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What are fossils? In what conditions can fossils form? The earth's history can be divided into five eras with a total of 12 periods. In Hong Kong, the oldest discovered fossils are the Devonian fish fossils (placoderms), which are about 400 million years old. What other fossils can be discovered in the strata of Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold a seminar entitled "Fossils in Hong Kong - Footprints of the Geological History" at 3pm on October 7 (Sunday) at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library for members of the public to gain an in-depth understanding of Hong Kong's natural history. The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese with free admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Geologist, palaeontologist and former President of the Geological Society of Hong Kong Professor Lee Cho-min will introduce the fossils and geology of Hong Kong.
Professor Lee is now the Museum Expert Advisor (History) of the LCSD. He is the authority on the research of stratigraphy and fossils in Hong Kong. He discovered Devonian fish fossils in the Plover Cove area in 1980. The discovery established that the enclosing rocks date back to the Devonian Period, about 400 million years ago.
In 1988-90, Professor Lee carried out research for the collaborative project "Stratigraphy of Hong Kong" by the Hong Kong Polytechnic (now the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong) and the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The study formed the basis of two special volumes published on the stratigraphy of Hong Kong, and the two volumes serve as important reference documents on the subject.
For enquiries about the seminar, please call 2921 0351.
Ends/Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:35
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