Ch. 11 Evidence of Earth's Past Vocab

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amber

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fossilized tree sap

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body fossil

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fossilized remains of a long-dead organism

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cast

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mold filled with sediment that has hardened to create a replica of the original fossil

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fossilization

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any process by which remains or traces of once-living organisms become fossils

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index fossil

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fossil of a species that was widespread but short-lived and can be used to determine the age of rock layers in different places

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microfossil

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fossil that is so small that it must be observed with the aid of a microscope

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mold

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impression made in sediments by the hard parts of an organism

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permineralization

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fossilization process in which water deposits minerals into empty spaces in the remains of a dead organism

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trace fossil

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evidence of the activity of an ancient organism, such as tracks, burrows, or feces

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biozone

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rock unit that is defined by a characteristic index fossil or fossil assemblage