– Oyu Tolgoi is an example to other companies –
We have interviewed doctor Kh.Tsogtbaatar, manager of the Paleontological Laboratory and Museum of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.
The mining industry has developed rapidly in our country in recent years. What regulations exist for organisations involved in excavation work?
According to cultural heritage laws in Mongolia, mining, infrastructure and construction companies, conducting excavation activities must organise preliminary archaeological and paleontological surveys by the Paleontological centre in their licence areas. In the past Archaeological research was the dominant field of study in Mongolia, but since 2009, we have started conducting paleontological evaluations as well. Today companies with mining and infrastructure licences have to provide our organisation with official documents, geological maps of the areas, copies of licences and other relevant information. Every excavation site has a different structure and different geological age, so a team of researchers from relevant fields must be formed and led by a scientist with a PhD degree or higher. Paleontological studies are conducted and reports and conclusions are documented about whether any paleontological finds were found or whether a possibility exists for their discovery. If it’s an exploration licence, an attempt will be made to explore these possibilities. If the finds are discovered in an area of a mining licence, then salvage excavation will be conducted. If finds are deemed likely in the licence area, then we issue a special warning. If the licence area includes a place with traditional cultural finds, then we can even recommend excluding this place from the licence area. If work is planned in areas with a high probability for discovery of finds, then monitoring from an expert paleontological organisation is required.
Do the mining companies comply with the law? In Umnugovi aimag, there are many paleontological finds, but isn’t it also a place where many mining companies are working?
Large companies do comply. Among them, Oyu Tolgoi is working so well that they can be regarded as an example to other companies. Oyu Tolgoi commissioned archaeological studies many years ago. Since 2005, they have also started to focus attention on paleontology. A dinosaur egg was found during construction of Shaft-1 and experts from the University of Science and Technology were invited to study the find and write a report. In 2009 Oyu Tolgoi implemented a Cultural Heritage Protection programme. An international research team won the tender. I participated from the paleontological side and conducted a survey that concluded various impacts are likely, not only in the licence area, but also in surrounding areas. We have identified places likely to be quite vulnerable and included them in the programme.
How do you cooperate with Oyu Tolgoi about the places where there is a high likelihood for the discovery of fossils?
Oyu Tolgoi made a request to our organisation and we conducted paleontological assessments on sites on the Oyu Tolgoi – Gashuun Sukhait road and powerline, Gunii Khooloi water pipeline and near the airport. The area requiring special attention is Gunii Khooloi where the CTP1 waterpump station is located. This area is very close to Urleb, a known area for dinosaur relics. From November 2011 to May 2012, a paleontological team worked there, monitoring constantly, stopping work when ancient rocks were found and conducting exploration. When fossils were found, salvage excavations were conducted. We worked to have some routes diverted to circumvent vulnerable areas, developed work maps and got them approved. Diverting routes, stopping and transferring work – all these actions result in more cost. However, we had a very good understanding with Oyu Tolgoi and we cooperated successfully.
What finds were discovered in this area?
We collected over 100 fossils preserved in gypsum. Animal bones, over many millions of years, become fossilised. But that doesn’t mean that they are as hard as stone; they are very delicate. Therefore, they are placed in gypsum along with associated soil. The work of processing these results will start in July this year. Preliminary field surveys indicate four to five different species of dinosaurs. Even incomplete fragments are very important for science. Processing takes a lot of time, so we estimate to complete this work in 2014-2015. Then, if deemed necessary, some pieces will be given to local museums. From our side, we are ready to provide professional assistance to the establishment of a paleontological museum in Khanbogd soum of Umnugovi aimag.
Do other companies comply with legislation in a similar manner? Can we say that this good model, established by Oyu Tolgoi, has become entrenched?
Paleontology is not just a Mongolian science. It studies the history of the world where all nations live, so it can be regarded as a science of the whole of humanity. World history has not been studied sufficiently; paleontological finds are proof of this. Unfortunately, they are not very abundant. Paleontologists work on a few fossils and make scientific conclusions. Mongolia occupies a special place in palaeontology, it is one of the few countries where dinosaur fossils are found. Even if a small number of fossils are destroyed during mining, it will be a great sin against humankind. We have obligations under the “International convention on protecting natural and cultural heritage”, to preserve and protect the historical, natural and cultural heritage of our country. To date, no other company has cooperated with professional organisations starting from the preliminary survey to the final conclusions like Oyu Tolgoi does. Of course, companies work for profit and they are interested in saving money as much as possible. Investing in the protection of the cultural heritage of humanity is not something to regret, but a noble act indeed.
Do you cooperate with Oyu Tolgoi in other areas?
Dinosaur research has moved into more specialised areas from just the study of bones. The field is relatively new and began only 150 years ago. We aim to have as much detailed knowledge about dinosaurs as we have about the animals we see today. Therefore, footprint research has become very important. Dinosaur fossils were first found and documented in Mongolia in the 1920s. Then followed numerous expeditions discovering many dinosaur fossils, but no footprint research was conducted. Up until the Shar Tsav footprints were discovered in 1995, Mongolia was regarded a country lacking dinosaur footprints. But when these footprints were discovered and field research was done four to five times, it became clear that these finds were not only of interest to Mongolia, but actually of world significance. Footprints can tell a lot about animal behavior, biomechanics and movement. But unlike bones, it is not possible to excavate the footprints and place them in a museum. They must be left in nature. In professional jargon, they are immovable paleontological relics. But if they are left unmoved, then they are subject to many human, animal and natural impacts. There is a bitter example of their destruction as a result of such impact. After the Shar Tsav footprints were found in Avdrant in Bulgan soum of Umnugovi aimag, people were looking, digging, picking and walking above and below them and they almost disappeared as a result. The Shar Tsav footprints should be preserved. Even though we have studied them, published books about them and they are well known both in Mongolia and overseas, they will still need to be used in research again. One of the specifics of paleontology is making comparisons between the past and present. For comparative study purposes, we have no other choice, but to preserve them in their place. We haven’t decided yet how to proceed with the preservation, but people have already started to visit the site and destroy them intentionally or inadvertently. There was even a case where a piece was cut and carried away using ripper tools. We asked Oyu Tolgoi to turn the area into a protected tourist zone. The company made an investment and built a 1280 metres fence to protect the Shar Tsav dinosaur footprints in Khanbogd and Manlai soums. It was the first time that we conducted this kind of work on such a scale.
Are these footprints preserved on rocks? Was their age determined?
The footprints are on hard sandstone, they are 60-70 million years old and they don’t belong to just one animal. According to our estimates, four to five species of dinosaurs were running in different directions. Much action can be observed: large dinosaurs were chasing after small ones and almost caught them, but the prey suddenly dodged and ran away. Usually dinosaur fossils are found without footprints and where footprints are discovered, there are no fossils. But here, both are found. This is also very valuable for science.
Ch. Batpurev
Leave a Reply