2006-07-02 13:53:53 · 8 answers · asked by flossin p 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Officially a fossil is formed in as little as 10,000 years.
And also
Fossils (from Latin fossus, literally "having been dug up") are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains or traces (such as footprints) of animals, plants, and other organisms.
Fossilization is actually a rare occurrence because most components of formerly-living things tend to decompose relatively quickly following death. In order for an organism to be fossilized, the remains normally need to be covered by sediment as soon as possible.
2006-07-02 14:13:47 · answer #1 · answered by Edward 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on conditions. There are burrowing marine crustaceans whose shed exoskeletons will fossilize within their lifetimes.
They live in ideal preservation conditions, wet sediment under pressure filled with water that's full of dissolved minerals. Plus their shells dissolve pretty rapidly once the oxygen levels in the muck get low.
It's a matter of how quickly the material dissolves and how quickly minerals can fill the empty spaces.
If it didn't happen fairly quickly radioisotope dating wouldn't be usable on the things the ratios would essentially be smeared.
2006-07-03 00:03:55 · answer #2 · answered by corvis_9 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fossil is formed over thousands of years, while the object is decomposing, and the rock and sediment is forming around it.
2006-07-02 13:55:04 · answer #3 · answered by Matt C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Years and years...
2006-07-02 13:55:49 · answer #4 · answered by lumi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 1 million years.
2006-07-02 13:56:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i usually takes hundreds and thousands of years, but the exact time can change due to how long it takes mud and sediments to form around the animal, plant, ect. and how long it takes for the animal, plant, ect. to decompose.
2006-07-02 14:09:48 · answer #6 · answered by swordabc123 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
millions and millions of years because the mud and rock has to go through a process.
2006-07-02 13:55:40 · answer #7 · answered by jhart_929 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Millions of years. It depends on the earth it is buried in.
2006-07-02 15:50:05 · answer #8 · answered by Nathan W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋