Jakarta, shesocial Indonesia
–
A group
fossil
Dinosaur eggs were found in the Qinglongshan Fossil Reserve area, central China.Scientists estimate that the eggs are around 86 million years old, which are calculated based on the Uranium-Lead (U-PB) calendar which is known as the ‘Atom Clock’ method.
Quote
shesocial
, Saturday (9/13), scientists used micro-laser technology to take samples from petrified eggshells, then evaporate mineral fragments and calculate the ratio between uranium and lead atoms.This ratio allows accurate age determination to the fossil.
This discovery marked the first fossil calendar of the Qinglongshan area, which is known to have more than 3,000 dinosaur eggs on three different sites.
The majority of these eggs are preserved in the form of three-dimensional and most of them still maintain their original form.
Most of the eggs found originated from the placoolithus tumiaolingensis species, the dendroolithidae group, although the exact identity of the dinosaurs that lay the eggs is still unknown.These eggs are rather flat, with a length of about 12-17 cm and the thickness of the shells up to 2.4 mm.
Unlike the general methods that rely on sedimentary life around the fossils, the U-PB technique allows direct calendar to carbonate minerals in fossil shells.
According to Bi Zhao from the Hubei Institute of Geosciences, the idea to use this technique appeared accidentally through discussions with Speleothem chronology researchers (cave formations such as stalagmite).
“We decided to try the eggs from Qinglongshan and the results were very clear and reliable,” Zhao said in an email to
shesocial
.
Heriberto Rochin-Banaga, geocronology researcher from the University of Toronto who was not involved in this study, called the U-PB method as the most precise calendar current technique, although it requires sophisticated laboratory equipment and tight testing conditions.
Although this technique promises, Zhao asserted that not all fossils can be tested by this method, because it depends on the presence of primary carbonate minerals in fossils and geological contexts.
(LDY/WIW)
[Gambas: shesocial video]
Read More: James McAvoy was punched by an unknown person at the Tiff Party bar
Read More: China is ready to launch the longest flight in the world, takes 29 hours