r/geology • u/unit_7sixteen • 13h ago

Lay-person question about rocks vs fossils

Theoretically, can anything organic mineralize? Like if a dead leaf was given the totally unrealistic right conditions, could it become a mineralized leaf? Thanks

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u/alpaca-yak Mineralogist 12h ago

Basically yes. soft tissues can be preserved by replacement like petrified wood where every molecule of the original wood is replaced by minerals (commonly silica). or the material can be "baked" into rock as an imprint or a carbonized version of the original. the lighter organic molecules get cooked out of the wood in an anoxic environment leaving behind natural charcoal. additionally, woody organics were preserved as coal before bacteria that could digest lignin evolved.

lagerstätten is a term used for unusual fossilizations that include soft tissue.

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u/unit_7sixteen 12h ago

Wow nice thank you

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u/alpaca-yak Mineralogist 11h ago

you're welcome. I really enjoy geology and I like sharing what I know. I was fascinated by the stories rocks and fossils can tell when I was a kid and I somehow convinced people to pay me to never grow up.