Pseudofossil

Quick meaning: Pseudofossil is a noun meaning Any object, marking or impression that resembles a fossil but whose origin is non-biological.

Meaning

Any object, marking or impression that resembles a fossil but whose origin is non-biological.

Example Sentences

F illustrates unicellular forms preserved in fine-grained carbonate; it is uncertain whether these are actual microfossils or pseudofossils formed during crystallisation of the carbonate.[…]L-N appear to be charcoal-like pseudofossils.

Although these criteria seem precise, establishing the biogenicity of ancient fossils has proven to be the most difficult task. This is largely due to the facts that pseudofossils can mimic convincingly the characteristics of microfossils, and that an Archean microfossil record to which objects can be compared is very rare (Schopf and Walter, 1983; Schopf, 204).

2005, Sören Jensen, Mary L. Droser, James G. Gehling, Trace fossil preservation and the early evolution of animals, Loren E. Babcock, Interpretation of Biological and Environmental Changes across the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Boundary, Elsevier, page 26, The distinction between a trace fossil and a pseudofossil is far from trivial (see discussion in Ekdale et al., 1984, pp. 29–36).

Word Forms

• pseudofossils

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include subfossil, ichnofossil, pseudoroot, pseudofruit, graphoglytid, mesofossil.

Related Dictionary Tools