Petrification
28.02.2025
Petrification
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For Prelims: About Petrification |
Why in the 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 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.
Source: The Times of India
What does the term "petrification" mean?
A.Decay of organic material without mineralization
B.Complete replacement of organic matter by minerals
C.Fossilization through freezing
D.The preservation of biological material by drying
Answer B