0 the process of becoming a fossil (= something preserved in rock for a very long period):
In the fossilization process, minerals replace the constituents of bones, turning them to stone.
A fallen and buried tree becomes a candidate for fossilization when all conditions are right.
Fossilization has set in to our prison system and new initiatives are stifled.
the fossilization of his outlook
Perhaps fossilization of errors is inevitable in second language acquisition.
Skin and soft tissues rot down quickly before fossilization takes place.
The process of decay was overtaken by that of fossilization.
Intact fossilization of any species is uncommon because the bodies of dead animals are often destroyed by natural processes.
These results suggest that differences between species have a strong influence on the potential for different microorganisms to be preserved by fossilization.
Teachers should for example know about fossilization, and set realistic goals.
These include the fossilization process, preservation and cladistics, in addition to (arguably) more prosaic topics such as fieldwork, collecting, preparation and curation.
The term "fossilization" would seem to imply a permanent deficiency or grammatical impairment.
