Questions and Answers
What are fossils?
A preserved clue to life and the remains of living things that lived on Earth long ago, found most often in sedimentary rock.
How do fossils form?
From dead plants or animals being buried by sediment that hardens and preserves remains.
What are some other ways fossils can form?
Some fossils are traces, such as footprints or a mineral filling the hollow of a rock.
What are trace fossils?
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What are some examples of trace fossils?
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What can a trace fossil show?
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What is a mold in the context of fossils?
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What is a cast?
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How does a mold form?
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What are petrified fossils?
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How is a fossil formed in a tar pit?
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What kind of rocks are fossils found in?
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Where and when was the first fossil of a dinosaur found?
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Where were the first dinosaur footprints found?
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What was the first animal on Earth?
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What is amber?
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What is carbon film?
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Study Notes
Fossils
- Preserved clues to life; remains of ancient living organisms.
- Commonly found in sedimentary rock formations.
Fossil Formation
- Formed from dead organisms buried by sediment which hardens to preserve remains (e.g., bones, teeth, wood, shells).
- Not all fossils represent once-living entities; some are traces of organisms.
Types of Fossils
- Trace Fossils: Indicators of actions or behaviors of ancient organisms; show interaction with the environment.
- Examples include tracks, footprints, burrows, droppings, and worm holes.
- Provide insights into an animal's movement, diet, and size.
Mold and Cast Formation
- Mold: Imprint left by a dead organism; creates a hollow space when remains wash out (e.g., crab shell).
- Cast: Occurs when sediments and minerals fill a mold, replicating the original shape.
Petrified Fossils
- Formed when minerals replace organic material, turning it into stone.
- Example: Petrified trees in Petrified Forest National Park, where wood is replaced by quartz.
Fossil Preservation Environments
- Tar pits preserve organisms by trapping them in sticky tar, preventing decay.
- Fossils predominantly found in sedimentary rocks, formed by rapid burial of organisms.
Historical Fossils
- First dinosaur fossil found in 1685, England.
- The earliest recorded dinosaur footprints discovered in Connecticut by a 12-year-old boy.
Early Life Forms
- Jellyfish identified as the first animals on Earth, existing over 500 million years ago.
Unique Preservation Methods
- Amber: Insects trapped in hardened tree sap, leading to preserved specimens within clear yellow material.
- Carbon Film: Result of a leaf buried in sediments exposed to heat; leaves behind a thin black imprint of the leaf's shape.
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Description
Explore the fascinating process of fossil formation in this set of flashcards. Learn about how fossils are preserved and the different types of fossils that can form over time. Perfect for anyone interested in paleontology and geology.