The soft-bodied fossils of the Burgess Shale were preserved by ________ as thin carbon films, due to the selective loss of more volatile components.

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The Burgess Shale fossils were preserved by carbonization, a process in which the more volatile components of the soft tissues are lost, leaving behind a thin carbon film. Carbonation is a different process that involves the reaction of minerals with carbon dioxide to form carbonates. Petrification and replacement involve the complete or partial replacement of organic material with minerals.

The Soft-Bodied Fossils of the Burgess Shale Were Preserved by ________