Hobbies And Interests
Finding Fossils
Fossils are remnants of plants and animals that are preserved in rocks. Almost all fossils are found in sedimentary rocks such as shale, limestone and sandstone, because plants and animals do not live in the environments where igneous and metamorphic rocks form.
Making Fossils
For a fossil to be preserved, sediments must bury a dead plant or animal before it it is destroyed by decomposition or erosion. This often happens when an animal's remains fall to the bottom of the ocean or a lake and are quickly buried. Over many thousands of years, the surrounding sediments harden into sedimentary rock.
Preserving Fossils
Fossils are more common in limestone and shale than in sandstone. This is because sand is usually transported by currents and waves, which break up fragile parts and destroy the bodies before they can be preserved.