What term refers to minerals replacing the organic material in fossils, turning them into stone?

• A. Cast
• B. Petrified Fossils
• C. Mold
• D. Trace Fossils

Answer: (B)

Petrification is the process at work here. When minerals replace the original organic material in a fossil, the organism’s remains are turned into stone, a result often called a petrified fossil. This happens as mineral-rich water moves through the tissue and minerals precipitate, effectively replacing the organic material cell by cell and preserving the fine details in stone. This is different from a mold, which is just an impression left in sediment after the organism decays, and from a cast, which fills that mold to create a replica. It’s also distinct from trace fossils, which record activity like footprints or burrows rather than the organism’s actual body.