WRS Earths History Vocabulary

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Index Fossils

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The remains of plants and animals that lived for a limited period, commonly found and widely distributed, used to date the layers of rock.

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Continental Drift

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The theory that the Earth's continents have moved over geologic time, slowly drifting apart from a single supercontinent.

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The Phanerozoic Era

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The era that includes the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic periods, marking the time of abundant fossil evidence.

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Paleontologist

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A scientist who studies fossils to understand the history of life on Earth.

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Carbon Film

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The fossilized carbon outline of an organism, preserving its shape and details.

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Fossils

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Remains or traces of ancient organisms preserved in rock.

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Trace Fossils

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Fossils that provide evidence of the activity of ancient organisms, such as footprints or burrows.

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Molds and Casts

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Molds are impressions of organisms in sediment, while casts are formed when minerals fill the mold.

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Geological Unconformity

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A gap in the geological record that represents a period of erosion or non-deposition.

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Supercontinent

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A large landmass that is made up of multiple continents, such as Pangaea.