What factors are the most critical in determining whether a fossil is preserved?
A) the age of the fossil and the age of sediments in which it is preserved
B) the temperature of the granite and how fast it cooled
C) whether the creature had hard parts and how fast it was buried
D) the color of the original organism compared to the color of the sediments in which it is found
E) whether the creature was a predator or was prey

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The preservation of a fossil is significantly influenced by whether the organism had hard parts, such as bones or shells, which are more likely to fossilize than soft tissues, and the rapidity of burial, which helps protect the remains from scavengers, decay, and weathering.

What Factors Are the Most Critical in Determining Whether a Fossil