Fossils

Gilbert, AZ, April 25, 2020 at 14:07

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of remains, of ancient organisms. Fossils are not the remains of organisms themselves, they are rocks. It takes a long time for preserved remains to become fossils in the process known as fossilization. In the picture below I am standing on a fossil, known as petrified wood.

Fossilization is rare, because most organisms decompose after they die. In order to become fossilized, an organism needs to die and be covered by sediment such as, dirt, sandy sea floor, lava, or tar. Over time minerals in the sediment seep into the remains and the remains become fossilized. Fossilations usually occur with hard bony body parts such as skeltones, teeth or even shells, known as body fossils. Trace fossils are rocks that preserved traces of biological activity such as footprints.

Did you know, how long it takes for organisms to become fossils? Fossils are defined as the remains or traces of organisms that died more than 10,000 years ago. So it takes a minimum of 10,000 years to become a fossil.