Universtiy of Batna 2 2022/2023
Department of Geology Miss. LOUAFI .S
Second Year
Fossils
Fossils can be described as impressions, traces, or remnants of any organisms that used to exist in past
geologic ages and have got preserved in the earth crust for several years. Trails, tracks, and imprints can also
get fossilized just like worm burrows and dinosaur footprints. Imprints, trails, tracks are referred to as the
traced fossils.
There are various of fossils that are found on the earth such as: Petrified fossils, Molds and Casts fossils,
carbon films fossils, and compression fossils. Fossils are formed when the animal or plant dies in a watery
environment, gets buried in silt and mud and remains preserved for ages.
The reserved trace of remains of ancient animals and plants are known as fossils. Fossils are protected
remains of living organisms from past times. Fossils are considered to be rocks and do not focus on the
organism’s remains. A fossil helps in preserving the overall organisms or just the part. Fossils may be large
or small and the microfossils are visible with the microscope. Pollen and bacteria are mentioned as fossils;
however bones, leaves, and shells may become fossils once.
Fossils are often found in the creation of rock deep in the earth. Fossils are once referred to as all from
extinct species until few are recognized from species categories that still exist. Fossils help in giving crucial
evidence for the adaptation and evolution of animals and plants to the environments.
Different types of fossils
Body fossils body fossils are the complete remains of prehistoric organisms like soft tissue of the insects
that are implanted in the sap of a tree that tightens to make amber. Soft tissues such as skin, organs and
muscles disintegrate after death leaving only bone skeleton and hard shell behind. An instance of body
fossils are teeth and bone.
Molds and casts it is one kind of body fossil which can be considered external or internal. A mold is
referred to as the imprint left by a hard skeleton’s shell on the rock surrounding dinosaur bones that are
concealed beneath many sediment layers. Molds’ replicas are termed as casts which can be generated when
the space spinster after the removal fills the mold with sediment.
Fossilized faeces it is known as dung stone or coprolites that provide clues to where some animals stay
and what they intake. They are rare because feces decays rapidly. Sea organisms especially reptiles and fish
are the major coprolites. Fossilized faeces are protected by coagulation of moulds and casts.
Footprints and track ways trails burrows, track ways and footprints through mud often get tightened
and become fossils termed trace fossils. These provide the data concerning how animals acted when they are
sustaining, track ways which are multiple footprints collaboratively comprise impressions created by other
creatures’ parts like dragging of tail behind it.
Petrifaction and permineralization fossils the materials of organisms often dissolve like iron, calcite
and silica when the groundwater saturates the remains of animals or plants after it become dead. The fossils
were created in the actual shape of the organism; however the composition is distinct and it is very weighty.
This procedure is termed permineralization. The fossils of prettification are produced when the organic
matter is completely replaced by minerals and turned to stone.
Formation of fossils
The living things usually aquatic animals get dead and then buried rapidly under dirt, clay, sand or
sediments of ash. The rot away or decaying of soft parts leaves the tough parts behind.
These are considered ammonites which are one of the most common fossils that are found. More
accumulation of sediments is seen with the changing time. Pressure, chemical reaction and heat let the
sediment strengthen into the rock which is also known as sedimentary rock. Movement in the crust of earth
pushes the sedimentary rock s layers to return to higher ground. The fossils get exposed at the surface finally
through the procedure of erosion happened by water, wind and weather.
