Discovery of Ankylosaur at Suncor's Millennium Mine

On March 21, 2011 a shovel operator in Suncor's Millennium Mine discovered an important piece of Alberta's history when he uncovered a dinosaur fossil. Watch the teamwork, ingenuity and commitment involved in safely and effectively removing the fossil from Suncor's mine.

[@ericbaxter6262]

The splitting was easily predictable and preventable. A rigid frame should have been built around the specimen to lift it.

[@porterhouse317]

Seems like a lack of common sense. I'm surprised they didn't have a specialist (engineer) there to properly prep the fossil for transport. If it was that rare, they should have taken more precautions before moving it.

[@waynewhite9502]

My thoughts exactly, no sense pointing fingers as it already happened, but it seemed like a silly base for lifting such a prized possession. Hind sight is always 20/20 but come on, that seemed obvious.

[@ericbaxter6262]

Agreed.

[@ericbaxter6262]

I wholeheartedly agree about public funding of science although not much more would have been needed in this case. I'm not blaming anyone. Many such as myself would have volunteered. It's just a pity we should all learn from.

[@ColonelBumButt]

No, they should've anchored the hoists together so they wouldn't come apart like that.

[@christopherviveros3445]

Thank you Suncor and Suncor employees!

[@mitchpopilchak]

Seriously, did you not feel their pain when the rock cracked during the lift?

[@HyenaBlank]

In hindsight, they probably should of added something like maybe some strong rope to keep the two logs held together along with a third in the middle for extra stability

[@PUBHEAD1]

Good to see science and industry work together

[@ChesireHeart]

thats so depressing that it broke omg but the turn out was still so amazing

[@jinhengtan7726]

It is so painful to see that the rock shattered and the dinosaur broken up into several chunks.

[@CoreyIsAussie]

That hurt watching it break

[@tracybair1642]

Thank You Suncor for caring!

[@Gearz86]

Why on earth would they try moving it on a platform that could shift like that? Were any experts consulted whatsoever? This couldn't possibly have been an engineered approach.

[@MrJeanMaker]

12:10 Why they lift it on two lose pieces of wood instead of nailing them together for a stronger rigid base?

[@JMB661]

Was anybody else bummed when the stone split?

[@kandimegahan7844]

How could you say it's Alberta history? It's far more grand than that. Alberta, and SUncor are lucky to have been a part of this find, and actual midwives to it's delivery... but this is of significance to the EARTH'S history; and important to ALL humankind.

[@Reuizi]

today, im from NatGeo video, its really been 7 years old video , 7 year to piece it together for exhibition .... the end product is just wow

[@empiricalarsehole8819]

I have often thought of the vast amount of fossils that MUST be present in mines, be it coal or stone, gold.. Whatever... But it seems no one takes the time to see them as usually it is all about production and the machines just blow straight through them all.

[@samanthathomson2649]

I’m a big nerd for this kind of stuff and I think this is so cool

[@kresimirmilisa5560]

very good discovery at suncor energy oil pit can you imagine a dinosaur fossil good job paleontologist team and suncor energy team together.

[@BetaSFDarchive]

It would have been prevented if they had used a platform, but that would have been harder to slide under. Anyway, the rock was too fragile, and they probably weren't aware of that, had it been solid, it would have worked. At least the person didn't completely shovel the dinosaur to pieces.

[@crystalheart9]

So sad it broke! I enjoyed the video, thank you.

[@mandytc29]

I was so worried about that but it broke sorry guys but good video

[@lindseywatermelon]

This is a great video!

[@betmynamespookedyou4665]

They broke the dinosaur 💀

[@AwesomeTruth300]

nice video

[@DawnDawson]

Wondered why they didn't immedately try to locate the rest of the rear & tail portion since it was noticed while scraping off the side. Must have recently taken off that portion and sent it somewhere.

[@jimbrown341]

That transporting rig look like it separated. Did it break? That was odd seeing the beam move horizontally rather then just vertically straight up.

[@seanwarren9357]

It wasnt rigid on that axis. I guess they thought it would be solid.

[@iFlashboy]

12:20 RIP

[@michaelmathis1961]

If it lived so long ago, why was it found so shallow in the earth?

[@aetoseagle582]

This might not be an isolated incident. What if this dinosaur was just one of many who were washed out during a floor. It is unlikely only one animal was captured by the flood.

[@clintonearlwalker]

While it's unlikely only one animal was washed out in a flood, it's less likely the conditions existed for other animals to become fossilized as this one did.

[@BenGrimm977]

that's pretty neat

[@aetoseagle582]

Possibly Clint, but I feel there is both a statistical and paleontologist precedent for such a possibility (other animal remains). The amazing finds in Alaska in the 20th century are just one example. Clearly washed away in a torrential flood, there are literally hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of fragments piled together. We can always equivocate about precise conditions, but the end game here is to see if there are any other remains available. I just hope there is a trained observer on site to explore this possibility. There is a possibility (ok not probability) that other material could yet be recovered. Also, there is the potential for botanical remains and stratification studies, lots of potential.

[@SonicSanctuary]

hmm ive herd of a theory that anklosaurs could swim like hippos

[@automemories3051]

SonicSanctuary their to heavy

[@Littleathquakes]

SonicSanctuary hippos can't swim. they walk along the bottom of shallow rivers.

[@limppimento55]

Heard

[@tmurda1967]

yayyy

[@musicman3005]

u know what I don't care what anyone says lol im 38 n I like dinosaurs I think they are the coolest animal that god made

[@legrandherakles5023]

Also prehistoric frenchs were able to carry giant stone without breaking it, just by rolling them on the ground... Why americans dont call for civilised nations to help them with physics, like they done for nuclear or spatial research, when they recruited German engineers...

[@aureasmortem]

These aren't Americans, they're Canadians. Rolling this fossil would have destroyed it too.

[@codename9824]

Civilized nations?

[@TheCrowMurder64]

Buried out too sea? wouldn't this touch basis with the Great flood instead of "evolution" I fossil hunt myself and some of my finds don't add up to evolution.. I have found ice age buffalo and a triceratops beside each other at the same depth...I used to believe in evolution...but im starting to think it's just another theory like everything else.

[@Beringtunes]

If you even cursorily look into plate tectonics, continental shift, etc, which as a fossil hound you MUST have, you'll understand that even now, we live on a fairly "liquid" planet, which is very different now than it was even as geologically "recently" as 300- to 65-million years ago. You’d have to know that explains how various strata coming from vastly different time periods can become intertwined, depending on your location, as well as the concept that "inland" seas could fill in huge locations formerly inhabited by terrestrial animals and plants. The sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and limestone that forms places like the Grand Canyon & other amazing geologica phenomena, as well as the bulk of our continent, was created by being at the bottom of such sea water. Limestone itself usually comes from the accumulation of shell, coral, algal, and other debris. Without such sedimentary rock, we'd find far fewer fossils than we DO. There are MANY scientists from all disciplines, astronomy to paleontology, who while they'll firmly believe in the evidence we' know of evolution, will also say the whole "bigger picture" is proof that none of what they discover is an "accident." Evolution itself is the stunning creation of a knowing power infinitely beyond anything we humans will ever comprehend. (Thank God!)

[@ifeelneon]

It's called the Theory of Evolution. It IS a theory (the correct theory, in my mind, but whatever).

[@ericgranberg8651]

I have found ice age buffalo and a triceratops beside each other at the same depth???? Thank you for the best laugh I have had in weeks.

[@budderickson6120]

You do realize the definition of a theory is "tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena"? So yes, evolution is a theory - because it is widely regarded as true among experts & heavily supported by concrete evidence. You might be thinking of 'hypothesis' - like creationism - an idea that attempts to explain observed phenomena but has yet to be supported by any evidence.

[@getmilked2594]

TheCrowMurder64 Just because sonthing is a theory doesn't mean it cannot be proven. This misconception is the reason some scientists are advocating for a name change. The entirety of modern biology revolves around evolution so saying you don't believe in it is like saying you don't believe in gravity.

[@deadleafmoth7729]

This was very informative