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What kind of paleontological discoveries have been made at geothermal sites?

Marcela Merriman

Hey there! That's an interesting question! Geothermal sites have been known to hold a treasure trove of paleontological discoveries. Let me tell you a little bit about some of the coolest discoveries that have been made.

One of the most exciting finds was made in 2015 in the Waiotapu geothermal area in New Zealand. Scientists discovered the nearly complete skeleton of a prehistoric bird, which they believe lived around 16-19 million years ago. The bird, called a Upland Moa, stood around six feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds. This was an especially exciting discovery because it is one of the best-preserved skeletons of its kind ever found.

Another cool find was made in 2020 in northern Chile's El Tatio geothermal field. Scientists discovered the remains of a new species of ancient crocodile, which they named Buena Vista crocodile. The fossils are estimated to be about 6-10 million years old and provide valuable information about the evolution of these ancient reptiles.

Geothermal sites have also been known to hold important information about the evolution of plants. In 2018, a team of scientists discovered the remains of a prehistoric forest at the Chiquilpe geothermal field in Argentina. The fossils were dated to be around 150 million years old and revealed that the forest was dominated by coniferous trees and ferns.

What's interesting about these discoveries is that geothermal sites provide a unique environment that can preserve fossils in a way that other sites cannot. The high temperatures and mineral deposits can preserve fossils in ways that protect them from decay, allowing scientists to study them in greater detail. This means that there is likely to be many more exciting paleontological discoveries to come from geothermal sites in the future!

Thanks for the question, hope you found this answer helpful!