APS is a nonprofit organization of amateur fossil enthusiasts and professional paleontologists who are interested in the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of knowledge
of fossils and the rich natural history of the
State of Alabama.
Membership is open to anyone who shares the interests
of the Society. We expect our members to conduct their activities in accordance with our code of ethics.
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS!
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APS is excited to announce that Jun Ebersole, Director of Collections at Birmingham's McWane Science Center and colleagues have launched their long-awaited Fossil Fishes of Alabama online book, hosted through the McWane portal. They currently have 75 taxa entries in the portal but will be uploading more on a weekly basis. There will eventually be over 300 entries, and all are versioned, meaning they will be able to update them with the latest taxonomic changes and scientific updates, and can add new entries as are more species are discovered and named. This resource is open-access/free of charge, so feel free to peruse and download!
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https://mcwane.org/collections-and-research/fossilfishes/
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Roadside Geology of Alabama!
The long-awaited book on the geology of Alabama as viewed from roadcuts across the State is here! You can order your copy today!
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Ancient Life in Alabama:
The Fossils, the Finders & Why It Matters
Get your copy of this great new book by Dr. Bill Deutsch that is focused on paleontology in Alabama. Many APS members and other professional and avocational paleontologists participated in this three-year project. The book has 50 Bio Sketches of them, describing how they became interested in fossils, their career paths, and the importance of teachers and mentors. The book also has 30 sections called Joy of the Hunt, where Alabama collectors described some of their most interesting and important fossil discoveries.
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Historic Birmingham Mineral Railway​ Signs Project
What does paleontology have to do with railroads? Railroads in the past, and even today, transport the mineral resources in Alabama from their sources (mines and quarries) to the blast furnaces of the past, to the many facilities using the resources today, and to port cities and transportation facilities where they are shipped throughout Alabama and around the world. So, what resources are we talking about that would be of interest to amateur paleontologists? (1) coal from the coal fields (Warrior Coal Field, Cahaba Coal Field, and Coosa Coal Field) and their accompanying fossiliferous shale layers (and often “red rock” layers), (2) limestone quarried in many parts of Alabama, and (3) iron ore which is a sandstone created on the ocean floor in ancient seas. All of these were transported by the historic railroads (and coal and limestone still are). In order to educate the general public about the significance, and location, of the most extensive of those historic railroads in central Alabama, a project has been installing signs to show where the Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad ran during its century-long existence. To date, 196 signs have been installed in all 6 counties served by that railroad, and more signs are scheduled to be installed. You can be part of this project by sending a tax-deductible donation as follows:
Payable to: Mid-South Chapter of the R&LHS
For: BMRR Signs Project
Mail to: James Lowery, 3402 Altamont Road South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205
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