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Kasson student digs for fossils with South Dakota paleontologists at “Big Pig Dig” in Badlands National Park
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| Title | Kasson student digs for fossils with South Dakota paleontologists at "Big Pig Dig" in Badlands National Park |
| Digitaization Specification | Master file format: ? bytes, application/doc, Uncompressed, DOC, ; Checksum: ; Adobe Photoshop CS3 |
| Transcript | Office of University Relations SDSM& T News 501 E. St. Joseph Street • Rapid City, SD 57701- 3995 Phone: ( 605) 394- 6082/ 2554 • Fax: ( 605) 394- 6177 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ( August 3, 1998) KASSON STUDENT DIGS FOR FOSSILS WITH SOUTH DAKOTA PALEONTOLOGISTS AT " BIG PIG DIG" IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Cayce Lillesve, a geology major at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology ( SDSM& T) in Rapid City, South Dakota, is spending her summer digging for 33- million year old fossil mammals at a site known as the " Big Pig Dig" in Badlands National Park. Cayce, who will be a senior at SDSM& T this fall, is the daughter of Don and Karen Lillesve of Kasson, MN. A joint partnership between the National Park Service ( NPS) and the SDSM& T Museum of Geology, the " Big Pig Dig" is funded by Canon Corporation's " Expedition into the Parks" program and NPS fee demonstration funds. Canon Corporation recently donated $ 50, 000 to Badlands National Park to excavate the unique fossil site and to foster public education about the importance of preserving the valuable fossil resources in the park. Over 5, 000 fossil bones have been removed from the site, which researchers have concluded was a watering hole over 33 million years ago for early pig- like mammals, rhinos, horses and deer- like mammals. Over 26 individual animals have been found at the site to date. Two graduate theses and several scientific reports have been published based on field work at the Big Pig Dig site. After excavating and mapping the location of each fossil, Cayce and her fellow SDSM& T researchers jacket each specimen with tissue paper, plaster and burlap. The specimen jackets are then carefully transported to the SDSM& T Museum of Geology, where they are prepared and curated. " As an undergraduate I have been preparing these fossils in the curation laboratory, so now I have the opportunity to collect them, " said Lillesve in describing her field dig. " I have gained valuable field experience, including learning how to field map." Each summer SDSM& T's field paleontology program attracts students, teachers and others from across the nation. The public can participate on a limited, space- available basis. To obtain additional information about SDSM& T's field paleo program, individuals should contact Dr. Philip Bjork, SDSM& T Museum of Geology, at 1- 800- 544- 8162, ext. 2467, or via email: pbjork@ msmailgw. sdsmt. edu. ++ 30++ Photo Caption: Cayce Lillesve ( middle) excavates for 33- million fossil mammals at the Big Pig Dig site in Badlands National Park. The field excavation is a partnership between the National Park Service and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota. ( Photo Courtesy of SDSM& T University & Public Relations) ( i: univ\ pressrele\ 0898\ Big Pig Dig Kasson MN) |
| Creator | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. University Relations; |
| Subject | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; Badlands National Park (S.D.) |
| Local Subject | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Big Pig Dig
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| Digital Publisher | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Devereaux Library
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| Date | 1998-08-03 |
| Type | Text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Language | eng |
| Relation | Is part of Office of University Relations SDSM&T News Collection |
| Rights | The work from which this copy was made did not include a formal copyright notice. This work may be protected by U. S. copyright law (Title 17, United States Code), which governs reproduction, distribution, public display, and other uses of protected works. Uses may be allowed with permission from the copyright holder, if the copyright on the work has expired, or if the use is fair use or within another legal exemption. The user of this work is responsible for compliance with the law. |
| Submitting Institution | Devereaux Library. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. |
| Date Digital | 2009 |
| CONTENTdm number | 1385 |
| CONTENTdm file name | 1386.pdf |
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