– Our cooperation was excellent and therefore produced good results –
We interviewed B.Mainbayar, scientific researcher of the Paleontological Center of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.
Can you tell our readers about paleontology, particularly about your dinosaur research work?
Paleontological science, particularly study of vertebrata animals or what we know as dinosaurs requires much time. After several stages of study, the results and findings emerge. There are many stages: field work, digging, detection and transportation and technical processing. For example, technical processing requires some time depending on completeness of the find, storage conditions, sediments and formations. This process takes a minimum of 15 days and can possibly take two to three years. Then we shift into the study stage, this also requires much time and effort. Records of the initial circumstances of the find and materials are made and compared with publicly available, similar materials. For example, if a dinosaur bone is found, all related materials, facts and data are compared and then some results emerge. The priority of our center is the study of dinosaurs. Globally, paleontological science is linked through dinosaurs.
Which aimag (province) of Mongolia has the most dinosaur finds?
The main areas with dinosaur finds are in Umnugobi, Bayankhongor, Gobi-Altai, Dornogobi, Dundgobi and some parts of Uvs aimag. Mongolia has great evidence of how dinosaurs evolved over 150 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. Mongolia ranks high in the world in terms of the research and findings of this era.
What is the knowledge level of the public and businesses about protecting and preserving this historical findings. Is the attitude changing?
People have concrete knowledge about paleontological and dinosaur finds and remains. The Mining industry has developed rapidly in our country during the last decade. According to Mongolian laws, mining companies are obliged to protect and preserve archeological and paleontological findings. Any company, regardless of whether they have exploration or mining permits, have to conduct archeological and paleontological exploration and develop preliminary conclusions prior to starting work in their sites. Oyu Tolgoi mining company fulfills its responsibility to protect archeological and paleontological findings very well.
You said Oyu Tolgoi is fulfilling its responsibility very well. Can you clarify?
Oyu Tolgoi laid 80 km of water pipeline from Gunii Hooloi aquifer to the mine site which involved earth removal work. There were formations with potential natural findings in the local area so the company made a decision not to engage in earth works without the presence of a professional paleontologist. The paleontologist worked there and explored and conducted a preliminary survey and developed a working plan that recommended diverting some of the pipelines in particularly special areas (CTP1 PB01). This work was conducted based on Mongolian law on cultural heritage and paleontological exploration procedures. We provided work instructions for the site in writing, therefore, there were no problems. Before any land is disturbed it has to be checked and approved by a paleontologist. During earthwork in the Gunii Hooloi, paleontologists stripped 20-60 cm of topsoil, tested it and then allowed digging in several stages and monitored for any signs of findings. Basically monitoring and digging was conducted simultaneously. This naturally delays the planned work of Oyu Tolgoi and stretches its work deadlines. However, they fulfilled their responsibility to protect and preserve important findings crucial in the history of humanity. Our cooperation was excellent and therefore produced good results. There, one paleontologist worked with six employees from the contractor company. Hopefully other mining companies will follow this practice. As a young man and specialist in this area, I’m very confident about this.
What findings were discovered at the Gunii hooloi deep water basin?
Seven personnel from our center worked there for six months from November, 2011 until May, 2012, over winter and spring, in shifts. During this period, Oyu Tolgoi provided for our working requirements. No complete findings were discovered there, although through large scale exploration in three areas, we discovered and collected approximately 80 pieces of small and big toes, nails, teeth of crocodiles, turtles and dinosaurs. These findings were removed from the earthwork site at Oyu Tolgoi and we conducted the first stage of protection and preservation work by placing these findings in gypsum along with the associated soil. Once the laboratory processing work to separate the paleontological findings from the original sediments is done, the protection and preservation work should be completed. In this site, river sediments were are common, they created bone concentrations in the river bends.
We have heard that the site with dinosaur footprints is now fenced and protected. What is the significance of this? Did your center do this?
Yes, our center developed a proposal to protect Shar Tsav area, we implemented this project in partnership with the Oyu Tolgoi Cultural Heritage Programme. Khanbogd, Manlai, Bayan-Ovoo soum of South Gobi province are included in the Oyu Tolgoi direct impact zone. There are several paleontological sites in these three soums. It is proven that these areas are the cradles of some species of dinosaurs, the main facts of their evolution and the development of flora and fauna from 96 million years ago during Cretaceous period. One of these sites is Shar Tsav, where there are dinosaur footprints preserved in solidified sand stone. This place was initially discovered by a joint Mongolian and Japanese paleontological expedition in 1995, detailed exploration was conducted in 1996 and 2001. There was an incident were people travelling through Shar Tsav, by car, cut and took some of the footprints. So we decided to implement the project to fence, preserve and protect this place from human and natural impacts and promote the site as tourist attraction.
What is the significance of the footprints in terms of scientific research?
From the footprints we can gather important data to determine the body size and weight of the animals. There are many cases of preserved footprint in the world; however, it is very rare to have such a concentration of footprints in one place. It has been determined that the trail and footprints of the dinosaurs are different forms and types and it is proven that a minimum of four to five types of dinosaurs left their footprints there.
Where are the items found during the Oyu Tolgoi construction work kept?
Of course, all findings found in Mongolia belong to the state. The findings from Oyu Tolgoi are and the fossils of ancient flora and fauna of Mongolia are kept in the Paleontological Center of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. The Paleontological Center keeps records of any finds found during construction work at the Oyu Tolgoi according to international standards and practices. This includes safe packaging, transportation, unpacking, technical processing, documentation and photographing. If mining companies realize their responsibility to protect and preserve cultural heritage and would like to work with us, we are ready to support such initiatives.
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