Collections of tracks are millions of years old, but mining poses threat to their survival

A set of dinosaur footprints recently discovered in Zhaojue county in Southwest China's Sichuan province sheds more light on the mysterious life of Minisauripus - the smallest dinosaur ever found - but scientists are warning that similar ancient traces could be lost forever because of mining.

Minisauripus, which was similar in size to a sparrow, lived during the Early Cretaceous period (more than 100 million years ago) alongside many larger dinosaurs that have since become well known names, such as the Microraptor. Scientists hope the new prints will help ensure the general public can learn as much about Minisauripus as its peers.