HUGE FIND! Massive Dinosaur Tail Fossil Uncovered Near Canada's Spirit River (VIDEO)

Source: Youtube/rodriguesrodrigo

A massive 10-metre dinosaur fossil was unearthed by a pipeline inspection crew in Alberta, Canada. The crew was working with a backhoe near the Spirit River when they uncovered a fossilised skeleton of what appeared to be a huge dinosaur.

A backhoe operator working on the pipeline installation of Tourmaline Oil Corp. accidentally broke off a piece of the massive dinosaur tail fossil. The operator thought he has chipped off a part a hard section of rock. He set aside the piece of what he thought was rock and continued his excavation work.

The pipeline worker noticed the exposed dinosaur tail fossil lying in front of him. As soon as he realised what it was, the backhoe operator stopped excavating. Art Wegner, a spokesperson for the Acugren Group Inc said digging on the site has been postponed until fossil experts were brought in to examine the massive dinosaur tail.

National Geographic and Tyrell Museum sent paleontologists at the site to examine the surprise discovery. They will be joined by Dr Matthew Vavrek, head paleontologist of Pipestone Creek Dinosaur initiative.

The massive dinosaur fossil was buried 1.5 metres deep in Alberta's Saddie Hills area.

Duck-billed dinosaur

Paleontologists on the site believe that the massive tail fossil belonged to a duck-billed dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Period. The fossilised remains of the dinosaur appeared to be the tailbone. The duck-billed dinosaur or also known as the hadrosaur, was a leaf eater.

They are currently busy in keeping the fossil intact as they prepare to transfer it for further study at the Royal Tyrrell Museum at Drumheller.

Tyrrell Museum executive director Andy Neuman said it will be transferred to the museum's facility for further examination. He also said pipeline crews were also asked to dig some more to uncover any fossil remains that may still be in the area.

Currie Museum executive director Brian Brake called the massive dinosaur tail fossil one of the "most completed finds in a long time" in Canada.

Mr Neuman noted that since the bones of the tail are fragile and the rock it embedded on is hard, it would be a challenge for paleontologists to remove the dinosaur fossil without damaging it.