Chinanews.com, Shandong Zhucheng, March 27 (Yan Tuanxiang and Zhao Xiao) The reporter learned from the Zhucheng Dinosaur Culture Research Center on the 27th that recently, during the spring field fossil survey, the staff of the center found a new area in the main fossil relics area of Zhucheng, Shandong. Relatively complete water ripple trace fossils and large sauropod dinosaur footprint fossils have been found, which are preliminarily determined to be the geological strata of the Early Cretaceous.
Public information shows that Shandong Zhucheng is located in the faulted basin in the southern part of the Jiaolai Basin. It was formed in the Mesozoic Cretaceous period, with complex structural deformation, complete geological formations, and long-term continuous deposition in the basin depression, creating conditions for the formation of dinosaur fossils.
Since the 1960s, Zhucheng has successively discovered more than 30 dinosaur fossil burial sites, including Kugou, Kuigun, Yuhuang, Zangjiazhuang and Houjiatun, covering an area of nearly 1,000 square kilometers.
Zhucheng was named "China Dragon City" because of its rich dinosaur fossil resources.
The picture shows the continuous and complete water ripple trace fossils.
Photo by Yan Tuanxiang
According to Chen Shuqing, chief of the scientific and popular science section of the Zhucheng Dinosaur Culture Research Center, this year's census found new dinosaur fossil sites in Zhucheng, proving that the Zhucheng area was a geomantic treasure land with lush vegetation and lakes in the Mesozoic period, which was very suitable for dinosaurs to survive. A veritable "Chinese Dragon City".
Chen Shuqing told reporters that the newly discovered fossil remains area can be initially confirmed to include both sauropod dinosaur footprint fossils and theropod dinosaur footprint fossils.
"In the early stage, at the fossil site ten kilometers away from here, the footprints of sauropod dinosaurs and theropod dinosaurs were also found, which proves that a large number of sauropod dinosaurs and theropod dinosaurs lived here during the Mesozoic Era."
"A newly discovered fossil point of water ripple imprints was previously a shallow lake, formed by lake facies deposition. At that time, the climate was arid and the lake water was very shallow. As soon as the wind and grass moved, water ripple marks were left on the lake." Chen Shuqing said.
Cui Weiwei, member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Zhucheng Dinosaur Culture Research Center, said that the newly discovered dinosaur fossil sites this year provide more sufficient evidence for in-depth research on the ancient geology and ancient environment of Zhucheng, as well as the migration and distribution of these dinosaurs.
In the next step, Zhucheng will further in-depth study of these important fossil sites, earnestly do a good job in fossil protection, and improve the level of protection and utilization of dinosaur fossil resources.
(over)