What Processes Fossilize Organisms?

Categorize fossils based on how they formed.

Groups:

(a) Preservation of Original Material

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(b) Carbonization

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(c) Permineralization

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(d) Cast and Mold

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Fossils formed by preservation of original material include fossils and remains preserved in (a)   , ​ (b)   , or​ (c)   . Sometimes, organisms’ bodies dry out very quickly before they decay and become (d)   .

• mummified
• amber
• tar pits
• ice
• swamps
• very deep water
• organic matter

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Organisms contain (a)   . Sometimes, when an organism (b)   , the carbon in its body starts to break down. Some of the original material is (c)   . However, the carbon also forms a dark (d)   on top of the dead organism.

• carbon
• dies
• decayed
• coating

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Permineralization occurs when the small holes in an organism’s body are filled with (a)   . This happens when water containing dissolved minerals is ​ (b)   by an organism’s body. When the water ​ (c)   , the minerals are left behind. Permineralization only replaces ​ (d)   of the original body material with minerals.

• minerals
• some
• all
• absorbed
• evaporates

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Petrification occurs when an organism’s body tissues are (a)   by minerals. Petrification preserves the (b)   of the organism’s body. Different (c)   can replace the original body material.

• shape
• colors
• water
• replaced
• minerals
• fossils

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Casts and molds are fossils that form when the body of an organism leaves an (a)   in the sediment. This imprint (mold) remains even after the original body material has completely (b)   and disappeared. Sometimes​ (c)   fills in these​ (d)   and hardens into rock. Then a (e)   can form.

• imprint
• decayed
• sediment
• molds
• cast
• water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1