Fossils of important dinosaur footprints have been found in northern Shaanxi

The reporter learned from the Shaanxi Provincial Geological Survey Institute on the 2nd that the institute recently invited a number of experts to carry out the investigation and identification of dinosaur footprint fossils in northern Shaanxi in Yan'an City, and experts agreed that new breakthroughs have been made in investigation and research.

According to reports, since the discovery of dinosaur footprint fossils in Shenmu City, northern Shaanxi in 1929, researchers have successively found dinosaur footprint fossils in Yulin City, Shangluo City and other places. At present, with the addition of the 8 newly discovered sites identified by the Shaanxi Provincial Geological Investigation Institute, the number of dinosaur footprint fossils in northern Shaanxi has reached 15, accounting for 79% of the province's discoveries, of which 8 are in Yulin City and 7 are in Yan'an City. The dinosaur footprint fossils found in northern Shaanxi have resource endowments such as wide geographical and stratigraphic distribution, diverse combination forms, and great scientific research value.

The expert appraisal team inspected the dinosaur footprint fossil sites located in Luojiagou, Ganquan Grand Canyon and Anseliugou in Ganquan County, and after a two-day field investigation and indoor discussion, the experts unanimously agreed that new breakthroughs had been made in investigation and research.

The dinosaur footprint fossils found by the Shaanxi Provincial Geological Survey expand the geographical and stratigraphic distribution of dinosaur footprint fossils in China, laying a solid basis for the next step of discovering dinosaur skeleton fossils in northern Shaanxi. The dinosaur footprint fossils found in Ganquan County, Yan'an City are of various types, among which theropod footprint is the longest 60.5 cm, which is the largest known theropod footprint in China, and the smallest length is less than 3 cm, which is one of the smallest known theropod footprints in China; the sauropod footprint is the first recorded in Shaanxi Province; the turtle footprint is rarely found in the Jurassic in Asia; and the symbiotic remains of dinosaurs, crocodiles and turtles are extremely rare in China.

According to experts, the fossil value of dinosaur footprints found in Luojiagou and Fengjiawan in Ganquan County is of a very high level, and some fossils also preserve extremely rare skin texture marks on dinosaur feet.

The expert appraisal team said that the results of this inspection are of great scientific and social value. Dinosaur footprint fossils in northern Shaanxi contain important information on the survival, evolution and environmental changes of the Mesozoic dinosaur fauna, and are precious and non-renewable geological relics resources with extremely important scientific and social value. It is recommended to start the comprehensive investigation and research of dinosaur footprints and dinosaur skeleton fossils in northern Shaanxi as soon as possible, increase the intensity of investigation and protection, and build professional science popularization and protection venues. (Gao Cheng, Alina)

Source: China News Network