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Are Dinosaur Bones In Museums Real?

May. 17, 2021
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The "dinosaur bones" you see on display in museums are not bones at all. Through the process of fossilization, the bones of ancient animals were turned into rocks. The dinosaur fossils replicate supplier will share with you.

What is a fossil?

A fossil is any evidence of prehistoric life (plant or animal) that is at least 10,000 years old. The most common fossils are bones and teeth, but fossilized footprints and skin impressions also exist. Fossils have been excavated from many environments, including ancient riverbeds and lakes, caves, volcanic ash falls and tar pits. Fossils are classified as human fossils or trace fossils. Human fossils are parts of living things, such as bones or teeth. Trace fossils are all other types of fossils, including footprints, caves and feces.

Dinosaur Fossils Archaeological Excavation Site Simulation Replicate

Dinosaur Fossils Archaeological Excavation Site Simulation Replicate

How does something become fossilized?

Most ancient animals never became fossils. Their bodies were probably consumed by other creatures, or worn away by wind or water. But sometimes the situation was correct and their remains were preserved. The most common fossilization process is when an animal is buried in sediment, such as sand or silt, shortly after its death. Dinosaur bones are protected from decay by layers of sediment.

 

As its body decomposes, all fleshy parts wear away and only the hard parts (such as bones, teeth and horns) are left behind. For millions of years, water from nearby rocks surrounded these hard parts, and little by little, minerals in the water replaced them. When the minerals have completely replaced the organic tissue, what remains is a hard rock copy of the original sample.

Where are fossils found?

Fossils are found almost exclusively in sedimentary rocks and form when sand, silt, mud and organic material settles out of the water or air to form layers that are then compacted into rock. Therefore, especially when looking for ungulate dinosaur fossils, paleontologists look for sedimentary rock outcrops formed during the Mesozoic era (251-65.6 million years ago), the geological period in which ungulate dinosaurs lived. Scientists usually search areas with little vegetation covering the ground to make it easier to see any fossil fragments weathered from sedimentary rock formations. These barren ridges and gullies are often referred to as "wastelands".

 

To find the right Mesozoic sedimentary rock layer, paleontologists often use a geological map that shows rock layers of different geological ages exposed in different areas of the Earth's surface. Once a suitable rock layer is found, the search for dinosaur fossils can begin with a reasonable hope of finding the species of dinosaur one hopes to find. Fossils of other species are often stumbled upon during the search.

How are dinosaur fossils prepared in the laboratory?

Fossil preparers are skilled technicians who can extract fossils from the surrounding matrix, use binders and cementing agents to stabilize the fossils, and prepare casts and molds of specimens.

 

When the dinosaur bone fossil arrive from the field, they are encased in a plaster coat, as well as the rock or matrix that surrounds the fossils. Preparation of the  dinosaur fossils involves cutting through the plaster coat and removing the matrix surrounding the fossils. When the sand or mud is poorly bonded, the matrix may be soft and brittle; when the sediment is well bonded, the matrix may be very hard. Therefore, a variety of tools are needed to remove the matrix and stabilize the fossil. Typically, dental tools and custom-made needles made of carbide steel are used to carefully remove deposits near the bone. Previously, chisels and hammers were used to remove chunks of matrix farther from the bone, but more recently, smaller mechanical tools have replaced them. These include small abrasive wheels that

 

Preparers typically use these tools when examining fossils under a precision microscope using a high-quality microscope to ensure that delicate features on the fossil are not destroyed. They carefully select the materials used to reinforce or restore the specimen. Adhesives, glues, and fillers must stand the test of time and not become brittle or fade, just like the materials used to preserve artwork. Record the types of materials used to help with future preparations if additional preparation or repair is needed.


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