Science glossary · South Africa
Fossil
The preserved remains or traces of a living thing from long ago.
Most fossils form when a plant or animal is buried quickly in mud or sand, and over a long time the buried parts are replaced by minerals. Fossils can also be footprints or burrows.
Example: A fossil fish in a layer of rock shows that water once covered that place.
Lessons, worksheets, practice and tools on this: Rocks, soil and water.
Related words
- Water cycle: The way water moves between the land, the oceans and the air, over and over.
- Erosion: When wind, water or ice carry away bits of rock and soil.
- Weathering: The slow breaking down of rock into smaller pieces by wind, water, ice or plants.
- Mineral: A solid substance found in nature that was never alive and has a definite chemical makeup.