Department of Geology 



Research and Expeditions 



Dr. Rainer Zangerl, Curator of Fossil Reptiles, and Dr. Robert 

 Sloan, of the University of Minnesota, collaborated in the study of 

 a Cretaceous sea turtle (Desmatochelys mowi williston). He also 

 completed the study of another Cretaceous sea turtle from the 

 Mooreville Chalk of Alabama and prepared two papers. 



The National Science Foundation awarded a substantial three- 

 year grant to Curator Zangerl and Dr. Eugene S. Richardson, Jr., 

 Curator of Fossil Invertebrates, for the continuation of the paleoeco- 

 logical phase of the Mecca project (see Annual Report 1957, page 53). 

 Studies of the Pennsylvania black shales from the Mecca and Logan 

 quaiTies, Parke County, Indiana, by Zangerl and Richardson con- 

 tinued throughout the year and together they made the first review 

 of the vast collection. Many specimens were trimmed to suitable 

 size and X-rayed. The task of cutting and trimming the specimens 

 was entrusted to Miss Patricia Hutson, Antioch College student. 



With the coming of the field season Curators Zangerl and Rich- 

 ardson returned to the Logan quarry (see page 40) to complete 

 the excavation that was begun there in 1957 (see Annual Report 

 1957, page 55). They were ably assisted by Preparator Ronald J. 

 Lambert and temporarily appointed preparators Edward Richardson 

 and Chin Chen. Others who cheerfully responded for the hard work 

 of excavation were Duncan Dunlap, Antioch College student, and 

 volunteers Charles Knowles, Stephen Collings, and William Herbert. 

 Work at Logan quarry was completed in October, and 652 specimens 

 were collected during the season. Mr. and Mrs. P. Herbert Logan, 

 of Indianapolis, after whom the Logan quarry is named, again kindly 

 permitted the Museum party to work on their land and provided the 

 use of a small house for the summer. Their co-operation and timely 

 help are most thankfully acknowledged. 



Following the Museum's acquisition of the Charles D. Nelson 

 Collection (see page 63), Curator Richardson began the task of 

 identifying its eighty-three thousand fossil invertebrates. Mr. Nel- 

 son's interest in collecting embraced most of the geologic systems 

 and many parts of North America, so that his collection complements 

 that of the Museum in many important respects. During the year 

 Curator Richardson identified and catalogued several hundred 

 Nelson specimens of Pleistocene and Pliocene mollusks from Florida 

 and incorporated them in the study collection. Also he treated with 



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