What Are Fossils?

External Mold Fossils

A fossil that are imprints of the organism embedded in rocks.Like foot prints and etc.

Mummification Fossil

A fossil that preserves life form with some tissue or skin intact. Specimens preserved this way are very fragile. This is a rare form of "fossilization". Mummification is not truly fossilization.

Internal mold Fossils

These fossils occur when sediment fills the shell of a deceased organism. These remain after the organism's remains decompose to show the internal features of the organism

Replacement Fossils

These fossils occur when the hard parts of the organism are replaced with minerals over time.

Tar Fossils

When organisms become trapped in tar, due to the oxygen deprived environment, it allows for the rapid burial of body parts which are well preserved.

Trace Fossils

Fossils that aren't exactly part of the organism. These include footprints, burrows, and eggshells.

Fossils

The remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.

Actual remain Fossils

These are much rarer than other fossil types. These are still intact parts of the organism. Actual remains can be seen preserved in ice, tar, or amber. A good example is mammoth hair. It is often frozen and still preserved.

Cast Fossils

These fossils are formed when external molds are filled with sediment.

Petrification Fossils

These fossils occur when minerals slowly replace the various organic tissues of an organism.

Recrystallization Fossil

These fossils occur when original minerals in the fossil over time revert into more stable minerals.

Carbonization Fossil

These fossils occur when over time all parts of the original organism except the carbon are removed from the fossil over time. The remaining carbon is the same carbon that the organism was made of.