Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Matt Lamanna

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AP3 Expedition 2016

Q: Will you be digging under deep layers of ice?

A: We will not be digging through ice for our expedition. Our expedition is timed for the end of the Austral summer, when most rock along the northernmost tip of the peninsula is readily available. There will be glaciers where we will be working but they will not be covering all of the islands where we will be working. Unfortunately, the possibility of a snow storm can still limit the amount of exposed rock with fossils.

Matt Lamanna, is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blog frequently from the field at antarticdinos.org.

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AP3 Expedition 2016

Sunset at Vega Camp (photo by Pat O'Connor)

AP3 Expedition 2016: Sunset at Vega Camp (photo: Pat O’Connor)

Matt Lamanna, is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blog frequently from the field at antarticdinos.org.

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AP3 Expedition 2016

Antarctica

 

Q: How do you find fossils in Antarctica?

A: In brief, there are basically two ways by which one can determine where to look for fossils. The first has to do with the fact that most of the Earth’s surface has been mapped from a geological standpoint. Geologic maps show what rocks are exposed at the surface. Fossils are found almost exclusively in sedimentary rocks (e.g., shale, mudstone, sandstone) as opposed to igneous and metamorphic rocks. So the first step would be to examine the map for those. Next, for those interested in dinosaurs, scour the map for sedimentary rocks that were deposited during the Mesozoic Era or Age of Dinosaurs ( we know that dinos evolved more-or-less 235 million years ago and died out (except for their descendants, birds) 66 million years ago). So search the map for sedimentary rocks that were deposited during that time. Lastly, dinos were almost exclusively land-dwelling animals, so look for Mesozoic sedimentary rocks that were deposited in bodies of water that were near land (i.e., rivers, ponds, lakes, ocean coastlines). If all three criteria are met, and you can get to the place, you might have a fighting chance of finding dino fossils there.

The second way is simpler — you just go where people have found fossils before.

Matt Lamanna, is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blog frequently from the field at antarticdinos.org.

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AP3: Antarctica Peninsula Paleontology Project

Scientist Flying bird

February 15–18

We continued work on Sandwich Bluff and two helicopter-supported day trips to Seymour Island. Both of these areas produced an abundance of well-preserved Late Cretaceous and Eocene-aged fossils, including those of birds, plesiosaurs (long-necked marine reptiles; numerous isolated bones and at least one partial skeleton), bony fishes (including several skulls and partial skeletons), sharks, whales, unidentified vertebrates, and a variety of beautifully-preserved invertebrates (e.g., ammonites, nautiloids, gastropods, bivalves, crustaceans).

Matt Lamanna, is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blog frequently from the field at antarticdinos.org.

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AP3: Antarctica Peninsula Paleontology Project

Project G-291-N’s discovery of one of the largest inoceramid clams ever reported, in Late Cretaceous sediments of Dreadnought Point. From left to right, Amy Westman (ASC MLT), Tom Tobin (invertebrate paleontologist), Jim Fanjoy (ACHI Pilot), and Cara Ferrier (ASC Field Camp Supervisor).
Project G-291-N’s discovery of one of the largest inoceramid clams ever reported, in Late Cretaceous sediments of Dreadnought Point. From left to right, Amy Westman (ASC MLT), Tom Tobin (invertebrate paleontologist), Jim Fanjoy (ACHI Pilot), and Cara Ferrier (ASC Field Camp Supervisor).
Four G-182-N team members (lower right) conducting paleontological and geological reconnaissance of Cape Marsh of Robertson Island on 2/14/16 (Photo by Matt Lamanna).
Four G-182-N team members (lower right) conducting paleontological and geological reconnaissance of Cape Marsh of Robertson Island on 2/14/16 (Photo by Matt Lamanna).
G-291-N team members at Dreadnought Point, collecting oriented samples for paleomagnetic research. From foreground to background: David Smith, Joe Kirschvink, Tom Tobin, Steve Skinner, and Frank Sousa. (Photo by Roger Fu).
G-291-N team members at Dreadnought Point, collecting oriented samples for paleomagnetic research. From foreground to background: David Smith, Joe Kirschvink, Tom Tobin, Steve Skinner, and Frank Sousa. (Photo by Roger Fu).
G-182-N team (from foreground to background, Eric Roberts, Matt Lamanna, Zubair Jinnah, Eric Gorscak, and Chris Torres) during the “Ask me Anything” session by Reddit. (Photo by Pat O’Connor).
G-182-N team (from foreground to background, Eric Roberts, Matt Lamanna, Zubair Jinnah, Eric Gorscak, and Chris Torres) during the “Ask me Anything” session by Reddit. (Photo by Pat O’Connor).

On February 12, the research team aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer arrived at James Ross Island, just four days after leaving Punta Arenas.  When the NBO16-02 team was ready to set up the instillation of their primary camp the following day, they discovered that the area where the most important paleontological and geological localities were located was not accessible due to the amount of ice present.

Installation of the Cape Lamb camp was completed on February 14. A four person team conducted a helicopter-supported reconnaissance of Cape Marsh which sits approximately 120 kilometers south of the James Ross Island Group. Although there were no traces of vertebrate fossils, the team collected abundant and well-preserved Cretaceous invertebrates, fossil wood, and geological samples.

Sandwich Bluff and Seymour Island both produced a significant amount of well-preserved Late Cretaceous and Eocene-aged fossils as well.  On Humps Island, the entire team found a well-exposed section causing them to reach a new record of 97 paleomagnetic samples collected in a single day!

In addition, the researchers have been working to use helicopter-based photogrammetry as a a tool for providing context for sampling efforts and to help link stratigraphic sections across islands in the James Ross Basin.

Even though the researchers have been very busy with their scientific work, they have also made time to interact with the public and answer questions about their work from Antarctica. The team conducted an
“Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit that produced more than 400 questions. In addition, Matt Lamanna has been holding live video conferences projected in Carnegie Museum of Natural History Earth Theatre and there will be a public Skype session in Oakland, Pennsylvania on March 10. Check out http://antarcticdinos.org or visit their Twitter account @antarcticdinos to learn more about their expedition.

Matt Lamanna, is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blog frequently from the field at antarticdinos.org.

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AP3 Antarctica Peninsula Paleontology Project 2016

A few recent images:

Camp Set Up

SnowDay Camp Set Up (we were putting up additional tents for additional people coming into Vega) and coffee in camp on a snow day (coffee thanks to Steven Salisbury).

Matt Lamanna, is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blog frequently from the field at antarticdinos.org.