Important Fossil Site Under Threat

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Fossils discovered in southern China have revealed remarkably detailed animal embryos and some adult forms that predate the Cambrian explosion, a significant period in zoological history marked by the emergence of hard-bodied fossils. These findings also precede the Ediacaran fauna, which consists of larger soft-bodied fossils typically found on cyanobacterial mats. Concerns have been raised about potential phosphate mining in the area, which could lead to the destruction of these invaluable fossils. The geological evidence, supported by molecular studies, suggests that the origin of animals occurred before both the Cambrian and Ediacaran periods, highlighting the importance of these fossils in understanding early animal evolution.
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A place in S. China which have yielded amazingly detailed fossils of animal embryos (and some adult forms) from before the time of the Cambrian explosion (of hard body fossils of early animals (zoology's big bang)), and before the preceding Edicarian fauna (some largish soft body fossils often growing on a cyanobacterial mat) maybe mined for phosphate, which would destroy it.

These fossils provide geological evidence (along with molecular studies) for an origin of animals prior to the Cambrian/Edicarian times. And they're cool.
 
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