Fossils

The geologically changed remains of a once-living organism and/or its behaviour are known as fossils. Body fossils depict the entire or a portion of the organism’s body, whereas trace fossils offer evidence of the organism’s behaviour. Paleontology is the study of fossils, which comes from the Greek word “ancient (paleo-) being (onto-) study (-logy).” Palaeontologists are scientists who study fossils. Geologists are particularly interested in fossils because they can assist in establishing the age of a rock in comparison to other rocks or indicate the environment in which it developed.

Palaeontology

Only the toughest sections of the fiercest animals and plants become fossils in the natural world. However, there are times when the conditions are ideal for preserving entire soft-bodied animals that are rarely fossilised, or an entire ecosystem. These unique sites are known as lagerstätten, a German word that means “storage place.” Scientists value these sites because they can reveal a lot about how animals lived and died, as well as how various organisms interacted with one another and the environment. To produce one of these sites, special environmental circumstances are usually necessary — either the animals were killed rapidly and buried due to anaerobia (lack of oxygen) or volcanic ash, or the water chemistry was very good at preserving the carcasses.

Study of Fossils (Palaeontology)

• Palaeontology is the study of fossils and the evolution of life on Earth
• It is a historical science that attempts to explain and reproduce historical events
• It straddles the line between biology and geology
• Fossils found in rocks are the major source of evidence for palaeontology

The study of fossils is important because it informs us about evolutionary relationships between animals and hence indicates how far these ties extend.

Natural processes have preserved the remains or signs of ancient life, known as fossils. Shells, bones, stone impressions of animals or bacteria, exoskeletons, things preserved in amber, petrified wood, coal, hair, oil, and DNA traces are all examples of fossils.

Fossil Preserved Remains

Fossils are the fossilised remnants of plants and animals that were buried in sediments like sand and mud beneath ancient oceans, lakes and rivers. A fossil is any preserved indication of life that is more than 10,000 years old.

After death, soft body parts degrade quickly, whereas hard body parts such as bones, shells, and teeth can be replaced by minerals that create rock. In unusual circumstances, soft components such as feathers, plant fronds or other indications of life, such as footprints or faeces, may be retained. The remains contain microscopic fossils such as single-celled foraminifera or pollen grains, as well as more well-known fossils such as ammonites and trilobites.

Body fossils are surviving remains of ancient animals, plants, and other life forms’ body parts. ‘Trace fossils,’ which are evidence left in sediment by organisms, include footprints, burrows and plant roots.

Trace fossils of any living things

Fossils with traces 

An animal or plant that has created an impact has left a trace fossil. Nests, burrows, footprints, and other traces from the animal’s time on the planet are examples of fossils. The animal or plant’s structure is preserved as a mineral. The minerals that replace the shape might have spectacular colours. They are sometimes turned into art and jewellery.

How Do Fossils Form?

Living things (typically aquatic) perish and are buried under layers of sand, dirt, clay, or ash. The soft components usually decay away, leaving only the hard elements. Ammonites are among the most frequent fossils known. As time goes on, more and more silt accumulates.

Pressure, heat, and chemical processes cause the sediments to harden into sedimentary rock. Movements in the earth’s crust push the sedimentary rock layers back up to higher ground. Finally, erosion caused by weather, wind, and water exposes the fossils at the surface.

The five types of fossils are:

• Body Fossils
• Molecular Fossils
• Trace Fossils
• Carbon Fossils
• Pseudofossils

Insects preserved in amber and mammoths preserved in ice are two unusual yet spectacular examples of soft tissue fossil preservation. Organism traces can take the form of tracks, trails, or even borings.

Conclusion

A fossil is the piece of an animal or plant from a previous geologic period that has been preserved in the Earth’s crust. The fossil record, or data preserved in fossils, is the primary source of information regarding the evolution of life on Earth. Only a small percentage of ancient species, and usually only those with a substantial skeleton or shell, are preserved as fossils. A shell or bone that is buried immediately after deposition may maintain organic tissue, although it may eventually petrify (become into a hard substance). In sedimentary rocks, unaltered hard components, such as clam shells, are relatively prevalent. Animal and plant soft parts rarely contain fossils.