What type of fossil are most dinosaur remains?

The term "permineneralization" best describes the process by which a mineral or stone replaces the original material in a fossilized dinosaur, such as in the case of fossilized wood, in which the rings of the tree are still visible in the rock that has replaced the wood.

Though it is unclear how organic material could still exist in fossils dated at 68–75 million years old, the Smithsonian published a report in May 2006 stating that Mary Schweitzer had discovered organic material inside of fossilized dinosaur bones. While organic material can mineralize very quickly, it seems improbable that organic material could exist for millions of years.

Most dinosaur remains are preserved as fossilized bones, teeth, or traces such as footprints or tracks. These fossils are typically formed through a process called permineralization, where minerals gradually replace the organic material of the original bone or trace, preserving its shape and structure over millions of years.