For the uninitiated an Ichthyosaur is a large marine reptile. The word comes from the Greek for “fish lizard”.

Thirteen participants exchanged their time to gain experience by excavating something that was pretty big, in more than one way, along with two Kronosaurus Korner employees and one volunteer.

Kronosaurus Korner, found in Richmond in between Townsville and Mount Isa, is the home of Australia’s premier marine fossil museum.

Kronosaurus Korner curator Michelle Johnston said the partial Ichthyosaur was around 100 million years old and the size of a car.

“It’s a dolphin-like creature with the attitude of a crocodile,” she said.

Ms Johnson said there were a mix of experienced diggers and novices on the two week dig. 

“We give instructions and guidance on how to dig and remove the specimen,” she said.

A 1.8m square jacket, plaster cast, is holding the specimen while waiting for transport from the dig site. 

“The plaster is like a protective jacket over the fossil which enables us to safely flip it before transportation back to the museum.

“The specimen will become available for research and display,” she said.

Each year the Kronosaurus Korner, invites the public to join a palaeontologist in digging up a large fossil specimen.

The fossil-rich environment unearthed three Cooyoo fish last week.

“Last Tuesday a woman found part of a tail from a fish – it turned out to be a 1.5m Cooyoo fish.”

Cooyoo australis is a primitive ichthyodectid found in Cretaceous strata mostly in Queensland.

“It was a very exciting find as well,” Ms Johnston said. 

North West Star