Answer :
Final answer:
Permineralized strata are layers containing all or mostly dead cells that have undergone a process called permineralization, hence the correct option is (C) Permineralized strata.
Explanation:
Permineralization is a fossilization process where the empty spaces within an organism, which were filled with liquid or gas during its life, become filled with mineral-rich groundwater. Minerals precipitate from the groundwater, filling these empty spaces.
This process can preserve the organism in great detail and is most common with harder materials such as bone and teeth, although it can occur at very small scales, such as within the cell wall of a plant cell.
Permineralized strata are associated with conditions that allow for this mineral-rich groundwater to permeate and fossilize the organic material. This kind of fossilization is a detailed and intricate process, allowing for a high level of preservation, often at the cellular level, leading to valuable insights into the organism's structure and the environment at the time of burial.
