Geology Department

Major Collection and Research Results

I. The New Important Research Result (1958) excavated from the Guanling Formation “A female marine Keichousaurus hui gave near Sinyi, the province of Gueijhou, China in the birth to live young (viviparous) 230 million years ago” late Middle Triassic (-, 230 million Finally, the truth is revealed. Pregnant years ago). These specimens are extraordinarily well illustrate how their prehistoric ancestors gave birth. preserved. They provide clear evidence of sexual The two extremely rare of pregnant dimorphism in Sauropterygians, and indicate that marine reptiles from middle Triassic of the Mesozoic Sauropterygians and their close relatives did give Era are carefully housed in the NMNS indicating birth to live young in water (viviparity). The that this type of marine reptiles gave birth to live findings further help researchers imply that the young (viviparity). Therefore, paleontologists presence of a movable pelvis (the attachment denied the possibility that they came ashore to between the pelvic girdle and the sacrum) in hatch eggs. The reptiles Keichousaurus hui had Pachypleurosaurus from evolution revealed a possible been expedited by the evolution of a movable reproductive pattern. It can be explained that other pelvis, which helped the mothers bear live young. related Sauropterygian marine reptile also Each fossil specimen preserved to six embryos. had a movable pelvis (good for adaptation and This fossil discovery has been the first evidence movement), which answers questions about their to directly prove and elaborate on the reproduction reproductive method. The anatomical feature of the strategies and methods among Sauropterygians Keichousaurus specimens enabled them to bear (including Ichthyosaur and ). offspring in the dangerous ocean. Sauropterygians were the largest and the most Dr. Cheng, Yen-nien worked on the two diverse group of amongst the marine specimens with Dr. Wu, Xiao-chun at the National ■Gravid specimens of Keichousaurus hui Yong and the reptiles in geological history. They lived from 250 to Museums of Canada in Ottawa and Dr. Ji Qiang drawings of the specimens 65 million years ago dominating almost the entire from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Mesozoic Era. Since the first description of a Beijing, and published the results in Volume 432 of Plesiosaurus in 1821, thousands of related Nature in November 2004. After three months of Sauropterygian marine reptile specimens have been dedicated prepared by Dr. Cheng it is easy to see collected all over the world (including the Mesozoic the embryos in one of the specimens. The other in China). However, no direct evidence has been specimen was generously lent from the Pa- detected to determine whether they came on shore leowonders Mineral and Fossil Museum, situated in to hatch eggs (oviparity) like sea turtles, or gave Banciao, Taipei for our research purpose. The study birth in the water to live young (viviparity) like the indicated that the embryos were in a Ichthyosaurs (1846) and Mosasauroids (2001). malpresentation (breech presentation) which led Even though many scientists have proposed the paleontologists to believe that the mothers died hypotheses and speculations about viviparity, which of dystocia. occurred in Plesiosaurus, Why did the reptiles go back to the sea? How (including the Keichousaurus in this report) and did they use locomotion to move in the water? How , there has not been direct and effective did they search for food? How did they reproduce evidence to prove that they are right so far. and nurture offspring and grow? Were they This study is based on the two gravid endothermic? Why did the Sauropterygians go specimens (NMNS-cyn2002-01 and NMNS- extinct? The answers to these questions need VL191, respectively) of Keichousaurus hui Yong further investigation.

119 蒐藏研究雙年報(92 - 93年) Biennial Report of Collection and Research (2003 - 2004)

II. Important Rock and Mineral Specimens from research papers and journals concerning geology Donations over the last two years. The Museum was even Geological specimens are either collected by more impressed and touched by Professor Chen's the staff or purchased from foreign or domestic generosity to send the aforementioned items over specimen dealers. Some specimens are also donated on trucks at his own cost. Among the specimens, from college/university professors, enthusiastic there are andesite and basalt from Taiwan, Taiwan's amateurs, students or the public. Over the past two offshore islands, Sea of Japan, and the Philippine years, the Museum has received more than four Sea; granite from Kinmen and Matzu as well as thousand pieces of geological specimens resulting in sediment from shallow- and deep seas around a diverse and abundant collection, and the Museum Taiwan. Part of the collection is the crucial rock expresses its gratitude for the generous donations and mineral specimens from other countries (such from all over the world. Here are some examples of as the mantle peridotite xenoliths found in the donations the Museum has accepted: Antarctic), and the deep-sea manganese nodules (1)Donation made by Professor Chen, Ju-chin are rare and precious. Dr. Ho, kung-suan received a phone call from Professor Chen was a pioneer devoting his Professor Chen, Ju-chin in June 2004, indicating studies on the manganese nodule in Taiwan. The that he would like to contribute all the rock and manganese nodules are deposited by enrichment of mineral specimens, academic journals, and research manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, lead, papers and books he had collected throughout his molybdenum, vanadium, and titanium. These life to the Museum. This has been his second metallic elements are essential alloy materials in the philanthropic contribution since 2003. industry, which are now in large demand in this ■Mineral specimen from purchase: Professor Chen, a respectable figure in the high-tech era. Therefore, manganese nodules are Calcite crystal on matrix, from regarded as an important mineral resource. “R/V Elmwood Mine, Smith County, fields of geology and oceanography, Tennessee, U.S.A., Zhang, J. Y. specializes in geochemistry, marine Chiu-Lien” the first marine exploration ship in photo. geology, and petrology. He has Taiwan, discovered manganese nodules ap- devoted himself in the Institute of proximately 10-20 centimeters across on the Oceanography at the National Taiwan Philippine Sea floor 2,900 and 5,700 meters deep to University after completion of his the east of Taiwan. Professor Chen and his students studies in the U.S. He not only is a carefully studied the mineral composition, chemical good teacher, but also chaired the characteristics, and growth rates and published second-term director of Institute and many research papers regarding the discovery. the president of Geological Society of Professor Chen was also of Dr. Ho advisor and China located in Taipei. He is a remarkable has collaborated with and always supported the researcher and keeps good interpersonal Geology Department. The Department would like relationships with people, setting an to express its deepest gratitude to him for he has outstanding example for the later generations. donated his collected specimens and complete Professor Chen has donated more than geological journals for the Museum's permanent 560 important domestic and foreign collection. The Museum carefully preserves and specimens, powder, and thin sections of manages these properties for the generations to rocks and minerals, sediments, and deep- come. sea manganese nodules as well as 800

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(2)Donation made by Professor Yen, Tsang-Po consuming studies will not be carried on and will be In spring 2004, Professor Ma, Guo-fong at the wasted. To prevent similar disasters from repeating National Central University mentioned that themselves, the National Central University Professor Yen, Tsang-Po left some specimens and donated these specimens to NMNS, and we are literatures in the Institute of Geophysics, National grateful for its generosity. Central University. She asked if the Museum would (3)Donation made by Professor Yang, Houng-yi like to take them in. We were extremely thrilled and Professor Yang, Houng-yi is a well-known took the offer without a second thought. petrologist in Taiwan. He dedicated more than 30 Professor Yen remains a prominent figure in years to teaching in the Department of Earth the field of geology dedicating himself to field Sciences at the National Cheng Kung University surveys of igneous, metamorphic rocks, and mineral after earning his doctoral degree from Ohio State deposits. Yen started his studies in geology since the University. On January 31, 2004, he retired with Japanese occupation, and his collection must have honors. During decades of teaching and research, been significant. Dr. Gong, Shou-yeh and Wang, he focused on petrology, geochemistry, and Shih-wei spent two days sorting the collection in refractory materials. In recent years, he led one of Jhongli in April, 2004 . the NSC's large-scale integrated projects—a study Professor Yen's collection of minerals, rocks, on the mineralogy of igneous and metamorphic Mineral specimen from purchase: and sections totals more than 700 pieces among ■ rocks in the Cilian suture zone. He should be given Native copper, 16 x 33 cm, from which include the very rare native gold from Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, credit for the development of Taiwan's studies on Rueifang and Jinguashih, iolite from Lyudao, and U.S.A., Zhang, J. Y. photo. rocks and minerals. zircon from Guansi, Hsinchu, not to mention One or two years before Professor Yang's metallic mineral specimens from Korea and Japan retirement, he managed thousands of rock and that the Museum never had. mineral specimens that were used for research and Furthermore, there are 54 well-preserved contributed them to the Museum. In addition to geological maps, which were finished during the the igneous rocks from Taiwan and Penghu Islands, Japanese colonial period, are considered valuable there are mineral specimens from Chungbuk, evidence of Taiwan's geological history. Most of the Kyonggi, and Busan/Pusan in Korea; molybdenite in current maps from that time are not well preserved Canada; ashes from Mount St. Helens in the U.S. due to regular use. However, these 54 maps look as and chromite from Zambales, the Philippines. good as new. They might be the most complete Professor Yang labeled and proofread the scientific geological maps from early in the history in Taiwan. name, field number, and collection locality, and Unfortunately, the notes and symbols in the other detailed information of each specimen. He numerous unpublished scripts, working maps and also specified elaborately which specimens had been some specimen labels are incomprehensible. It is a studied by which students of his, indicating Yang's pity that later generations cannot understand these serious attitude not only toward research samples clues that reflect Yen's observations and thinking. but also meticulous scholarship and research and We should learn from this lesson—keep records of setting a good example for us. one's research, document and place them appropriately and become the collective properties of human beings. Otherwise, all the time-

121 蒐藏研究雙年報(92 - 93年) Biennial Report of Collection and Research (2003 - 2004)

III. Important Fossil Specimens from Purchases finding provided a crucial information on the study The Department had gathered a few mag- of the origins of flight. There are two competing nificent fossil specimens over the past two years hypotheses that attempt to explain the origin of (2003-2004). In 2003, we obtained a Triassic flight: “tree-down” and “ground-up”. The “tree- Ichthyosaur, which was discovered in Xingyi, down” hypothesis states that the ancestors of birds Guizhou, China. It belongs to the Mixosauridae first lived in trees. They would have sprung from family, but its exact classification needs further branch to branch to progressively develop the study. We obtained it as rock slabs. It took a half gliding ability. Its proponents speculate that the year to recover the whole fossil. Part of the recovery evolutionary transition to birds include four-winged efforts were demonstrated in the exhibit hall, so the phases. The “ground-up” hypothesis suggests that public could actually see how the fossils were birds' ancestors were ground-dwelling animals that prepared and recovered. This demonstration was would have begun to flap while running at high very popular. The recovered specimen is a 410 cm speed that eventually resulted in flight. The long and 230 cm high plate, with a 3-D head stood discovery of “four-winged dinosaur” is thought to be out of the plate, which is extremely appealing. a support of the “tree-down” hypothesis. Another Another important result in 2003 was the significant specimen collected in this trip is the collection of four pieces of dinosaur fossil including skull of Mosasaur. Mosasaur was a kind of huge the skull of Tarbosaur, skull of Ankylosaur, a buried marine reptile which existed in Late . group of Oviraptors, and the skeleton of little Like its closest living relatives, lizards, Mosasaurs Tyrannosaur. They were all excavated from the belonged to the Order Squamata. The 1.2 meters

■The crocodile fossil, Cretaceous strata in Mongolia. The Ankylosaur and long skull shows two rows of pterygoid teeth at the Steneosaurus bollensis, little Tyrannosaur could be a new species that have back of upper jaw. It would be an attractive exhibit. , Germany never been recognized, and deserve further study. In the end of 2004, the Devision gained The specimens of Oviraptors show that they another eight pieces of fossils for the future probably cared for their offspring. The four exhibition of the planed Geology Hall. They specimens are displayed in the Dinosaur Gallery included mammoths Platybelodon, Ichthyosaurs, now. fossil crocodile, fossil crinoid and the Thalattosaur. In the beginning of 2004, with the subsidies for Mammoths are one of the representating animals of Service Upgrade Project from the Social Education the Ice Age. They are indispensable exhibits in department of the Ministry of Education, the museums and appealing topics in textbooks. Division had a crew to the Tucson Mineral and Platybelodon, known as “shovel-tusker,” was Fossil show in the U.S. to collect the specimens for characterized by its huge, shovel-like lower jaw and future exhibitions at the Geology Hall. The most broad lower incisors. Scientists speculate that the important result of this trip is the obtaining of the shovel-like lower jaw may have been used to dig fossil of Microraptor gui, which was also known as into the boggy bottoms and scoop up aquatic plants the “four-winged dinosaur” on the cover of the in the wet prairies. The Thalattosaur fossil is January 23 issue of the journal Nature. The another interesting specimen. With 3-D preserved Microraptor gui was dated at 125 million years old skull, it is perfect for scientific study and exhibition. (Early Cretaceous). It had fully developed modern feathers on both the forelimbs and hind limbs. The

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