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?

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