HSC Pompeii and Herculaneum Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Mastery!

The correct answer, which describes carbonization, effectively conveys the process by which organic material is transformed into carbon. This process occurs under specific environmental conditions, typically involving heat and pressure, which lead to the breakdown of organic compounds while preserving the original shape and structure of the material. As a result, carbonization is crucial in the formation of fossil fuels and can provide significant insights into ancient biological life by leaving a carbon imprint of the original organism.

In contrast, the other choices pertain to different concepts. The creation of fossils from minerals refers to mineralization, a process that entails the replacement of organic material with minerals over time, which is distinct from carbonization. Sedimentation involves the settling of particles in a medium, which is unrelated to the conversion of organic material specifically into carbon. Lastly, the immediate preservation of a body pertains to processes like mummification or embalming, focusing on preservation rather than the transformation into carbon. Thus, option B succinctly captures the essence of carbonization.