Fossils

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What are fossils?

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Fossils are the remains or traces of plants and animals that lived a long time ago, often found in rocks.

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How are fossils formed?

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Fossils are formed when dead plants and animals are buried by sediment, which hardens over time.

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What can fossils tell us about the past?

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Fossils can provide information about what types of plants and animals lived in a certain area and how they moved.

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What is an imprint fossil?

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An imprint fossil is created when an object leaves a mark in soft material, like clay, which hardens over time.

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What does it mean if a fossil is found in a desert?

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If a fossil is found in a desert, it may indicate that the area was once covered by water, like an ocean.

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What is a dinosaur footprint fossil?

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A dinosaur footprint fossil is a trace fossil that shows the shape and size of a dinosaur's foot.

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What is sediment?

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Sediment is small pieces of rock, soil, and organic material that can bury dead plants and animals.

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What happens to most dead plants and animals?

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Most dead plants and animals quickly rot or get eaten by other organisms.

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What is a trace fossil?

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A trace fossil is a type of fossil that shows evidence of the activity of an organism, like footprints or burrows.

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Why are fossils important to scientists?

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Fossils help scientists understand the history of life on Earth and how environments have changed.