Fossilization preserves the structure of organic materials.
Fossilization is the process of preserving an organic object like a plant, animal or insect in a substance that traps it and keeps its shape. The resin that emerges from many types of tree bark, called amber, can fossilize insects. Does this Spark an idea?
Amber
Amber is the name given to the resin that emerges from trees. The resin moves quickly and catches organisms in its path as it leaks from the tree. Insects trapped in the resin when it hardens can become fossilized.
Detail
Amber, because it is fast-drying and traps insects intact, retains their whole structure for millions of years. This structure includes elements like wings, soft tissue and musculature.
Age
Resin that becomes amber is itself fossilized, a process that takes millions of years to accomplish. Most insect fossils found in amber come from the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods.
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