discovery of earth
DISCOVERY OF EARTH’S HISTORY:
“FOSSILS”
I.OBJECTIVES 1. WHAT IS FOSSILS? 2. HOW THEY WERE FORMED? 3. FOSSILIZATION PROCESSESS 4. FOSSILS RECORD 5. TYPES 6. PSEUDOFOSSILS 7. HISTORY OF THE STUDY OF FOSSILS 8. TRADING AND COLLECTING 9. IMAGE GALLERY
II.DISCUSSION
FOSSILIZATION PROCESSESS Permineralization Permineralization is a process of fossilization that occurs when an organism is buried. The empty spaces within an organism (spaces filled with liquid or gas during life) become filled with mineral-rich groundwater. Minerals precipitate from the groundwater, occupying the empty spaces. This process can occur in very small spaces, such as within the cell wall of a plant cell. Small scale permineralization can produce very detailed fossils. For permineralization to occur, the organism must become covered by sediment soon after death or soon after the initial decay process. The degree to which the remains are decayed when covered determines the later details of the fossil. Some fossils consist only of skeletal remains or teeth; other fossils contain traces of skin, feathers or even soft tissues. This is a form of diagenesis.
Casts and molds In some cases the original remains of the organism completely dissolve or are otherwise destroyed. The remaining organism-shaped hole in the rock is called an external mold. If this hole is later filled with other minerals, it is a cast. An endocast or internal mold is formed when sediments or minerals fill the internal cavity of an organism, such as the inside of a bivalver or snail or the hollow of a skull.
Authigenic mineralisation This is a special form of cast and mold formation. If the chemistry is right, the organism (or fragment of organism) can act as a nucleus for the precipitation of minerals such as siderite, resulting in a nodule forming around it. If this happens rapidly before significant decay to the organic tissue,
“FOSSILS”
I.OBJECTIVES 1. WHAT IS FOSSILS? 2. HOW THEY WERE FORMED? 3. FOSSILIZATION PROCESSESS 4. FOSSILS RECORD 5. TYPES 6. PSEUDOFOSSILS 7. HISTORY OF THE STUDY OF FOSSILS 8. TRADING AND COLLECTING 9. IMAGE GALLERY
II.DISCUSSION
FOSSILIZATION PROCESSESS Permineralization Permineralization is a process of fossilization that occurs when an organism is buried. The empty spaces within an organism (spaces filled with liquid or gas during life) become filled with mineral-rich groundwater. Minerals precipitate from the groundwater, occupying the empty spaces. This process can occur in very small spaces, such as within the cell wall of a plant cell. Small scale permineralization can produce very detailed fossils. For permineralization to occur, the organism must become covered by sediment soon after death or soon after the initial decay process. The degree to which the remains are decayed when covered determines the later details of the fossil. Some fossils consist only of skeletal remains or teeth; other fossils contain traces of skin, feathers or even soft tissues. This is a form of diagenesis.
Casts and molds In some cases the original remains of the organism completely dissolve or are otherwise destroyed. The remaining organism-shaped hole in the rock is called an external mold. If this hole is later filled with other minerals, it is a cast. An endocast or internal mold is formed when sediments or minerals fill the internal cavity of an organism, such as the inside of a bivalver or snail or the hollow of a skull.
Authigenic mineralisation This is a special form of cast and mold formation. If the chemistry is right, the organism (or fragment of organism) can act as a nucleus for the precipitation of minerals such as siderite, resulting in a nodule forming around it. If this happens rapidly before significant decay to the organic tissue,