They look like fossil plants, but not, they are dendrites

Abstract

Dendrites, although recognized as of inorganic origin by geologists and paleontologists for centuries, are often confused with fossil plant organisms at a popular level. In this work, the elements that are key to their differentiation from true fossils are presented, as well as a brief summary of the mention and illustration of dendrites in historical texts. Aspects that refer to their shape (highlighting their fractality), their mineral composition, the physical-chemical mechanisms that control their genesis and the environments and geological circumstances that enable their development are also discussed. The work concludes with the inclusion of a series of practical activities that allow experimentally obtaining dendritic patterns, and a selection of works and Internet sites that contain information of interest on the subject.