The fossilization process generally includes several stages:
Death and Decay: After an organism dies, its soft tissues begin to decompose. Burial: The remains are rapidly buried by sediment, which protects them from scavengers and slows down decomposition. Mineralization: Over time, groundwater rich in minerals permeates the buried tissues, replacing organic material with minerals like silica, calcite, or pyrite. Compaction and Cementation: Layers of sediment build up, compacting the remains and cementing the minerals, which turn the tissues into stone.
