What type of preservation leaves molds and casts of dissolved organisms?

The correct answer, which focuses on authigenic preservation, is linked to the process by which minerals form in the sedimentary environment or at the location where the organism was buried. Authigenic preservation specifically involves the formation of minerals that can create casts and molds of the original organism.

In this context, when an organism dissolves, it leaves an empty space or void, which can become filled with minerals that precipitate from groundwater or sediment. This leads to the preservation of a mold or a cast, capturing the shape of the original organism.

The other types of preservation—biochemical, physical, and fossilization—do not specifically pertain to this method of creating molds and casts. Biochemical preservation refers to the preservation of organic molecules, while physical preservation generally involves mechanisms that prevent decomposition, such as freezing or desiccation. Fossilization is a broader term that encompasses several processes through which remains are preserved but does not specifically denote the formation of molds and casts like authigenic preservation does.