Often we tend to talk about it dinosaur bones, as if this is what paleontologists discovered. However, strictly speaking, fossils They are not bones. son A reflection of what were once the hard parts of an organism, from its bones to its claws, through its shell or seeds, in the case of plants. But to this day they are only rocks.
Of course, this “single” does not confuse us or lead us to think that it is a secondary thing. Fossils are really interesting rocks, which They give us a lot of information From the living things that were once.
But returning to the topic of their formation, if they are not bones, then how are they formed? The key is in a process called petrification, which just happens under very specific circumstancesHence, we don’t have the land littered with fossils of dinosaurs, mammoths and prehistoric sharks.
From bones to fossils
In general, when a living organism dies, quickly collapsesEspecially if it’s in the open. Therefore, the first condition that bones or any solid part of the body must be fulfilled to become a fossil is that they be quickly buried.
It can happen for any reason as long as sediment deposition of land on them, although it is more likely to happen when They fell on the river Or the sea for example. In this way, it will be easier to block the passage of oxygen, which will facilitate its decomposition. However, the soft parts gradually degrade. But in the meantime, minerals from the sediment seep into the remaining holes. in this way, Bones, shells, shells, or even stems or seeds of a plant They serve as a template for the final shape of the fossil.
Not all living things that died turned out to be fossils. Usually residues decompose quickly
On the other hand, the greater the mineral intrusion, the greater the weight of the protofossil. This causes them to sink deeper, so that the mud and sand are compressed and the water comes out laden with more minerals that seep through the ground. Thus, there is a type of crystallization by which bone, or any structure, They end up turning into a rock.
It is not an overnight process. In fact, unanimously this kind of remains must at least have fossils 10,000 years.
Not everything is dinosaurs
Jurassic Park We did enough to associate fossils with dinosaurs as children. However, these are not the only organisms whose remains can be fossilized.
They don’t have to be that big at first. There is much smaller. So much so that a microscope must be used to see it. They are known as microfossils. It is common, for example, the case of pollen or certain bacteria. In fact, the oldest fossil that have been found so far are microfossils. has some 635 million years And although it is not clear what their classification is, they are very similar to mushrooms.
The oldest known fossil is microfossils
For larger fossils, they come in a variety of sizes and origins. Yes there is dinosaurs, but also animals of different sizes, Some of them are already extinct and others are species that are still walking on Earth. Some are marine, although they are found in terrestrial ecosystems. We must not forget that in the past many lands that are now dry were flooded by rivers or oceans. And not all of them are animals, of course. There are also non-microscopic fungi or plants, for example. Among the latter, in addition, we can find trees. Hassan Example Including a 330 million-year-old specimen that was discovered from a depth of 56 meters in 1873 and is today erected in gardens Natural History Museum, London.
also footprints
Fossils are not always skeletal remains of what was in the past a Organism.
It could also be leftovers for you Playing sports. They are what are known as traces and can be represented, for example, by traces or animal faeces. Even burrows can decompose If the holes are filled with minerals from sediments you bury them.
This is also very useful, as it not only helps to know what some extinct animal looked like. It also gives information about the way they behave. Therefore, they are not just rocks. be rocks, with all that can come of splendor and charm.
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