Fossil

Fossils provide valuable insights into the past. Here are some key points:

• Fossils are remains or traces of ancient organisms found in rocks.
• Only a small fraction of life becomes fossils due to natural processes that decay organic matter.
• The abundance of fossils in the geological record indicates favorable conditions for preservation, the large number of organisms that have lived, and the vast timescales involved.
• Fossilization involves complex processes that preserve organic remains.
• These processes include rapid and permanent burial, oxygen deprivation, continued sediment accumulation, and absence of excessive heating or compression.
• These conditions protect the specimen from disturbance, limit decay, and ensure long-term burial.