expo 2005

Grand Géolor Exhibition and Fair, 5 days from October 5 - 9, 2005

This exhibition and fair was an enormous and ambitious project, certainly the biggest project Géolor had ever organised. And even not few of the Geolorrains themselves were looking with a certain scepticism at the dimensions of the project, designed and realised under the guidance of our president Bertrand Henry. For the first time two halls of the municipal theatre of Thionville were used, the Jean-Burger-hall with 1000 m² only for the exhibition from Wednesday to Sunday, and the gymnasium additionally for the exchange fair on Saturady and Sunday. The project was enormous - as has been its success!

The inauguration of the exhibition on Wednesday, in presence of the Lord-Mayor and other representatives of the city of Thionville, was crowned by a conference given by Éric Buffetaut, research director at the national centre for scientific research (CNRS) at Paris, with the title: "From Dinosaurs to Birds". After a short historical overview, he presented the results of the newest scientific research - saurians completely dressed in a plumage, giving proof that all birds are dinosaures, but that not all dinosaures did evolve into birds....

In the course of the days, about 10,000 visitors could be welcomed, including adults, children, and 701 pupils. The tombola, with attractive prices (true fossils - a small saurian, a dinosaur-egg, etc.) was a nice success, too. 3200 of 5000 scratch tickets sold weren't really bad. And with casts even children could obtain otherwise unaffordable "fossils"....

Another highlight was the publication of the monograph on the quarry of Ottange-Rumelange, result of a close and successful cooperation between Géolor, AGMP of Luxembourg (our neighbouring club) and the national museum of natural history of Luxembourg.

But - let the pictures talk! If you haven't had the time or possibility to visit the exhibition, you may revive it here with the following photos:

The giant Triceratops in the centre of the exhibition hall.

...and other dinos, mostly in authentic skeletons (no casts), even with their clutches

The "chicken" in front of the giant skull of a "T. rex" is a small carnivorous saurian from China - it is certain now that they were dressed in a plumage.

...many visitors in the exhibition, mostly during the week-end!

THe city was even invaded by flying saurians....

There has been a strong vocanism at the time of the saurians - especially during the Cretaceous.....

The president of Géolor, Bertrand Henry, welcoming the representatives of the city - Lord-Mayor Dr. Demange, and Dr. Helfgott, head of culture department (left).

The inauguration of the fair by Dr. Jean-Marie Demange, Lord-Mayor of the city of Thionville.

Watch for what's hiding behind the bushes...!

But there were not only dinosaurs, but many other magnificent fossils as well - this is a large uncoiled Ammonite in a block full of small ones.

The Jurassic Club of Briey enriched the exhibition with a wonderfully composed table showing the course of evolution across the ages. On the photo its president Michel Périno.

Showcase with the most beautiful fossils of the quarry of Ottange-Rumelange

The new publication, a common project of Géolor, AGMP and the national museum of natural history of Luxembourg

Another extraordinary specimen - two Campanile, the biggest snails of all times (ca. 50 cm long).

The hall with the fossil and mineral fair had been widely occupied with exhibitors and was visited by many people, mostly during the afternoons.

The booth of Géolor, often besieged by visitors very interested in our work, as well as in the tombola with attractive prices (fossils).

...and the small plastic-dinos were such a success with the children, that we were sold out already on Saturday evening...

The Géolorraines of the cash desk - Marie-Claire, Michelle and Simone. A lot of work for them with about 10,000 visitors during the 5 days!

Paule introducing the visitors into the microscopic world of micro-minerals. She also organises the group of micro-mineral enthusiasts of Géolor.