Petrification

Petrification Latest News

Geologists and forest officials recently unearthed a rare and well-preserved petrified fossil at Rajmahal Hills near Barmasia village in Pakur district, Jharkhand.

About Petrification

• Petrification (petros means stone) occurs when the organic matter is completely replaced by minerals and the fossil is turned to stone. 
• This generally occurs by filling the pores of the tissue and inter- and intracellular spaces with minerals, then dissolving the organic matter and replacing it with minerals. 
• This method reproduces the original tissue in every detail. This kind of fossilization occurs in both hard and soft tissues. 
• This typically occurs when the material is buried under sediment and exposed to mineral-rich water over long periods.
• This process is involved in many forms of fossilization and leaves behind many stunning and beautifully preserved fossils. 
• An example of this kind of fossilization is petrified wood.

Petrification FAQs

Q1. What is an example of a petrification?

Ans. These can include petrified wood, sometimes preserved in entire forests, as well as amber-preserved insects and other small lifeforms

Q2. How fast is petrification?

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Ans. It usually takes thousands to millions of years under normal geological conditions.

Q3. What is coprolite?

Ans. Coprolites are the fossilised faeces of animals that lived millions of years ago. 

Source: TOI