Which statement best describes why most individual organisms never fossilized?
A. Conditions for fossilization are rare.
B. Only organisms that lived in the ocean fossilize.
C. Chemicals that fossilize organisms are rare.
D. Only organisms with hard parts fossilize.
A. Conditions for fossilization are rare.
A. Conditions for fossilization are rare.
The correct answer is A. Conditions for fossilization are rare.
To understand why most individual organisms never fossilize, we need to look at the process of fossilization. Fossilization occurs when the remains or traces of an organism are preserved in the Earth's crust over a long period of time. However, several specific conditions must be met for fossilization to take place.
First, the organism's remains must be quickly buried after death. This can occur in various ways, such as being covered by sediment in a riverbed, getting trapped in tar pits, or sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Most organisms die in open environments, where their remains are quickly scattered or decomposed by scavengers and natural processes. So, this condition is not commonly met.
Second, the burial site must be conducive to preservation. In other words, the environment should discourage decay and decomposition. Fossilization is more likely to occur in areas with low oxygen levels, such as wetlands, deep-sea sediments, or volcanic ash deposits. These environments slow down or prevent decay, allowing the remains to gradually fossilize over time.
Third, the fossilized remains must be protected from destructive forces such as erosion and plate tectonics. Erosion gradually exposes fossils on the surface and weathers them away, while geological activity like earthquakes and volcanic activity can destroy fossils buried deep underground.
Considering these conditions, it becomes evident that the circumstances required for fossilization are rare. Many organisms decompose or are destroyed before they can fossilize. Therefore, option A, "Conditions for fossilization are rare," best describes why most individual organisms never fossilize.