Story: Fossils

Three types of fossil

Three types of fossil

The fossil bone (right) is the right humerus of a turtle from the Chatham Islands. The shell (centre) is a cast made by pouring plaster of Paris into an imprint formed by the shell of the bivalve mollusc Inoceramus galoi found near Kāwhia Harbour. The worm-like impression (top left) is called a trace fossil, as it shows traces left by a worm burrowing through mud.

These fossils are part of the GNS Science National Paleontological Collection.

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GNS Science
Photograph by Alastair McLean

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Hamish Campbell, 'Fossils - What are fossils?', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9020/three-types-of-fossil (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Hamish Campbell, published 12 Jun 2006