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Sichuan Basin

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Massive Jurassic Sauropod Unearthed at Chinese Construction Site
science1 month ago

Massive Jurassic Sauropod Unearthed at Chinese Construction Site

Construction workers in Tongnan District, Sichuan Basin, China uncovered a partial, exceptionally well-preserved sauropod skeleton dating to about 147 million years ago (Late Jurassic). Scientists named Tongnanlong zhimingi, estimating the full animal at 23–28 meters (roughly 92 feet) long, with a large shoulder girdle and well-preserved vertebrae. The fossil’s preservation result from rapid burial in ancient mud and sandstone; the remains are housed at the Chongqing Museum of Natural History. The find sheds light on the size and distribution of giant Asian sauropods and suggests broader ancient connections across continents.

Milankovitch cycles reveal where ancient shale oil formed
astronomy2 months ago

Milankovitch cycles reveal where ancient shale oil formed

Researchers link Milankovitch orbital cycles to the formation of shale oil in the Sichuan Basin, showing that wetter periods during high orbital eccentricity produced organic-rich lake muds that later became shale reservoirs. By combining crust/mantle data, rock cores, and Jurassic lake-mud gamma-ray records, they align sediment layers with orbital timing to better predict where high-quality shale oil formed. The study, published Sept. 30, 2025, notes shale oil’s extraction via fracking and related environmental concerns, but the method could improve exploration targeting.