Is a shell of a dead snail a fossil?

Answer 1

no
fossils are imprints on rocks

Answer 2

No. There are a few ways that fossils can be formed, but they all take a very long time. There are times when impressions of the fossil are made into sediments (like clay) that they wind up being buried in. Eventually these sediments harden, and can leave a nice little mold of the shell. This is called, imaginitevely enough, a mold. Another possibility is that the mold gets filled in with other material making a copy of the original shell. That's called a cast. Another option is called permineralization, when the chemicals that make up the shell are replaced with other types of minerals, essentially making the shell a rock copy of it's former self. There are other possibilities, some of them even involving the original shell itself, but the bottom line is that the shell must be covered by sediments and these sediments need to become rock in order for it to count as a fossil. Otherwise it's just a shell. It might even be an old shell, but it's still a shell.

Answer 3

well if the shell is the only thing left of a snail, then yes it is a fossil that is left behind after the snail has died. it is very fragile and can be broken easily. so take care of it and do not break it, or you won't be able to keep it in good condition.

Answer 4

No. It would only be a fossil if it had been there for years and years and if the sediment and other minerals pushed it up against the rocks and/or earth it would then be a fossil.

Answer 5

ummmmm
isnt a fossil a preserved animal from a way long time ago?
i dont think a shell is a fossil

Answer 6

Not according to the official definition ...

the remains (or an impression) of a plant or animal that existed in a past geological age and that has been excavated from the soil