Scientists baffled by bizarre mummified ‘monster’ unearthed by diamond miners in Siberia
The creature bewildered local scientists after it was discovered in sands in Russia's arctic region
A BIZARRE mummified "monster" unearthed during mining operations in Siberia has baffled local scientists.
Diamond miners believe the creature could be an unknown type of dinosaur after its frozen corpse was discovered in sands at Udachny, 1160 miles north west of regional capital Yakutsk.
Scientists were reported the be "less certain" and want to study the animal which was found in sands at one of Russia's major diamond mines.
Theories suggest the "ancient" mini-monster could be a wolverine - a carnivorous mammal that resembles a small bear or a sable or marten.
The mystery animal is due to be taken from from Udachny - literally meaning "lucky" - to Yakutsk for examination.
The diamondiferous sands where it was unearthed date from the Mesozoic Era from about 252 to 66 million years ago.
The town is famous for the Udachnaya pipe diamond deposit, discovered in 1955, and mined since the 1960s.
In 1974, a 1.7kiloton atomic bomb was detonated 322 ft underground to create the basin for a tailings dam for the diamond mine.
Today's climate in the area is extreme sub-arctic.
Average temperatures are from minus 43.6C to minus 35.2C in January.
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