supply has ~120 days of water left. Mount Isa has been drought affected for several years with no sign of rain over the hills.

Titanosaurid: a Gondwanan Dinosaur.

2008-08-02T19:28:00.000+10:00

A new fossil from New Zealand suggests that Titanosaurids were wide spread through Gondwanaland. All that is needed now, is a Titanosaurid fossil from Antarctica to complete the puzzle. The new fossil although only partially and poorly preserved, it is believed to have come from a Titanosaurid dinosaur based on bone structure. This is the first confirmed sauropod from New Zealand.

Feathered Dinosaurs... Another book by John Long

2008-07-01T19:42:00.000+10:00

Feathered Dinosaurs: the origin of Birds is wonderful illustrated book, with P. Schouten as the illustrator its no wonder why. The book is a little lacking on scientific detail but focuses on various individual dinosaurs which had feathers. Most palaeontologists believe that dinosaurs eventually evolved into birds. A nice read for the non palaeontologist.

Triassic fish from Madagascar

2008-06-29T16:26:00.000+10:00

Localities in northwest Madagascar have yielded abundant fish fossils from the Triassic period. The fish occur in abundance with ammonites indicating that these fish were marine. The fossils are found in nodules. The above two fossils are from my collection. The top most picture is Australosomus, probably one of the most common fish from these deposits, whilst the lower picture is Perledus.

The Difference between a palaeontologists and an archeologists

2008-06-08T21:23:00.000+10:00

Do people who write in the worlds top science magazines actually know the difference between an archaeologist and a palaeontologist?
Palaeontology is the study of past life, most notably of extinct animals e.g. The Dinosaurs. Where archeology is the study of material remains related to various ancient cultures e.g. Egyptology is a form of archeology!

Dinosaurs in the Outback

2008-05-24T18:03:00.000+10:00

I am currently working on a new documentary tittled 'Dinosaurs in the Outback'.. This documentary will look at Dinosaurs and fossils found in central-western Queensland.

Trilobites from Mount Isa

2008-05-24T09:53:00.000+10:00

Trilobites from the Mount Isa region are found in a white fine grain sediment, west of Mount Isa on May Downs station. The sediments that make up the western edge of the Mount Isa Inlayer are often not metamorphosed like the rocks in the eastern succession and are less older.

Focus Science Magazine

2008-05-13T18:39:00.000+10:00

Today in Focus magazine, I noticed this little article which discusses a new "palaeontological" find in China in which the article states "Archaeologists in China have unearthed a fossil.....". What a poor science magazine calling a palaeontologist an archaeologist.

Fossils from Richmond

2008-05-12T22:03:00.001+10:00

Fossils from Richmond belong to two principal formations; The Allaru Mudstone and the Toolebuc formation dominated by the Bivalve Inoceramus sutherlandi, which can be found in abundance in the collecting quarry at Richmond. The vertebrate fauna is dominated by thin elongate scales of a fish called Richmondichthys sweeti . The pictures above show an unknown fish scale, a partial fish fin, a turtle skull and the Bivalve Inoceramus sutherlandi.

Dinosaur Cove

2008-05-06T19:56:00.000+10:00

Last year, as part of the CAVEPS conference (11th Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution Palaeontology and Systematics) I had the opportunity to visit one of Australia's most famous dinosaur sites. This of course is Dinosaur Cove in Victoria, along some of Australia's most rugged windswept coast. After finding this photo in some old files I thought that I would share it with you all.

Society For Vertebrate Paleontology 2008 Conference

2008-05-06T19:08:00.000+10:00

I will be there! Will you? Abstracts for this years conference are due in late May. The conference will be hosted in Cleveland Ohio. For more details check out http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/index.cfm

What a blast...........The Richmond Fossil Festival

2008-05-04T17:19:00.000+10:00

The Richmond Fossil Festival was held over the weekend, what a blast... This years festival started with an art auction over wine and cheese. Other activities included fireworks, camel races, belly dances and of course fossil finding. Today (Sunday) was a day for the family with remote control boat races on the lake, and a car show and shine parade.
stay tuned for photos.

Opal The Phenomenal Gemstone

2008-04-29T19:37:00.000+10:00

One of my favorite books at the moment is "Opal The Phenomenal Gemstone". This book has an in depth look at the opal gemstone, where it's found, and how it's mined. The book also features opal fossils found from the Australian opal fields of Coober Pedy, Andamooka, White Cliffs and Lightning Ridge. These fossils are from the Cretaceous period, notable for being the time of the Dinosaurs. The fossils found at Lightning Ridge are different to those of the other opal fields as Lightning Ridge represent a terrestrial environment with freshwater depositional setting. Where the other opal fields are marine depositional environments.

Mesozoic Fishes V: Global Diversity and Evolution

2008-04-28T22:04:00.001+10:00

The first circular for the fifth international meeting on Mesozoic Fishes is now available. In 2009 the conference will be hosted in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. With 2 field trips planed to the famous Tlayua Quarry and Vallecillos Quarry, both well known for there nicely preserved fish. More information can be found out at the Mesozoic Fishes Home page http://www2.biology.ualberta.ca/wilson.hp/mesofish/publications.html

Dinosaur Fever

2008-04-28T20:22:00.000+10:00

Don't know what Dinosaur fever is. I wonder if a palaeontologists can diagnose it.

Australian Opal Centre in the news

2008-04-28T18:03:00.001+10:00

Australian Fossils fetch hefty prices on overseas markets

2008-04-28T00:02:00.000+10:00

Australian Fossils are becoming common place on overseas markets. These fossils once rare on websites and in overseas fossil shops are demanding nice prices on overseas markets. These fossils are part of our national heritage which should not be undersold. These fossils are a part of our history and should be respected as so.
here are some examples:

http://www.fossilmall.com/Pangaea/pfossils/pf70/pffossils70.htm

http://www.fossilmall.com/EDCOPE_Enterprises/invertebrates/invert13/invfossil-13.htm

http://www.fossilmall.com/EDCOPE_Enterprises/Dinosaur_and_Reptile/dino31/dinosaurfossils31.htm

http://www.thenaturalcanvas.com/Fish/pages/5880.html

Richmond Fossil Festival

2008-04-27T23:34:00.001+10:00

Richmond Fossil Festival is a biennial event held in the small town of Richmond in northern-central Queensland, Australia. Richmond is well known for fossils found around the township of a once near continental oceanic setting. Fossils found here include Kronosaurus, Minmi (Australia's only armored dinosaur like Ankylosaurus), Ammonites, Fish and the like. The Festival starts on the 1st of May, 2008.

Lungfish tooth plate for sale on Ebay

2008-04-27T12:05:00.000+10:00

Lungfishes from the Lightning Ridge opal fields are represented by tooth plates. These tooth plates are common fossils from this area and often fetch a hefty price.. On ebay today I notice this little ripper for $4000...

Opal Mining in search of Dinosaurs

2008-04-26T21:25:00.000+10:00

Opal mining in search of Australian Dinosaurs has become common practice on the Australian opal field of Lightning Ridge. Fossils from the "Age of Dinosaurs" are commonly found during opal mining. Miners often demand high prices for these treasure as they know that overseas collectors will pay big bucks for these fossils which sometimes have wonderful opal color. The Opal and Fossil Center at Lightning Ridge is trying to stem the flow of fossils from this area. These fossils are national treasures and they are illegal to export from Australia. See the LROFC web page for more...http://www.wj.com.au/opalfossil/index.html

New Dinosaur Exhibtion at the Australian Museum

2008-04-26T20:33:00.000+10:00

New Dinosaur exhibit at the Australian Museum in Sydney revives interest in Natural History Museums in Australia. The displays at the AM are long out date and are being revived as part of the museums revitalization program. For more information see http://www.australianmuseum.net.au/dinosaur/

Stromatolites? from Mount Isa

2008-04-26T19:07:00.000+10:00

Mount Isa in Queensland's outback, is well know for its mineral wealth in the form of Copper, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Uranium etc. The Upper Kennedy Siltstone of Mount Isa, Queensland located west of town near the Mount Isa Mine. This unit is a buff-khaki colored siliceous siltstone with large conical-circular shapes defined by lines (liesegang rings). Certain bedding planes contain 10-30 cm conical/dome shape stromatolites. Pictured above is possibly a stromatolite.