Imagine that a layer of leaves are scattered along a forest floor; what must happen in order to preserve these leaves as fossils?
A) The leaves must be picked up by wind or animals and carried to a desert.
B) The leaves must be buried slowly so that the leaves can begin to rot.
C) The leaves must be buried rapidly in order to keep out oxygen.
D) The leaves will never be preserved as they do not contain hard parts.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In order to preserve leaves as fossils, they must be buried rapidly in order to prevent decomposition and exposure to oxygen. This will allow for the organic material in the leaves to be replaced by minerals, creating a fossilized version of the original leaf.

Imagine That a Layer of Leaves Are Scattered Along a Forest