Paleontology

  1. The Fossil Record and Fossilization
    1. What is a Fossil?
      1. Definition and Criteria
        1. Distinction from Artifacts
          1. Fossilization Potential
          2. Taphonomy: From Biosphere to Lithosphere
            1. Processes of Death and Decay
              1. Biological Decay
                1. Scavenging and Decomposition
                2. Disarticulation and Transport
                  1. Physical Disarticulation
                    1. Water Transport
                      1. Wind Transport
                      2. Burial and Diagenesis
                        1. Rapid Burial
                          1. Chemical Alteration
                            1. Lithification
                          2. Modes of Fossilization
                            1. Unaltered Preservation
                              1. Freezing
                                1. Permafrost Fossils
                                2. Mummification
                                  1. Desiccation
                                  2. Entrapment in Amber
                                    1. Resin Fossils
                                    2. Entrapment in Tar
                                      1. Asphalt Seeps
                                    3. Altered Preservation
                                      1. Permineralization
                                        1. Mineral Infiltration
                                        2. Replacement
                                          1. Silicification
                                            1. Pyritization
                                            2. Recrystallization
                                              1. Change in Crystal Structure
                                              2. Carbonization
                                                1. Formation of Carbon Films
                                                2. Molds and Casts
                                                  1. External Molds
                                                    1. Internal Molds
                                                      1. Natural Casts
                                                  2. Types of Fossils
                                                    1. Body Fossils
                                                      1. Hard Parts
                                                        1. Bones
                                                          1. Teeth
                                                            1. Shells
                                                            2. Soft Tissues
                                                              1. Skin Impressions
                                                                1. Internal Organs
                                                              2. Trace Fossils
                                                                1. Tracks and Trails
                                                                  1. Burrows and Borings
                                                                    1. Coprolites
                                                                      1. Gastroliths
                                                                        1. Root Traces
                                                                        2. Chemical Fossils
                                                                          1. Molecular Fossils
                                                                            1. Isotopic Signatures
                                                                          2. Lagerstätten: Sites of Exceptional Preservation
                                                                            1. Concentration Lagerstätten
                                                                              1. Fossil Accumulation Sites
                                                                              2. Conservation Lagerstätten
                                                                                1. Exceptional Soft Tissue Preservation
                                                                                  1. Burgess Shale
                                                                                    1. Solnhofen Limestone
                                                                                      1. Jehol Biota

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                                                                                  1. Introduction to Paleontology

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                                                                                  3. Geological Context and Time