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Fossils 065053

The document discusses various types of fossils, including mould fossils, cast fossils, trace fossils, true form preserved fossils, permineralisation, and petrification. Mould fossils form when an organism is buried in sediment and leaves an imprint, while cast fossils are created when minerals fill the cavity left by the dissolved organism. True form fossils preserve the entire organism, and permineralisation and petrification involve the replacement of organic material with minerals over time.

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41 views6 pages

Fossils 065053

The document discusses various types of fossils, including mould fossils, cast fossils, trace fossils, true form preserved fossils, permineralisation, and petrification. Mould fossils form when an organism is buried in sediment and leaves an imprint, while cast fossils are created when minerals fill the cavity left by the dissolved organism. True form fossils preserve the entire organism, and permineralisation and petrification involve the replacement of organic material with minerals over time.

Uploaded by

panditjissjewellers
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Mould fossils

Mould fossils give us clues to what ancient


animals and plants looked like.
When a plant or an animal’s body is
buried quickly in sediment a mould fossil
could form.
The weight of the many layers of sediment
that wash over the organism press down
on it. This compacts the sediments ,which
in time turns into rock.

Chemical changes take place and the


animal or plant may dissolve away, leaving
a mould of its shape.

Types of Molds

• External Molds: These are imprints of the outer surface of the


organism, like the outside of a shell or bone.
• Internal Molds: These are imprints of the inner surface of the
organism, often found on the inside of a shell or bone.
Cast fossils

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Cast fossils refer to the fossils that form inside


a mould.
A plant or animal, completely buried in
sediment, will take up space as the sediments
press down and compact into hard rock.
Eventually , the plant or animal may dissolve
away leaving a cavity called a mould.
Overtime dissolved minerals may fill
the space in the cavity, creating a cast in the
shape of the impression the plant or animal .
Trace Fossil

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

Trace fossils give us clues as to how ancient


animals lived in past eras.
Traces of an animal’s life include footprints,
dungs, nesting materials, and the pebbles
some dinosaurs may have swallowed to help
digest their food.
Chemical reactions take place over a long
period of time leading to the fossilization of
objects.
True Form, Preserved Fossils

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

These types of fossils are preserved whole. They


are very rare.
The animal may be encased
suddenly in tree sap that hardens into amber.
They may be frozen in ice or engulfed in a tar pit.
The soft tissues of the organism are preserved.
There is a decay as oxygen cannot penetrate
through the encasing substance.
True form
preservation is generally favored by rapid burial,
hard parts like bones or shells, and specific
environments.
Permineralisation

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

When an organism is buried in sediment,


groundwater may permeate through its cells. The
organic cells are gradually replaced by the
minerals in the groundwater. Eventually the
water evaporates and all that is left is fossilized
mineral rock.
Minerals in groundwater
that are responsible for this type of fossilising
process include calcite, iron and silica.
Hard organic material as well as soft tissue
material can be preserved in this way.
Petrification

Petrification occurs when dissolved minerals in


groundwater slowly leech into the plant or animal
specimen, replacing original organic tissue.
The result is a hard fossil containing minerals such
as silica, calcite, and pyrite.
The fossil retains the
shape of the original plant or animals.
Mineral-rich
water seeps into the organism’s pores and
deposits minerals, which harden overtime.

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