Science & Technology

Chinese scientists discover remains of ancient coral reefs in Tibet

Beijing, Mar 8 (EFE).- A group of Chinese scientists discovered on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which in some points exceeds 4,000 meters above sea level, reefs dating back almost 400 million years in which coral fossils have been found.

The discovery occurred in the town of Ngari, in the autonomous region of Tibet, state newspaper Global Times reported Wednesday.

After studying 1,085 geological samples from the reefs, experts found out more about their structure, in addition to discovering “clear fossil components.”

In this town, whose altitude reaches more than 4,000 meters above sea level in several areas, scientists identified fossils of tabulated corals, an already extinct species, and of stromatoporoids, a class of sponges that also disappeared millions of years ago.

“The fossils reflect a relatively stable structure composed of different organisms,” Liang Kun, leader of the group of experts in charge of the project, told the newspaper, adding that the site is approximately 385 million years old.

“Such a well-formed structure from the Givetian period has never been found in this area,” Liang said, adding that “paleontological and geological research is the first step for oil prospecting.”

According to the expert, the deposit is an oil storage layer that “will help to accurately locate the oil resources in the area.” EFE

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