Re: Solnhofen quarrying pattern

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

David Marjanovic wrote:

> However, nobody is digging, and there is not just one quarry.

The lithographic limestone deposits of Bavaria have yielded more than just 
_Archaeopteryx_* and _Compsognathus_, including a small coelurosaur 
discussed briefly by Viohl (1999).

(* = _Wellnhoferia_, _Jurapteryx_, _Archaeornis_, _Griphosaurus_, 
_Griphornis_)

> Basically, the whole area consists of plated limestone. It's practically at 
> the surface. Must be similar in northeastern China (the Yixian and 
> Jiufotang Fms covering the western half of Liaoning and beyond), only much, 
> much, much larger...

This "beyond" may include an exposure across the Chinese border, in North 
Korea (a.k.a the People's Loving Democratic Republic of Korea).  The 
primitive bird _Proornis coreae_ (the "North Korean Archaeopteryx", but it 
may be a confuciusornithid), said to be from the Sinuiju Series, could be 
part of the Jehol biota.  There are apparently some wonderful vertebrate 
fossils in this neck of the woods.

Cheers

Tim