Internet Mailing Lists for Rocks & Fossils

Internet Mailing Lists for Rocks and Fossils

When you join the following Internet "mailing lists" all e-mail messages sent to the group are automatically forwarded to your e-mail box (and all other subscribers). Joining or "subscribing" to these groups simply means that you have signed up to send and receive messages; there is no extra cost beyond the normal charges of your Internet service provider. Once you subscribe to a list, it is customary to send a brief message to the group introducing yourself and describing your interests. In the instructions below, where you see the phrase "firstname lastname" just replace it with your real name. Each group to subscribe to will send you an "Intro" or "Welcome" message explaining how to "Unsubscribe" or suspend your mail when desired (such as when you go on vacation). Be sure to save the introductory messages for future reference.

Rocks-and-Fossils

This is most active forum for fossil enthusiasts and rockhounds. Most members are amateurs, but many teachers, paleontologists, and dealers also participate. Topics include collecting sites, specimen preparation and identifications, show announcements, museum and club info, literature and Internet sources, etc. Be prepared for 10 to 20 messages per day. To subscribe, send e-mail to majordomo@world.std.com and in the body of the message enter Subscribe rocks-and-fossils firstname lastname

Fossil-Nuts

This mailing list is similar to Rocks-and-Fossils, but is for fossils only. It is newer and less active, but growing in popularity. To subscribe, send e-mail to oyvind.hammer@notam.uio.no and in the body of the message ask to be registered as a subscriber.

Dinosaur List

This is the most active mailing list on dinosaurs and related creatures (pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, etc.). Subjects range from dinosaur classification and nomenclature to evolutionary relationships, literature, meeting announcements, questions and answers, philosophical debates, etc. The discussion is more academic than in Rocks-&-Fossils, and the majority of members are professionals, but many amateurs participate also. Expect about 15-20 messages per day. There is a Digest option (recommended) which groups multiple messages into one larger message, thus avoiding mail box clutter. To subscribe send e-mail to listproc@usc.edu with the phrase SUBSCRIBE DINOSAUR Firstname Lastname entered in the body of the message. The list owner is Sam McLeod at: smcleod@bcf.edu. To use the Digest option, after receiving your subscription confirmation send the message SET DINOSAUR MAIL DIGEST to LISTPROC@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu A searchable archive of Dinosaur List messages is also available, even if you are not a member of the list.

PaleoNet

This is a mostly professional-level forum for the paleontological community. It includes several individual list servers for specific topics, such as Collections. To subscribe, send the message subscribe paleonet Your Name to listproc@ucmp1.berkeley.edu Before subscribing, you may want to check out the PaleoNet Web Site

Rockhounds List

This forum is mostly for mineral and lapidary discussion. To subscribe, send email to: majordomo@infodyn.com and in the body of the message, put subscribe rockhounds. Rockhounds Information web site.

Vertebrate Paleontology List

To subscribe, send the message subscribe vrtpaleo firstname lastname to listserv@vm.usc.edu

Glen J. Kuban E-mail paleo@ix.netcom.com
P.O. Box 33232, North Royalton, OH 44133