Types Of Fossils

There are very many types of fossils which have been used by archeologists to explain the evolutionary concepts. Explaining the origin of either man or animals entirely depend on the evidence found in terms of the remains of animals or plants which are believed to have existed a million years ago. Time is one variable which can be used to classify fossils. Very old fossils are found thousands of kilometers below the surface of the earth.

Fossils from an integral part of ‘Enchantment Learning’ as it is the only to accurately figure out the correct time line in history. Fossils can be described as the remains of plants and animals which have been preserved over years in between the rock surfaces.

Broadly, fossils can be classified according to size. That is the amount of viable fossils found. It can either be more than or less than one millimeter.

The types of fossils whose size is less than one millimeter are referred to as microfossils while those that are more than one millimeter are referred to as macrofossils. This is the first stage of classifying any type of fossils before any analysis is done.

The above classification is enough. Archeologists further classify fossils as:

– True from fossil

– Trace fossil

– Mold fossil

– Cast fossil

True Form Fossil

These types of fossils are also referred to as the direct fossils. They are the whole body of organisms preserved in between rocks or ice as a whole.

They are the most helpful fossils of all as they are handy in determining the organism’s way of life. They provide a fist hand information to archeologists.

Trace fossils

These types of fossils are also referred to as the Ichno fossils. These types of fossils constitutes various parts the living organisms which have been preserved over years on the earth’s surface.

They can be used to determine the organisms’ way of life, adaptive features. They are also as important as the true fossils in tracing history of life.

Mold fossils

These types of fossils also form a very vital part of archeological studies. When an organism ceases to live and its body is later discovered as imprint on layers of sediments then the fossils is normally referred to as mold fossils. These imprints resemble the original organism which had been sandwiched between the sediments.

It is believed that these types of fossils form as a result of leaching or the organism carving their own images on the rock surfaces.

These types of fossils are very essential in studying organisms which have decayed and only their images are available. They are most found beneath the water surfaces.

Cast fossils

These types of fossils are the imprints of organisms. They entirely depend on the mold fossils for their existence. When a mold fossil has been formed, they can be filled with minerals over a long period of time and thereby forming cast fossils.

Analysis cast fossils is very difficult as at time the primary information about the particular organism might be distorted as the fossil is being formed. This therefore requires a critical analysis of any cast fossil under question.

We cannot run away from our history, in fact is the only way we can change our future and therefore analyzing fossils is one fundamental part of history which we cannot ignore. Not all fossils have been analyzed, it is still an ongoing process are some are still being discovered and history will keep on changing with the advancement of knowledge.