LIFE / CULTURE
Possible dinosaur fossil discovered at quarry in Sichuan Province
Published: Oct 21, 2021 07:18 PM
A photo shows a possible dinosaur fossil discovered at quarry in Sichuan Province. Photo: Sina Weibo

A photo shows a possible dinosaur fossil discovered at quarry in Sichuan Province. Photo: Sina Weibo

A stone that appears to contain a prehistoric fossil was found at a quarry in Longchang, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on October 18. 

The stone is cubed-shaped with one side bearing what appears to contain the skeleton of a large-sized animal. 

While a detailed examination has yet to be carried out, based on the look of the skeleton researchers say it is likely a fossil of a Sauropod dinosaur's coccyx bone, or tail bone. 

Sauropod dinosaurs, such as Brachiosaurus, had long necks with small forward- looking heads, four strong legs and long tails. 

According to experts, the stone's color, which stands out compared to other stones at the site, indicates that geologically related issues relating to the discovery need to be explored. 

This is not the first time that a dinosaur fossil has been discovered in Sichuan Province. The city of Zigong, an hour or so drive from Longchang, has been dubbed the "home of dinosaurs" for the large amount of discoveries made there. The most recent notable discovery was a set of small dinosaur footprints that measured only 10.2 millimeters long and 9.6 millimeters wide, some of the smallest ever found in China.

Mining at the quarry has been temporarily suspended awaiting further investigation.