How is petrified wood different from molds and casts

Tracks, like the ones in the picture below, are animal footprints made of soft sediment that later changed to sedimentary rock. Burrows are holes made by an animal in sediment, wood, or rock that were later filled with mineral matter and preserved. Some of the oldest known fossils are believed to be worm burrows.

Coprolites are fossils of dung and stomach con- tents. These can often provide useful information regarding the food habits of organisms. Gastroliths are highly polished stomach stones that were used in the grinding of food by some extinct reptiles. What are the different types of fossils? Mar 26, See below Explanation: The different types of fossils include: Petrified fossils Molds fossils Casts fossils Carbon films Preserved remains Trace fossils Each of them form in different ways According to The Petrified Wood Museum, a common fossil mold includes insect wing impressions.

By studying the preserved pleating on the wings, paleontologists identify the insect family. Museums make plaster of Paris or fiberglass casts of fossils to preserve the original fossil for study. Paleontologists also use casts for study if the original fossil is too fragile. When the weight of the fossil makes mounting of the original impractical, copies are used for display purposes. Museum educational programs use fossil casts that allow students to handle and examine the bones from different angles.

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Related Articles Describe the Types of Fossils. Kinds of Fossil Rocks. Shells, bone, and wood often form as molds or casts. Some trace fossils ichnofossils , such as tracks and burrows can form as casts or molds. Tracks and burrows can provide clues to the behavior and biomechanics of an organism while it was alive. Concretions often encapsulate a fossil mold and cast. Petrified Fossils A piece of petrified wood and an insect trapped in amber are two examples of petrification.

Although mold fossils and cast fossils involve petrification, petrified fossils are different in that the original organism has not decayed or disintegrated. When an organism is buried quickly, there is less decay and the better the chance for it to be preserved. The hard parts of organisms, such as bones, shells, and teeth have a better chance of becoming fossils than do softer parts.

Evolution of the Insects. New York: Cambridge University Press. Janssen, R. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Museum. Meyer, H. The Fossils of Florissant. Washington: Smithsonian Books. Nudds, J. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Prothero, D. New York: McGraw-Hill. Rich P.