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Dinosaur Eggs in China Found to Be 86 Million Years Old Using ‘Atomic Clock’ Dating
A clutch of 28 dinosaur eggs discovered in the Qinglongshan fossil reserve in central China has been dated to around 86 million years old, according to researchers using advanced “atomic clock” dating methods.
Scientists applied carbonate uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating, a precise geochronology technique commonly used on carbonate minerals, to determine the eggs’ age. By measuring the ratio of uranium to lead atoms within calcite found in the eggshells, they were able to establish a reliable timeline. This marks the first time fossils from the Qinglongshan reserve have been accurately dated.
The site itself contains more than 3,000 eggs, most preserved in three-dimensional form. The majority belong to the species Placoolithus tumiaolingensis, part of the Dendroolithidae family. These eggs measure between 4.7 and 6.7 inches long, with relatively porous shells that could provide clues about the environment during the late Cretaceous period, when Earth’s climate was beginning to cool.
Traditionally, paleontologists date fossils by analyzing the surrounding sediment layers, which can lead to uncertainty if the fossils are older or younger than the nearby deposits. The U-Pb method provides a more direct and precise measure. Researchers say this approach could help build a stronger timeline of dinosaur reproduction behavior and adaptations.
With over 200 dinosaur egg sites identified worldwide and only a handful accurately dated, scientists believe U-Pb dating could open new insights into how dinosaurs nested and how their reproductive strategies evolved over time.
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By: CNN Newsource
September 13, 2025
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