Altan Teli, Dzereg Valley [PMPE] (Pliocene of Mongolia)

Where: Mongolia (47.1° N, 93.2° E: paleocoordinates 47.3° N, 93.1° E)

• coordinate stated in text

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Pliocene (5.3 - 2.6 Ma)

• Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments in the Altan Teli exposures form an anticlinal fold with axis trending parallel to the ridge of Omno Khayrkhan Ula massif (PI. VII, fig. 2). The western part of the anticline is asymmetrical, distinctly leaning northwards with a slightly compressed northern limb. The eastern part is symmetrical and sinks gradually beneath the cover of Quaternary sediments. The main horizon with fragments ofvertebrates is exposed in the southern limb of the anticline (Text-fig. 34). The average azimuth of the strike of bed s is 133-150° and the angle of dip 30-90°. (Gradinski et al. 1968)

Environment/lithology: terrestrial; calcareous siltstone

• The series of grey-yellow sands and gravels with intercalations of sandy silts. In the lower part of the series, the Main Bone Horizon is situated in calcareous siltstones (Text-fig. 35). Fragments of vertebrates occur as rich assemblages located within the sediment in elongate lenses, over several tens of metres in length . The thickness of the bone bed never exceeds 2 m. The manner of grouping and the relatively varied distribution of skeletal elements shows a deposit of taphocoenosis type. The bones on the surface are almost completely destroyed by weathering. Because of this, exploitation was carried out by digging trenches and tunnels a few metres deep. The depths of the tunnel s was limited by the high angle of dip of the beds. The fragment s of representatives of particular groups were deposited in a selective manner. In one of the points exploited, about 90 per cent of the skeletal elements was made up of rhinoceros remains (mainly skulls). At another point, almost only Hipparion was found and at still another, only turtles. The Altan Teli bone deposit is of alluvial type, and was formed after the decay of the bodies of the animals, the skeletal elements being distributed by current and finally deposited selectively according to their weight and size. The thickness of the whole series is about 55 m. (Gradinski et al. 1968)

Size class: macrofossils

Collected by Polish-Mongolian Palaeontological Expedition in 1965

Collection methods: quarrying, surface (float), surface (in situ),

• ZPAL collections

•The Polish-Mongolian group stayed in the area of Altan Teli exposures for 2 weeks in August 1965, carrying out exploitation work at 4 points along the Main Bone Horizon. For the purpose of making a short review of the Oshih locality, work was also carried out at the distance of about 60 km NW of Altan Teli.

Primary reference: M. Mlynarski. 1969. Notes on the tortoises (Testudinidae) from the Tertiary of Mongolia. Results Polish-Mongolian Palaeontological Expedition, I. Palaeontologica Polonica 19:85-97 [R. Benson/R. Benson/P. Mannion]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 128693: authorized by Roger Benson, entered by Roger Benson on 15.06.2012

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• In one of the points exploited, about 90 per cent of the skeletal elements was made up of rhinoceros remains (mainly skulls). At another point, almost only Hipparion was found and at still another, only turtles. (Gradinski et al. 1968)
Show authors, comments, and common names
Reptilia
 Testudines - Testudinidae
Geochelone oskarkuhni n. sp.
Geochelone oskarkuhni n. sp. Mlynarski 1969 turtle
Holotype (ZPAL MgCh/15, A plastron and a pygal port ion of the carapace of the same individual); and 16-20 (part of shells)