 Fossilization What is fossilization? |
Fossilization What is fossilization? |
| Fossilization What is fossilization? |
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Fossilization usually occurs when an animal dies and is buried quickly by soft sediments, like sand, mud, ash, or water. The animal's soft tissue decays leaving only its bones. The teeth and bones that remain are buried under layers of earth which over the years hardens into rock in the form of shale, silt-stone, mudstone and sandstone. As land erosion exposes the fossil remains new clues are unearthed which allow scientists to explore new theories and expand our knowledge of the dinosaur.
Paleontologists
learn about dinosaurs by studying their fossil remains.
Only a small percentage of dinosaurs have been fossilized compared to the millions that once roamed the earth. Because fossilization can only occur under certain conditions, many species of dinosaurs never fossilized. Since we only have limited samples, this leaves us with many unanswered questions and an incomplete picture of the world of the dinosaur.
