Fossils

Which type of rock and fossil dating gives the precise age of the rock or fossil?

Absolute dating

How do fossils support the Theory of Continental Drift?

Because some of the same fossils are found on different continents. They could not have traveled across oceans to get there. Supports the theory that the continents were once a single continent.

Describe the relationship between rocks and fossils found in the same or rock layer.

Both of them are relatively the same age.

Which fossilization process leaves behind a dark film on a sedimentary rock?

Carbonization

Give two examples of trace fossils?

Footprints Tracks Burrows Feces Borings

Which type of fossilization occurs when a sticky substance from plants captures and preserves an organism?

Fossil Resin

What type of fossilization results when the whole animal is preserved?

Ice/Freezing

Special fossils that indicate to geologists the boundaries of geological time.

Index Fossils

Explain how marine fossils are readily found on the tops of mountains.

Organism died in water and were fossilized in sedimentary rock layers./When continental plates collide, it causes uplift./Eventually, they are exposed on the Earth's surface.

Cast

Organism dies and cavity is filled with minerals, sand or clay

Mold

Organism dies and there is no filling of the cavity with minerals

What is a fossil and what parts of organisms become fossils?

Preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organism from the remote past. Usually the hard parts of organisms are fossilized such as teeth, bones and shells.

What are 3 requirements for an organism to become fossil?

Quick burial of organism/Layers of sediments build up over the organism/Left for a long period of time

In what type of rock are fossils most commonly found?

Sedimentary

Half Life

The predictable time an element takes to decay.

What does the Fossil Record tell scientists?

Through the fossils record scientists can see changes in organisms over time as shown on the Geologic Time Scale. They can sometimes determine the environment at the time of the organisms death.

Youngest fossils are found on the top layer or bottom layer?

Top Layer

Stromatolites

•Rock like structures built by blue-green algae. •First forms of life on Earth - oldest known fossils (3.5 b.y.)