is preserved remains the same as cast fossil

1 answer

Preserved remains and cast fossils are not the same, though both are types of fossils.

  1. Preserved Remains: These refer to actual parts of organisms that have been preserved in their original form or close to it. This can include things like bones, teeth, shells, or even soft tissues under certain conditions. Examples of preserved remains include organisms trapped in amber or ice.

  2. Cast Fossils: These are a type of fossil that form when an organism's remains leave an impression in sediment, which then gets filled with minerals or other materials. The result is a cast that represents the shape of the original organism. Essentially, the original material decays, but a cast of its form remains.

In summary, preserved remains are the actual biological materials of an organism, while cast fossils are replicas of those organisms formed through sedimentary processes.