FaunaClassifieds - View Single Post - Word for the day: Coprolite
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Old 06-19-2016, 06:30 PM   #21
Pasodama
Quote:
Originally Posted by WebSlave View Post
And that is my question. What sort of "natural means" can do that?
* Sinking into mud.
* Being buried in a sand storm.
* Dropping to ocean/sea floor, going under sediment, with ocean water pushing more sediment onto it over time.
* Excrement that falls on beach, at low tide, then covered, by sediment, at high tide.
* On river bank/bed where water, etc., moves more sediment atop the excrement.
* Ash covering from volcanic eruption.
* Floods that carry mud/sediment, etc., covering/encasing the excrement.
* Falling into/aside a bog.
* Many methods/scenarios can occur.

In all situations, more & more sediment continues to layer, on top, via mother nature (wind, water, eruptions, tornadoes, hurricanes, landslides, etc.).
Those layers building up, over time, adding more & more weight to press down on the buried remains.
With water also seeping into/through sediment (via existing water, rain, etc.).
Weight also, after much time, compresses the sediment enough to turn the sediment into rock.

Quote:
Originally Posted by WebSlave View Post
Seriously? It only takes 11,000 years for fossils to form?
It doesn't take that long, really, for a fossil to be made.
In fact, it can take less than 10-11,000 yrs.
'Course, there are some that may take longer.
Depends on type of fossil, the conditions, etc.

That said, natural fossils are not easily made. It truly takes the right conditions to exist or to come together (and luck that something does not damage/destroy the item/organism which is to be fossilized).