Welcome to the Dallas Paleontological Society Website
The Dallas Paleontological Society was founded in 1984 for the purpose of promoting interest in and knowledge of the science of paleontology. It was intended by the founding members that the Society would be a network for the exchange of data between professionals and serious amateurs in this field.
Regular Monthly Meeting for April
Fine Finds from the Finis The Dallas Paleontological Society will meet on Wednesday, April 8th, at 7PM Central daylight savings time, in the Boonesville Auditorium (Room H125) of the Ellison Miles Building (Building H) at Brookhaven Campus of Dallas College, 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch. Dr. Ben Neuman, Professor of Biology at Texas A&M University and Mike DeBrock, Geologist, will combine forces for a discussion of diversity and preservation of fossils in the Finis Shale of north Texas. Ben Neuman is a Professor of Biology and chief virologist of the Global Health Research Complex at Texas A&M University. He trained at the University of Toledo (Ohio), University of Reading (UK) and The Scripps Research Institute, before faculty positions in California, the UK, Texarkana, and now College Station. He also has a passion for invertebrate fossils! Mike DeBrock majored in Geology at Miami University (Ohio), and then earned an MS in Geology from Bowling Green State University with a thesis on Pennsylvanian polyplacophoran fossils from Texas. Retired after 33 years in the petroleum industry in Louisiana and Texas, he began to catalogue all of the species found in the Finis Shale at Lake Jacksboro spillway. He reached out to DPS and joined our Pennsylvanian Study Group. This project has grown to a major effort by many DPS members to provide an authoritative guide to the full diversity of the Finis Shale. Lagerstätten are rare sites with abundant excellent fossils. They fall into three categories: Konservat with extraordinary preservation of soft tissues, Konzentrat with extreme abundance of fossils (as in bone beds), and Liberation where delicate features are preserved because removal of matrix is simple and complete. Most fossil sites fall under only one of these types, but the Finis Shale has elements of all three. Mike will show how the ease of preparation of Finis Shale fossils leads to an extraordinarily rich fossil record. He will present work of the DPS group to document the enormous number of fossil species present in the Finis Shale. The validated Finis Shale fossil guide and species list is available at txpn.org. Ben will highlight a recent paper from another group that demonstrates soft tissue preservation in Finis Shale conulariids. He will also show how the near-perfect preservation in Finis Shale brachiopods may greatly expand our understanding of this fossil group. DPS meetings are always free and open to the public, and anyone interested in fossils is invited. Members can bring snacks and food to share. Everyone can bring fossils for identification or to show off. In light of this month’s talks, we especially invite fossils from the Jacksboro Spillway. The meeting will be streamed on Zoom at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83096250920. If the link does not work, start Zoom and enter the meeting ID of 830 9625 0920 DPS Officers for 2026The officers for 2026 are: President: Joe O'Neil mailto:president@dallaspaleo.orgVice President: Stephan Gozdecki mailto:vp@dallaspaleo.org Fossil Record Editor: Andrew Stuck mailto:editor@dallaspaleo.org Secretary: Darlene Sumerfelt mailto:secretary@dallaspaleo.org Treasurer Pam (Paul) Lowers mailto:treasurer@dallaspaleo.org Fossil Bits and PiecesThe DPS offers extra benefits for Members. Types of Memberships and costs of each can be found under MEMBERSHIP choice in the menu bar, then New Member Online Application. Below is a list of what Members receive and the reasons you should plan to join (or re-join) us in our paleo adventures! MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Newsletter: The Fossil Record, the Society’s monthly newsletter, is sent to all Members. Volunteerism: Volunteer opportunities to work the DPS booths provides community outreach, interaction with the public, and occasionally free entry to an event. We need volunteers for all committees (to see our list of committees, click here) and activities. Special Events: Members receive Eblasts on surprise events and reminders of upcoming events. DPS Website: Current members have access to the Members only section of the DPS website, which includes the Membership Directory, past newsletters, and more. Field Trips: Some field trips have limited access (quarries, Oklahoma trilobites, etc.), and some field trips are designated Members-Only. Excavations: Participation in Fossil Bureau of Investigation (FBI) excavations. Discounts: Fossil prep kits, display items, books, and other unique items are occasionally offered at a discount to Members. Occasional Papers: Each Occasional Papers is a collection of in-depth articles on paleontology written by members. One copy per membership is free to members for a limited time immediately following publication. Past Occasional Papers are available for purchase. Family: Family Membership provides a discount to a second adult and allows for PIT Crew membership in which children can participate in special PIT Crew-only workshops, classroom activities, and field trips. Dues pay for: drinks at the monthly meetings, refreshments on field trips, scholarships, and professional speakers for special meetings. Lake Ralph Hall/North Sulphur River, Fanin County Here is the news history on the construction of the Dam and Lake.
This links to the newsletter from the lake about current information.
We are very happy to announce that the very first Occasional Papers Volume 1, written by 9 members of the founding group of the DPS is now available to download! It is under the HOME choice on the menu bar, then Members-Only Content and then Documents and Resources.
To see the info for Earth Science week, click here. 
The Paleontograph back issues are now available at the following link https://www.aaps-journal.org/the-paleontograph.html
Dallas Library and DPSThe Dallas Library’s Podcast on Natural Dallas (P.O.N.D.) Annual Community Nature Expo includes a video featuring the DPS. Please watch all the videos for some interesting things to do and learn about in the outside world. Visit http://dallaslibrary2.org/pond/ for the videos. | Upcoming Events
What we are doing!The DPS has been visiting several parts of town. DPS got a mention in a North Texas Daily article about our participation in the "Denton Dig It" event. It's in the newspaper for UNT in Denton. Frisco Library's Science Night Details here - Community Science Night | Events | Frisco Public Libra Whiteside Museum's PermianFest Times and tickets - 2025 MUSEUM EXPANSION | WMNH Bonham State Park Recent Publications
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Recently Published Papers on the Pennsylvanian Fossils from Jacksboro Check out the new webpage of the Texas Pennsylvanian Study Group....you will be impressed! Now Available! Order your T-Shirt Now. Click on the image to see details.
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Join us now
Come and join us for a great time at our next meeting, and click below to become a member. Individual and Family memberships are available, and kids can participate in the PIT Crew (Paleontologists In Training). Mail Check to: DPS PO BOX 223846 Dallas, Texas 75222-3846 The PIT Crew
For more information, Click this link pitcrew@dallaspaleo.org or click the link under the HOME page called "For Kids - The Pit Crew", to see policies, upcoming events, announcements, and how to sign up to take advantage of this program. About Us and Our Monthly MeetingsThe Dallas Paleontological Society normally meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM. |
Copies can be purchased at monthly meetings for instant gratification. Or the book can be purchased and shipped to your home by 
The Paleontologists In Training is a program of the DPS that is open to kids from age 7 to 15. If you are interested in fossils, want to have fun on field trips, and like learning about our beautiful world, come join us at one of our meetings, or field trips. You will find it educational, and fun at the same time!Buy DPS Books OnlineYou can now buy books from the DPS online by clicking the "Store" button on the navigation bar at the top of this page. If you buy online, and we ship the books to your home, you will have a shipping charge and tax. If you buy the book at a meeting, you will not have to pay the shipping fee or tax. Check out this new service. Questions For DPS?If You have any questions about the Dallas Paleo Society feel free to: Contact Us Hot Line 817-355-4693 |
Who we areThe DPS is a group of professional and amateur paleontologists that want to exchange information, interact, and continue their education in paleontology. We meet once a month on the second Wednesday evening of the month at Brookhaven College, Building H. Mailing address: Dallas Paleontological Society
| What we do
Do you have a question? If you have a fossil you cannot identify, or need a site investigation, contact the Fossil Bureau of Investigation for help. Contact Us at 817-355-4693.
| Why join usWe have fun. We learn stuff. We go cool places. We find interesting things. We make new friends.
Visiting Researcher Program The Dallas Paleontological Society (DPS) offers local logistical assistance to professionals/academics conducting research in the North Central Texas area. Assistance may include the loan of tools, but is not financial. Past projects have included providing transportation to field sites, assistance in locating particular fossils or outcrops of a particular formation, field collection and excavation. If you are interested in assistance, please contact the DPS President at president@dallaspaleo.org |
