Question

"Fossils are the remains of past-living organisms that could form in several different ways. Which of the following describes fossilization by dissolution?

Water seeps into fossils and breaks it down, but the shape of the fossil is preserved in the sediment around, leaving an image of the organism.
Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which were once part of a living organism, are slowly replaced through chemical processes by such minerals as iron and silica.
Organisms fossilize as layers of thin carbon spread on sandstone and shale.
Organisms are fossilized into a gooey tree resin called amber."

Answer 1

Fossilization by dissolution involves water dissolving the original material of an organism while leaving an impression in the sediment, distinct from permineralization or preservation in amber.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fossilization by dissolution is a process where water seeps into fossils, breaks down the original material but leaves an impression of the organism in the sediment. This creates a mold of the organism that can be filled by other materials to form a cast, preserving the shape and, potentially, some surface details of the organism. This process differs from permineralization, where minerals like silica or pyrite replace the tissues of an organism at a molecular level, and from the preservation of organisms in tree resin, such as amber.

It is important to note that for an organism to be preserved as a fossil, the remains must be quickly covered by sediments or trapped in conditions that prevent decay, such as in ice or resin. The likelihood of fossilization is quite low given the specific conditions needed for preservation. Moreover, these processes provide invaluable clues about the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of the preserved organisms, contributing to our understanding of the evolutionary history.