The Record Of Cretaceous Dinosaurs In Alaska:
All documented dinosaur remains from Alaska are found in late Albian to late Maastrichtian (100-68 Ma) age rocks. Except for one locality in southcentral Alaska, they are found between the 69th and 70th parallels. Dinosaur-bearing rocks cropout along several river courses that fall within the Arctic...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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1992
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.17.553 http://www.mms.gov/alaska/icam/1992/399.pdf |
| Summary: | All documented dinosaur remains from Alaska are found in late Albian to late Maastrichtian (100-68 Ma) age rocks. Except for one locality in southcentral Alaska, they are found between the 69th and 70th parallels. Dinosaur-bearing rocks cropout along several river courses that fall within the Arctic Foothills and Coastal Plains provinces. The vast majority of the remains are hadrosaurian, contained in organic-rich overbank deposits, or coarser channel-lag sediments. In addition to hadrosaurids, at least five other families are represented. The great bulk of dinosaur-bearing strata are found within a 4-km stretch of the lower reaches of the Colville River near Ocean Point. In each of the last four years, additional sites have been found within this area. The middle section of the Colville has produced isolated and scattered rinds but holds great potential for future discoveries from Sentinel Hill to Uluksrak, and from Ninuluk Creek to the Awuna. Farther to the north and west, the Kokolik, Utukok, Kaolak, and Ketik rivers are well worth future exploratory efforts. This area, which is between Pt. Lay and Pt. Belcher, has thus far produced dinosaur tracks and skin impressions. A promising structural and lithologic framework make this another prime target for prospecting. Analysis thus far indicates that the majority of the fossils represent a typical late Campanian to Maastrichtian fauna with close affinities to faunas from Alberta, Canada, but with a dermite transarctic character. These dinosaurs were living on floodplains and deltas in close proximity to the sea. Maritime climate influences and derived food sources must have been siLmificant factors in their arctic lifestyle. |
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