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Exciting new finds at RiversleighBy Phil Creaser A recent trip to remote parts of Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park (which includes the Riversleigh World Heritage area) was highly successful. Based on a study of Google Earth images by Dr Rick Arena and analysis of satellite data by Ned Stephenson, extensive areas with probable Oligo-Miocene freshwater limestone deposits were found at some distance from known fossil sites at Riversleigh. One particular site (Wholly Dooley site) was especially significant as it contained a rich fossil fauna in younger brown coloured fissure fill deposits etched into the older grey freshwater limestones. These fossiliferous rocks are currently being processed to recover and identify the fossils and to determine a probable age. A speleothem from an associated cave deposit also has the potential to give an age for the fossil deposit. Further exploration of the new area is planned with the potential for more significant discoveries. These will add to our understanding of the evolution of Australia’s unique fauna gained from more than 35 years of concentrated research from the Riversleigh World Heritage sites. The Riversleigh Fossil Project is supported by the Australian Research Council (LP0989969, LP100200486, DP1094569), Xstrata Copper Community Partnership Program North Queensland, Outback at Isa, Mount Isa City Council, Queensland Museum, University of New South Wales, Environment Australia, Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, the CREATE fund at UNSW, and the Waanyi people of northwestern Queensland. |
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