Re: Dinosaur weights

["Dictator-for-life Calvin" <MWEDEL@gslan.offsys.ou.edu>]

> Just a thought, would it be possible to estimate weights from tracks?  If
>the original consistency of the soil can be estimated, wouldn't it be
>possible to figure the ground pressure needed to produce track depth; then
>figure the weight necessary to produce that pressure?

I know this subject is touched on in

Alexander, R.M.  1985.  Mechanics of posture and gait of some large 
     dinosaurs.  Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 83:1-25.

I can't remember which direction the calculations went, mass from 
footprints or ground pressure from estimated mass, but I do seem to 
remember Alexander concluding that sauropod feet might have exerted a 
ground pressure similar to that produced by the treads of a main 
battle tank.

Matt Wedel