Fossils and Geologic Time

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What are fossils?

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Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, often found in sedimentary rock.

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What is the law of superposition?

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The law of superposition states that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

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What is the Cenozoic era?

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The Cenozoic era is the most recent geological era, starting about 66 million years ago, characterized by the dominance of mammals and birds.

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What is the Mesozoic era known for?

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The Mesozoic era is known as the age of dinosaurs, lasting from about 252 to 66 million years ago.

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What is the Paleozoic era?

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The Paleozoic era is a geological time period that lasted from about 541 to 252 million years ago, known for the development of early life forms.

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What is the Precambrian time?

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The Precambrian time is the earliest part of Earth's history, covering about 88% of geological time, before the Cambrian period.

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How do scientists determine the age of fossils?

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Scientists determine the age of fossils using methods like radiometric dating and relative dating.

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What is sedimentary rock?

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Sedimentary rock is a type of rock formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

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What is a trace fossil?

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A trace fossil is a type of fossil that provides evidence of the activity of ancient organisms, such as footprints or burrows.

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What is relative dating?

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Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another, without giving an exact age.

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