Fossils

Fossils are the preserved remains of early organisms including plants and animals.

Animals and plants are fossilized through natural processes. After they die, they need to be quickly buried by sediments like mud and volcanic ash.

Organisms without hard parts are less likely to become fossilized. That is why bones are often the most common fossil found.

Below are the types of fossilizations.

Amber: Ancient tree sap traps organisms, eventually turning into amber.

Permineralization: Organisms are buried in sediment. Water deposits minerals all around the organism, producing a fossil.

Mold/Cast: Molds form when shells/bones dissolve and leave behind a space the shape of the material. Casts form when sediments fill the empty space of a mold.

Replacement: When a bone/shell dissolves and is replaces by a different mineral.

Compression: Remains are are compressed and leave behind an imprint.