I had always thought that in order to qualify as a fossil something had to
have lived in a different geologic age.  Apparently this is not true of
shells?  Or maybe I am misunderstanding what a geologic age is.  I was
thinking, iron age, ice age., etc.

Sylvia S. Edwards
Huntsville, Alabama
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----- Original Message -----
From: Ross Mayhew <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 1999 1:52 PM
Subject: [CONCH-L] Fossil shells


> In Geology, a fossil is usually considered to be the remains of a living
organism which has been preserved in the sedementary record by being covered
up with sediments - thus having survived, at least partially, the usual fate
of nearly all flora and fauna of being "recycled" by Mother Nature into
nutrients for other oganisms to live on.  Accordingly, until a shell is
buried under enough sand, silt, turbidite, etc., to begin preserving it from
being eaten, eroded, dissolved, etc., it is still  a shell, and not yet a
fossil.  A "sub-fossil" is an organism or part of one, which is in the early
stages of this process.
> Cheers,
> Ross M.
> --
> Ross Mayhew:    Schooner Specimen Shells:
Http://www.schnr-specimen-shells.com
> "We Specialize in the Unusual"
> Phone: (902) 876-2241     Snail Mail; P.O Box 20005, RPO Spryfield,
> Halifax, N.S., Canada, B3R 2K9.
> But try to find "something for Everyone"!!
>