Current:Home > StocksCoal miners lead paleontologists to partial mammoth fossil in North Dakota-LoTradeCoin
Coal miners lead paleontologists to partial mammoth fossil in North Dakota
View Date:2024-12-24 00:47:40
A team in North Dakota uncovered more than 20 bones from a mammoth skeleton after coal miners found a well-preserved, 7-foot-long tusk, the North Dakota Geological Survey said Monday.
Miners at the Freedom Mine first discovered the tusk over Memorial Day weekend. They roped off the site until representatives from the North Dakota Geological Survey, the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the Bureau of Land Management arrived. A team of paleontologists from the North Dakota Geological Survey later spent 12 days excavating an old streambed, the North Dakota Geological Survey said in a press release.
"Most of the mammoth fossils known from North Dakota are isolated bones and teeth," Clint Boyd, North Dakota Geological Survey senior paleontologist, said. "This specimen is one of the most complete mammoth skeletons discovered in North Dakota, making it an exciting and scientifically important discovery."
The paleontologists found ribs, a shoulder blade, a tooth and parts of the hips, according to the release. The bones were stabilized in protective plaster jackets and taken to the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum paleontology lab in Bismarck, where they'll be meticulously cleaned and stabilized.
State officials are also working to determine where the remains can be put on display so that "as many people as possible can see this specimen and learn what it tells us about life in North Dakota during the Ice Age," the release said.
Several types of mammoths lived in North Dakota during the Ice Age, including the woolly mammoth and the Columbian mammoth. Paleontologists will determine which type of mammoth bones were found after the remains have been fully cleaned.
Mammoths went extinct at the end of the Ice Age about 10,000 years ago. Wooly mammoths are more closely related to the modern African elephant than to the Asian elephant, according to the National Park Service. Columbian mammoths, however, are more closely related to Asian elephants. Males and females of both species had long, curved tusks.
- In:
- North Dakota
Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.
TwitterveryGood! (6165)
Related
- John Robinson, successful football coach at USC and with the LA Rams, has died at 89
- From Innovation to Ascendancy: Roland Quisenberry and WH Alliance Propel the Future of Finance
- Kate Spade x M&M's: Shop This Iconic Holiday Collection & Save Up to 40% on Bags, Shoes & More
- Christina Applegate's fiery response to Trump supporters and where we go from here
- What Just Happened to the Idea of Progress?
- Kourtney Kardashian Shows Son Rocky Barker Bonding With Travis Barker in New Photo
- Republican Jeff Hurd wins Colorado US House seat in Lauren Boebert’s old district
- Freshman Democrat Val Hoyle wins reelection to US House in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District
- Two 'incredibly rare' sea serpents seen in Southern California waters months apart
- SEC clashes Georgia-Ole Miss, Alabama-LSU lead college football Week 11 expert predictions
Ranking
- Powerball winning numbers for Nov. 9 drawing: Jackpot rises to $92 million
- 30 quotes about stress and anxiety to help bring calm
- Jennifer Lopez appears 'Unstoppable' in glam press tour looks: See the photos
- NYC parents charged in death of 4-year-old boy who prosecutors say was starved to death
- Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys
- Democratic incumbent Don Davis wins reelection in North Carolina’s only toss-up congressional race
- Bowen Yang Apologizes to Ariana Grande for Being Over Eager About SNL Kiss
- Kirk Herbstreit's dog, Ben, dies: Tributes for college football analyst's beloved friend
Recommendation
-
Lunchables get early dismissal: Kraft Heinz pulls the iconic snack from school lunches
-
Republican Jeff Hurd wins Colorado US House seat in Lauren Boebert’s old district
-
Watch wild moment raccoon falls from ceiling in LaGuardia Airport terminal
-
NYC parents charged in death of 4-year-old boy who prosecutors say was starved to death
-
Who will be in the top 12? Our College Football Playoff ranking projection
-
GOP flips 2 US House seats in Pennsylvania, as Republican Scott Perry wins again
-
Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn, viral Olympic breaker, retires from competition after backlash
-
YouTuber known for drag race videos crashes speeding BMW and dies