Scribd
Upload
29 views

Ow Fossils Form: Fossilized Hedgehog Pholidocercus

Fossils form through two main processes: 1) The burial of an organism in sediment, where the original material is gradually replaced by minerals over a long period of time. 2) Rapid mineralization of tissues shortly after death, before decomposition sets in, which can preserve fine details. Exceptional preservation requires very rapid burial in anoxic conditions. Over time, additional sediments are deposited, compressing and potentially distorting the fossil. Erosion eventually exposes fossils at the surface.

Uploaded by

mangalvao2009
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
29 views

Ow Fossils Form: Fossilized Hedgehog Pholidocercus

Fossils form through two main processes: 1) The burial of an organism in sediment, where the original material is gradually replaced by minerals over a long period of time. 2) Rapid mineralization of tissues shortly after death, before decomposition sets in, which can preserve fine details. Exceptional preservation requires very rapid burial in anoxic conditions. Over time, additional sediments are deposited, compressing and potentially distorting the fossil. Erosion eventually exposes fossils at the surface.

Uploaded by

mangalvao2009
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

FOSSILS

HOW FOSSILS FORM Fossilized hedgehog Pholidocercus


The most common form of fossilization involves the
burial of an organism, or an object produced by an
organism, in sediment. The original material from
which the organism or object is made is then gradually
replaced by minerals. Some fossils have not formed in
this way. Instead, the original object has been destroyed
by acidic groundwater, and minerals have later formed
a natural replica of the object. Both processes take a
long time, but experiments have shown that fossils can
be formed much more quickly. In these cases, mineral
crystals form in the tissues shortly after
death, meaning that they start to fossilize
within a few weeks – before decomposition
has set in. This type of fossil can preserve EXCEPTIONAL FOSSILS
blood vessels, muscle fibers, and even The soft parts of organisms are usually lost before
fossilization begins, as they are broken down quickly by
feathers in exceptional bacteria and other scavengers. For this reason soft-
conditions. bodied animals (such as jellyfish or molluscs) are poorly
represented in the fossil record. However, rapid burial
in soft sediment, combined with the presense of certain
Bacteria and other special bacteria, can mean that soft parts are retained
scavengers under
and fossilized. The complete remains of soft-bodied
ground may still
destroy the skeleton. organisms can be preserved under such conditions, as
can skin and internal organs.

More sediments deposited above


the fossil bury it deeper in the rock,
and may compress or distort it.

Erosion at the surface of the


Earth means that new fossils
are constantly being revealed.

RESULTS OF FOSSILIZATION
Fossils that are composed of new,
replacement minerals are harder,
heavier versions of the original. They
also usually differ in color from the
object that formed them. This
ammonite fossil is gold because it is
composed of iron pyrite, the mineral
often called “fool’s gold.” Due to
pressure inside the rock, fossils may
also be altered in shape. Some fossils
can be so distorted that experts have
difficulty imagining their
original shapes.

Minerals in the
groundwater may
change the fossil’s
composition.

Moving continental
plates may carry Many exposed
sediments far from fossils are destroyed Once exposed, a fossil
their original location. by the action of may be discovered by
wind and water. people.

13
www.ebook3000.com

You might also like