Order the steps in the process of fossilization.
Question
Order the steps in the process of fossilization.
Solution
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Death of an organism: The process of fossilization begins when an organism dies. The organism could be a plant or an animal.
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Burial: The dead organism must be quickly buried by sediment. This sediment could be mud, sand, or even volcanic ash. Quick burial prevents the organism from being eaten or decomposed.
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Sediment Layers: Over time, more and more layers of sediment build up on top of the organism. The weight of these layers of sediment presses down on the layers below, turning them into rock.
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Decay: While the sediment is hardening into rock, the parts of the organism that can decay do so. This leaves behind only the parts of the organism that can become fossilized.
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Mineral Replacement: Groundwater seeps into the spaces left by the decaying parts of the organism. Minerals in the water fill in these spaces and harden into rock.
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Erosion: Over millions of years, the rock surrounding the fossil wears away through the process of erosion. This reveals the fossil to the world once again.
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Discovery: The final step in the process of fossilization is the discovery of the fossil by humans or nature.
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