CARBONIZATION
Carbonization refers to fossils being preserved as
dark-colored, flattened, carbon-rich films. Most fossil leaves in the
rock record have been carbonized. But, any fossil that's been preserved
as a dark, flattened film can be called carbonized.
Carbonized fossil ferns on Pennsylvanian-aged, gray mudshale (10.6 cm
across).
Tetragraptus (Hemichordata, Graptolithina, Graptoloidea), preserved by
carbonization on cream-colored clayshale (field of view 5.5 cm across).
Most graptolite fossils are preserved as carbonized films.
Stratigraphy: Bendigonian Formation, Lower Ordovician
Locality:
Spring Gully, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia