The Fossil Record

Front

A fossil is ____________.

Back

evidence of past life, part of the fossil record, found in sedimentary rock, all of the above.

Front

Geologic processes such as _______ help expose fossils once buried.

Back

earthquakes.

Front

_______ fossils can provide information about how organisms moved, rested, burrowed, etc.

Back

Trace.

Front

_______ fossils are spaces in rock created by decayed and/or dissolved animal and plant remains.

Back

Mold.

Front

The order of rock ________ help paleontologists tell how old a fossil is relative to another.

Back

strata.

Front

What is the fossil record?

Back

The fossil record is the history of life on Earth as documented by fossils, which are preserved remains or traces of organisms.

Front

What type of rock are fossils typically found in?

Back

Sedimentary rock.

Front

What is a cast fossil?

Back

A cast fossil is a type of fossil that forms when a mold is filled with minerals or sediment, creating a replica of the original organism.

Front

What is a mold fossil?

Back

A mold fossil is an impression left in rock by an organism that has decayed or dissolved.

Front

What do paleontologists study?

Back

Paleontologists study fossils to understand the history of life on Earth.