How Are Fossils Formed?
Fossils are evidence or remains that show an animal or plant previously existed on the earth. The process of fossilization is a complex one as many conditions must exist for it to occur. Think of it as the perfect storm. There must be the correct ingredients of pressure, moisture, acidity and composition of sediment in order for a fossil to form. There are six ways a fossil can be formed. They are unaltered preservation, permineralization, replacement, carbonization, recrystallization and authigenic preservation. Unaltered preservation occurs when insects or plant parts get trapped in amber. Permineralization is the process where minerals seep in and replace the original organic tissues. The parts of an organism dissolve and are replaced by other minerals in replacement. Carbonization occurs when carbon is the only element left in the organism. Recrystallization is where the original parts turn into larger crystals. Authigenic preservation refers to the molds being dissolved. Read more
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Digging up the Dough
Where are Fossils most likely to be found? The world is a large place, but believe it or not, fossils can be found all over the world. Fossils are most often found in rock. We all know there are different types of rocks. Fossils call sedimentary rocks home. Sedimentary rock is a rock that is formed from material found at the surface of the earth and in bodies of water. When most people think of fossils, they think of dinosaurs, or some other prehistoric animal; however, fossils can also be plants. Read more
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The Most Famous Fossil Discoveries Of All Time
Prior to their extinction 65 million years ago, dinosaurs were very successful creatures who completely dominated Earth for over 150 million years. They dominated the vast open spaces, the wild primordial oceans and even the air. That is why it is so important to study their remains. Studying fossils allows us to learn what made these magnificent creatures so successful. Read more
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I found a fossil. What should I do? Can I keep it? Sell it?
When you have found a fossil, wanting to keep it is only natural, but there are some things you should know. Laws may vary from place to place. If you have questions about the specific laws of an area, it is best to contact the authorities of that area and ask. It is generally true that hobbyists can manually dig for fossils on privately owned land if you have permission of the land owner or the lessee in the case of land leased by the crown. Hobbyists can also dig on public lands if they are not specifically restricted. Read more
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