pyritization
PY-ruh-tuh-ZAY-shun
Definition
The process by which organic matter or other materials are replaced by or coated with pyrite, a mineral known as fool's gold.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek word 'pyrites' meaning 'of fire' (because pyrite sparks when struck), combined with the suffix '-ization' to denote the act or process of becoming.
In the news
The article explains that the soft tissue of the crinoid fossils was preserved through pyritization, where pyrite replaced the original tissue to create visible outlines.
In the entire 485-million-year fossil record of sea lilies, only one fossil had ever been found with the tube feet the animals catch their food with, and a pair of crushed specimens from a Quebec quarry has now produced the second and oldest case, at about 452
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com