Scientifically, the term fossil comes from the Latin word 'Fossus', meaning "having been dug up", and represent either the remains or impressions of plants and animals preserved in stratified rocks from an earlier epoch. In geologic terms, fossils, both found and yet to be discovered, come from fossiliferous (containing fossils) strata which, in turn, give us a fossil record. Fossils are one of the most important sources of information about the Earth's past. They can tell us the age of the rocks in which they are found, what the environment was like when the fossilised organisms were alive, and even how the organisms functioned. They can also tell us about Earth movements, such as mountain building, about the former positions of continents (ancient geography), and about the evolution of life on Earth. Some of these uses for fossils are of economic importance, assisting in the search for oil and minerals.

The uses of  fossils for healing date back thousands of years. Peoples all over the world have applied these geologic materials in various forms to soothe and cure. While modern day America uses a few common minerals such as clay and calcite for medical purposes, other countries manufacture tons of pharmaceuticals with a multitude of minerals and fossils.