Permineralization Process

Definition

• Permineralization: A fossilization process where minerals fill the pores of a porous substance (e.g., bone), preserving its shape.

Process Steps

1. Burial
   • Porous substance like bone is buried in sediment.
2. Mineral Deposition
   • Water trickling through the sediment contacts the bone.
   • Seepage through pores in the bone occurs.
   • Water carries minerals that are deposited into the pores of the bone.
3. Bone Dissolution
   • Over time, the original bone dissolves.
4. Mineral Preservation
   • Minerals deposited by the water remain even after the bone dissolves.
   • These minerals retain the shape of the bone that no longer exists.