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Home of the world’s largest selection of Genuine Prehistoric Fossils for Sale as well as Meteorites, Artifacts, Collectibles. In addition, we offer a large selection of Crystals for sale too.  All under one roof since 1997!  Buy Fossils Here, you won’t be disappointed!  Be SURE to check out our SPECIAL SALE PAGE for SUPER DEALS!!

ALL ORDERS WILL BE PROCESSED  WITHIN 2-4 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF YOUR ORDER.  We are SHIPPING INTERNATIONAL again. CLICK HERE for important information.

BLACK FRIDAY~CYBER MONDAY SALE! EXTENDED!!  We have received so many “Thank You” notes from folks for the SALE EXTENSION, how it is helping during these tough times that we have decided to EXTEND IT Through December 18th.  The coupon allows you to take 20% OFF EVERYTHING on the website! (Excludes SPECIAL SALE & Solnhofen items)  COUPON CODE: BFCM20

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  • Buy Fossil Triassic Age Acripes Unidentified Arthropod/Crustacean Tracks from New Mexico (9)

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2/2/24 (Heading Back from Tucson with LOTS of NEW Goodies… stay tuned!

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  • UPDATE:  I will be posting NEW Fossils, Minerals, Etc.. SOON.  We attended the Tucson Show and picked up tons of NEW GOODIES!  I have been delayed in posting as I have had Cataract Eye Surgery and Implant in ONE eye.. and am having the 2nd eye operated on Feb. 14th.  Stand by for a flood of NEW GOODIES!!

1/17/23

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What Are Fossils? A Scientific Guide to Fossil Formation, Types, and Importance

Fossils are the preserved remains, impressions, or traces of ancient organisms that lived millions—or even billions—of years ago. They are one of the most important sources of evidence for understanding the history of life on Earth, evolution, extinction events, and ancient environments.

What Is a Fossil? (Scientific Definition)

A fossil is any preserved evidence of past life that is typically older than 10,000 years, although most fossils are millions of years old. Fossils are primarily found in sedimentary rocks, which form from layers of sediment deposited over time.

Fossils can include:

  • Bones and teeth
  • Shells and exoskeletons
  • Plant remains
  • Footprints, burrows, or bite marks
  • Chemical traces left by ancient organisms

How Do Fossils Form?

Fossilization is a rare process that requires very specific environmental conditions. Most organisms decompose or are scavenged before fossilization can occur.

Key Steps in Fossil Formation

  1. Rapid Burial
    The organism must be quickly buried by sediment such as mud, sand, volcanic ash, or silt.
  2. Lack of Oxygen
    Low oxygen environments slow decay and bacterial activity.
  3. Mineral Replacement or Preservation
    Over time, minerals seep into the remains, replacing organic material or preserving impressions.
  4. Geological Time and Pressure
    Sediments harden into rock over thousands to millions of years.

Types of Fossils

  1. Body Fossils

These are the preserved physical remains of organisms.

Examples:

  • Dinosaur bones
  • Mammoth teeth
  • Fossilized shells
  • Petrified wood

Body fossils provide direct anatomical evidence of extinct life.

  1. Trace Fossils (Ichnofossils)

Trace fossils record behavior, not body structure.

Examples:

  • Footprints and trackways
  • Burrows and tunnels
  • Coprolites (fossilized feces)
  • Nesting sites

Trace fossils help scientists understand how ancient organisms moved, hunted, and lived.

  1. Mold and Cast Fossils
  • Molds form when an organism dissolves, leaving an impression.
  • Casts form when minerals fill that mold, creating a replica.

These fossils preserve surface details with remarkable accuracy.

  1. Amber Fossils

Amber is fossilized tree resin that can trap organisms.

Common finds:

  • Insects
  • Small reptiles
  • Plant fragments

Amber fossils preserve soft tissues and microscopic details, making them scientifically invaluable.

  1. Chemical Fossils (Biomarkers)

These fossils consist of organic molecules left behind by ancient life.

They provide evidence of early life forms, especially microscopic organisms that left no physical remains.

Where Are Fossils Found?

Fossils are most commonly found in:

  • Sedimentary rock layers
  • Ancient riverbeds
  • Desert regions
  • Coastal cliffs
  • Limestone formations

They are rarely found in igneous or metamorphic rocks due to heat and pressure destroying biological material.

How Old Are Fossils?

Fossils range in age from:

  • Thousands of years (Ice Age mammals)
  • Hundreds of millions of years (dinosaurs, early plants)
  • Over 3.5 billion years (microbial fossils)

Scientists determine fossil age using:

  • Relative dating (rock layers)
  • Radiometric dating (radioactive decay of isotopes)

Why Are Fossils Important?

Fossils are essential to multiple scientific disciplines.

Scientific Importance of Fossils

  • Evidence of evolution and natural selection
  • Documentation of extinct species
  • Reconstruction of ancient climates and ecosystems
  • Understanding mass extinction events
  • Dating geological formations

Fossils provide direct physical evidence that life has changed over time.

Fossils and Evolution

Fossils show:

  • Transitional species
  • Gradual anatomical changes
  • Common ancestry among organisms

They strongly support evolutionary biology and are used alongside genetics and comparative anatomy.

Fossils vs. Artifacts: What’s the Difference?

Fossils

Artifacts

Natural remains of life

Human-made objects

Millions of years old

Thousands of years old

Studied by paleontologists

Studied by archaeologists

Common Misconceptions About Fossils

  • ❌ Fossils are not bones alone
  • ❌ Not all fossils are dinosaurs
  • ❌ Fossilization does not happen quickly
  • ✅ Most species never fossilize

Conclusion: What Fossils Tell Us About Life on Earth

Fossils are irreplaceable scientific records of Earth’s biological and geological past. Through fossils, scientists can reconstruct extinct species, understand evolutionary processes, and study ancient environments that shaped modern life.

They connect the present to deep time, offering insight into how life adapts, survives, and sometimes disappears.

Frequently Asked Questions (SEO)

What are fossils made of?
Fossils are usually made of minerals that replaced original organic material.

How rare are fossils?
Extremely rare—only a small fraction of all organisms ever become fossilized.

Are fossils still forming today?
Yes, fossilization is ongoing but requires long geological timescales.

Can fossils be found anywhere?
No, they are mainly found in sedimentary rocks.

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