A scorpion turned entirely into copper. It was found in a mine in southern Arizona, US.
In the mineral-rich depths of a southern Arizona mine, this extraordinary find reveals nature’s ability to preserve life in unexpected ways. Over time, the organic tissues of the scorpion were slowly replaced by copper through a process known as pseudomorphosis, in which one material gradually takes the form of another. The result is a metallic cast of the creature, with its exoskeleton and features preserved in great detail.
A scorpion turned entirely into copper. It was found in a mine in southern Arizona, US.
In the mineral-rich depths of a southern Arizona mine, this extraordinary find reveals nature’s ability to preserve life in unexpected ways. Over time, the organic tissues of the scorpion were slowly replaced by copper through a process known as pseudomorphosis, in which one material gradually takes the form of another. The result is a metallic cast of the creature, with its exoskeleton and features preserved in great detail.