Scientists map out Vietnam’s palaeontology
Posted by Bao Viet Nam on July 29, 2008
– A comprehensive atlas on the paleaontology of Vietnam is expected to be published next year.
The Atlas Co Sinh Vat Hoc Vietnam (Palaeontological Atlas of Vietnam) will be the most extensively researched collection on the country’s palaeontology with contributions by both local and foreign scientists in the last 100 years.
The project was undertaken by the Vietnam Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (VIGMR) which is under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, with the aim of providing detailed information on the palaeo-biology in Vietnam from the prehistoric period.
The series includes four volumes: Foraminifera, Mollusca, Brachiopoda and Spores and Pollens.
Dr Doan Nhat Truong, a representative of the authors, explained how many ancient documents dating back a century were collected and studied for inclusion in the atlas.
“We found valuable information in reference materials by French and Russian scientists and scholars who laid the foundation for Vietnam geology,” said Truong.
“Thanks to previous research, we gained valuable knowledge of many organisms which will be documented for the first time in Vietnam .”
Truong expects each volume to consist of 300 to 400 pages. He hopes the atlas would prove to be a useful tool for researchers, geologists and anyone interested in the colourful world of prehistoric creatures.-
