Fossils are a wonderful tool to assist you in moving from the old to the new and to be receptive to the fresh, innovative forces that are available to you. Fossils can assist you in your quest for transition, transformation and personal growth, helping you to understand the process of change. They can help you instill quality and excellence in your environment.
Crinoids, or Sea Lilies, are an aquatic animal that resemble a flower growing on a thick stem. The crinoids attach themselves to the bottom of the sea floor or a rock or a piece of wood with the root-like holdfast. Crinoids are echinoderms, with the flower part being the arms that filter plankton from the water to catch its food. Almost all varieties of crinoids have been extinct since the end of the Triassic period, but a few species exist to this day. In fact, the fossil record shows Crinoids extending back as far as 480 million years ago.
Fossils (from Latin fossus, literally ”having been dug up”) are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms. In ancient times they were believed to be a gift from the stars and were revered by many cultures. Because of their age they have been used throughout the centuries as a talisman for protection and long life.
Fossilization is actually a rare occurrence because organic materials tend to decompose and the process requires the relatively quick preservation of bodily remains. Normally, the remains need to be covered by sediment or trapped in resin as soon as possible. However there are exceptions to this, such as if an organism comes to rest in an anoxic (without oxygen) environment at the bottom of a lake. The oldest known structured fossils date from 3.5 billion years ago. There are several different types of fossils and fossilization processes including permineralisation, mold or replacement fossils, compression fossils, resin fossils and trace fossils. Many fossils available on the market are from Morocco, which has vast deposits of Devonian Limestone which date back three hundred fifty million years ago. Other areas prominent for fossils are China, the USA, Germany, Canada, Russia and Australia.
