What are fossils and how they are formed
The fossils of bones, teeth, and shells are called body fossils
Fossils are the preserved remains, or traces of remains, of ancient organisms. They are not the remains of the organism itself! They are rocks.
A fossil can preserve an entire organism or just part of one. Bones, shells, feathers, and leaves can all become fossils.
Fossils can be very large or very small. Microfossils are only visible with a microscope. Bacteria and pollen are microfossils. Macrofossils can be several meters long and weigh several tons. Macrofossils can be petrified trees or dinosaur bones.
Preserved remains become fossils if they reach an age of about 10,000 years.
Fossils can come from the Archaeaean Eon (which began almost 4 billion years ago) all the way up to the Holocene Epoch (which continues today).
The fossilized teeth of wooly mammoths are some of our most “recent” fossils. Some of the oldest fossils are those of ancient algae that lived in the ocean more than 3 billion years ago.
The word fossil comes from the Latin word fossus, meaning “having been dug up.” Fossils are often found in rock formations deep in the earth.
Fossilization is the process of remains becoming fossils. Fossilization is rare. Most organisms decompose fairly quickly after they die.
For an organism to be fossilized, the remains usually need to be covered by sediment soon after death. Sediment can include the sandy seafloor, lava, and even sticky tar.
Over time, minerals in the sediment seep into the remains. The remains become fossilized. Fossilization usually occur in organisms with hard, bony body parts, such as skeletons, teeth, or shells. Soft-bodied organisms, such as worms, are rarely fossilized.
Sometimes, however, the sticky resin of a tree can become fossilized. This is called fossilized resin or amber. Amber can preserve the bodies of many delicate, soft-bodied organisms, such as ants, flies, and mosquitoes.
The fossils of bones, teeth, and shells are called body fossils. Most dinosaur fossils are collections of body fossils.
Trace fossils are rocks that have preserved evidence of biological activity. They are not fossilized remains, just the traces of organisms. The imprint of an ancient leaf or footprint is a trace fossil. Burrows can also create impressions in soft rocks or mud, leaving a trace fossil.
Paleontologists are people who study fossils. Studying fossils helps them learn about when and how different species lived millions of years ago.
Fossils of ancient marine animals called ammonites have been unearthed in the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas in Nepal. This tells scientists that millions of years ago, the rocks that became the Himalayas were at the bottom of the ocean.
Fossils of an ancient giant shark, a megalodon, have been found in Utah, US, which tells that millions of years ago, the middle of North America was probably in underwater.
