What happens if something fossilized?

Answer 1

Well it depends upon the process that led to the fossilization of the organism. But for the sake of the question we will go with the most common process. This is where the body of the organism is buried or entombed by some non organic matter. For example a sheep falls into a bog. Or a fish dies in water, sinks to the bottom and is quickly covered by silt.

During both of these processes bacteria decompose the "fleshy" parts of the organism. Skin, organs and basically anything that is not bone. Now if the body was left out to the elements even the bone would eventually decompose but the 2 events described above prevent this by limiting the amount of bacteria that can thrive on the dead body.

Now as the sheep falls deeper the pressure increases. In the case of the fish the weight of the sediment on top of it increases which increases the pressure on it. As pressure increases the water bearing elements of the mixture are squeezed together until all the water is squeezed out. However as the water leaves it takes away minerals that were present in the bone. But it also replaces them with non organic minerals until eventually there is no bone left(as in the calcium that makes up bones) only a rocky mineral growth that is the exact shape of the dead organisms bone structure. This process is called permineralization.

From then on it is a case of waiting for intelligence to come along and find the fossil. Or maybe a volcano or earthquake exposing long buried rock which has the fossil in it.

Answer 2

When dinosaur fossils are found, they are dug up, usually chiseled and cleaned to free them from rock, and then stored or put on display at a museum. Then they will be studied by paleontologist.

Answer 3

Anything organic can be become fossilized.

Answer 4

It's remains turn into stone