Which type of fossil is created when minerals replace organic material?

The selection of petrified fossil as the correct answer is based on the process involved in its formation. Petrification occurs when mineral-rich water permeates the remains of an organism, such as wood or bone, gradually replacing the organic material with minerals. Over time, this process preserves the structure of the original organism, but it transforms it into a solid, stone-like material. This preservation can capture intricate details about the biological structure, making petrified fossils important for studying the characteristics of ancient life.

In contrast, cast fossils form when sediment fills in a mold of an organism, creating a replica of its exterior. Mold fossils represent the impression left by an organism without the filling of material, while carbonized fossils are formed when organic material is compressed, losing most of its structure and leaving behind a thin film of carbon. Each of these other types of fossils highlights different aspects of fossilization processes but does not involve the replacement of organic material by minerals in the same way that petrified fossils do.