Scientists have discovered a dinosaur fossil in a deep drilling core in China. The find dates back approximately 115 million years and belongs to the Early Cretaceous period.
The fossil was unexpectedly extracted during geological exploration of copper deposits. Chinese specialists were conducting work in the Yinggen-Ejinaqi Basin in the western part of Inner Mongolia.
The specimen has been designated 208GPV01. It was raised from a depth of 473 meters near Guaizihu. This is the first known dinosaur from the remote western section of the Bayan-Gobi Formation.
The fossil consists mainly of proximal caudal vertebrae and associated elements. Among them are a sacral rib, four caudal vertebral centra, six neural arches, several transverse processes, and ossified tendons.
According to researchers led by Dr. Lida Xing, the Bayan-Gobi Formation represents continental deposits from the Early Cretaceous. Its fauna shows similarities to nearly contemporaneous finds in western Liaoning.
This suggests that both areas may have been part of the distribution range of the Jehol Biota, albeit with some differences. The find expands the known geographic range of dinosaurs in this important geological unit.
How will this discovery affect the picture of the region's ancient ecosystem? For now, one thing is clear: even routine drilling operations can deliver paleontological surprises.
The study has been published in the journal Historical Biology. The authors note that such finds help better understand the distribution and diversity of dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous in what is now China.
