Geologic Column and Fossil Records

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Questions and Answers

Which type of preservation is best exemplified by petrified wood?

  • Carbonization
  • Molds and Casts
  • Petrification (correct)
  • Unchanged

Which type of preservation leaves a concentration of carbon behind after most other elements disappear?

  • Petrification
  • Carbonization (correct)
  • Molds and Casts
  • Unchanged

What is the most common preserving media mentioned in the text?

  • Limestone
  • Pitch (amber) (correct)
  • Granite
  • Sandstone

What is one of the main groups of fossils based on the method of preservation that involves replacement or impregnation?

<p>Petrification (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example given in the text of fossils preserved in acid peat or swamp water?

<p>Frozen mammoths (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a dinosaur left tracks in mud that later hardened to rock, what type of fossil formation would this represent?

<p>Molds and Casts (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the study of fossils called?

<p>Paleontology (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who are generally regarded as paleontologists?

<p>Zoologists (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the conditions necessary for fossilization to occur?

<p>Scavenger activity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Pioneers of American Vertebrate Paleontology mentioned in the text?

<p>Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many fossil species have scientists described to date?

<p>Around 250,000 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why may decay pose a challenge to the fossilization process?

<p>Accelerated by wind and frost (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Types of Fossil Preservation

  • Petrified wood exemplifies permineralization, where organic material is replaced by minerals, preserving the structure.
  • Carbonization is a preservation method leaving a concentration of carbon after other elements are removed.

Common Preserving Media and Fossil Groups

  • The most common preserving media mentioned is sediment, which facilitates fossil formation.
  • A main group of fossils based on the method of replacement or impregnation is known as replacement fossils.

Specific Examples and Fossil Formation

  • An example of fossils preserved in acid peat or swamp water includes plant remains that undergo similar preservation conditions.
  • Dinosaur tracks in mud that later harden into rock represent trace fossils, which show evidence of activity.

Paleontology and Key Figures

  • The study of fossils is referred to as paleontology.
  • Paleontologists are scientists generally regarded as experts in this field.

Conditions for Fossilization

  • Conditions necessary for fossilization include rapid burial, low oxygen levels, and the presence of hard body parts.

Historical Contributions and Species Cataloging

  • Pioneers of American Vertebrate Paleontology include notable figures such as Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh.
  • Scientists have described over 300,000 fossil species to date.

Challenges in Fossilization

  • Decay poses a challenge to fossilization as it breaks down organic materials before they can become fossilized.

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