Describe two ways that fossils can form?

Answer 1

By fossilisation and permineralisation.

Fossilisation is caused by layers upon layers of sediment burying the bones. As the layers of sediment above the buried bones increases, so does the pressure on the layers of sediment lower down. The pressure becomes so great that the bones and the sedimentary rock fuse.

Permineralisation occurs when mineral rich water trickles in through the sedimentary rock reaching the dinosaur bones. The minerals fill in the cracks and spaces within the bone. Sometimes the calcium in the bones may be replaced with these minerals. The new minerals in the bone make them even harder and more likely to be preserved.

Answer 2

Fossils can form through permineralization, where minerals replace organic materials in a bone or shell over time, creating a replica of the original specimen. They can also form through carbonization, where the organic material in a specimen decomposes, leaving behind a thin layer of carbon that represents the original organism.

Answer 3

1: Replacement with minerals (petrification)

2: Formation of a cast or mold

Answer 4

by not decomposing and becoming a rock

Answer 5

Trace Fossils, and Carbonaceous Films