Questions and Answers
How does a carbon film fossil form?
Fossils usually form when sediment buries a dead organism. As sediment piles up, the organism's remains are subjected to pressure and heat. These conditions force gases and liquids from the body, leaving a thin film of carbon residue that forms a silhouette of the original organism.
Describe how a fossil would form through mineral replacement.
Fossils form through the process of mineral replacement beginning when an organism dies and is buried. Groundwater seeps around the organism, and the minerals in the water gradually replace the minerals in the hard parts of the organism.
Do all rocks contain fossils? Describe the conditions necessary for fossils to form.
Not all rocks contain fossils. Whether or not a dead organism becomes a fossil depends on how well it's protected from scavengers and agents of physical destruction. Quick burial isn't always enough to make a fossil. Organisms with hard parts, such as bones or teeth, have a better chance of becoming fossils because hard parts decay more slowly.
How might scientists be able to use fossils to infer that the climate of the central United States was a lush subtropical forest millions of years ago?
Signup and view all the answers
Why aren't there many fossil jellyfish?
Signup and view all the answers
What can trace fossils tell you about ancient organisms?
Signup and view all the answers
How can fossil correlation be used to determine the ages of rock layers?
Signup and view all the answers
Any trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in rock is called a:
Signup and view all the answers
How does coal form?
Signup and view all the answers
Compare and contrast mold and cast fossils.
Signup and view all the answers
The calico scallop is an index fossil. It is well documented to have lived 1.8 million years ago. Therefore, the approximate age of the rock in which this fossil is found is:
Signup and view all the answers
Fossils most often form when a dead organism is buried in sediments.
Signup and view all the answers
What do you call a fossil formed when an outline of the original organism is formed from left-over carbon?
Signup and view all the answers
Fossils are the ______, imprints, or traces of once-living organisms preserved in rock.
Signup and view all the answers
The ______ parts of organisms are most likely to become fossils.
Signup and view all the answers
To be a useful index fossil, a species must have been rare.
Signup and view all the answers
What is made when sediments fill in a cavity made when an object decayed and the sediments harden into rock?
Signup and view all the answers
A ______ is the cavity left behind in the rock after an organism's hard part has dissolved.
Signup and view all the answers
Carbon films are formed when a thin film of carbon is left, forming a silhouette of the original organism.
Signup and view all the answers
What is a hollow place in rock made when an organism died and was buried, allowing holes in the rock for air or water to dissolve the organism?
Signup and view all the answers
Index fossils are the remains of species that existed on Earth for relatively short periods of time.
Signup and view all the answers
What may tell a geologist when, where, and how an organism lived?
Signup and view all the answers
Index fossils are the remains of species that were once abundant and widespread geographically.
Signup and view all the answers
All of the following conditions help preserve organisms as fossils EXCEPT:
Signup and view all the answers
What are preserved animal tracks called?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Fossil Formation
- Carbon film fossils form when sediment buries an organism. Pressure and heat drive out gases and liquids, leaving a carbon residue that outlines the organism.
- Mineral replacement occurs when groundwater infiltrates an organism's remains, gradually replacing its minerals with those in the water, leading to fossilization.
- Not all rocks contain fossils; successful fossilization depends on protection from scavengers, quick burial, and the presence of hard parts like bones or shells.
Inference from Fossils
- Fossils provide insights into past environments, allowing scientists to infer climate conditions by comparing ancient organisms to modern-day counterparts.
Types of Fossils
- Jellyfish are rarely fossilized due to their lack of hard parts, making them less likely candidates for fossilization.
- Trace fossils, such as footprints and burrows, reveal the behaviors and activities of ancient organisms rather than their preserved remains.
Fossil Correlation and Dating
- Fossil correlation helps geologists determine the age of rock layers by matching fossilized remains across strata, based on known lifespans of the species.
- To qualify as a useful index fossil, a species must have existed for a relatively brief period and been widely distributed geographically.
Fossil Characteristics
- A mold fossil represents a cavity left in the rock after an organism's hard parts dissolve, while a cast fossil forms when sediment fills a mold, preserving the external shape of the organism.
- Hard parts of organisms, such as bones and shells, are more likely to be preserved as fossils than softer tissues.
Additional Concepts
- Coal forms from peat, which is produced by dead swamp plants that compress under layers of earth over millions of years.
- Index fossils are crucial in geological dating due to their existence in a specific time frame and their widespread distribution.
- Conditions favorable for fossil preservation include rapid burial, presence of hard parts, and protection from scavengers, while activities of microorganisms tend to hinder preservation.
- Preserved animal tracks are referred to as trace fossils, highlighting the behaviors of extinct species.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge about fossil formation with these flashcards. Explore different processes like carbon film and mineral replacement. Perfect for students studying geology or paleontology.
