Fossil Record Vocabulary

Front

What is the permanent disappearance of a species from Earth?

Back

Extinction

Front

What type of rock is formed in layers from deposition and solidification?

Back

Sedimentary Layers

Front

What term describes the mineralized remains of organisms and the rock layers in which they are found, showing when and where long dead organisms lived?

Back

Fossil Record

Front

What are the mineralized remains of organisms that show how long-dead organisms lived?

Back

Fossils

Front

What does 'chronological order' mean?

Back

The arrangement of things in the order that they occurred.

Front

What is a fossil?

Back

The preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

Front

What is the significance of sedimentary layers in the fossil record?

Back

They provide information about the environment and conditions in which ancient organisms lived.

Front

What is the process of fossilization?

Back

The process by which organic material becomes a fossil, often involving mineralization.

Front

What is a paleontologist?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between a fossil and a fossil record?

Back

A fossil is a single preserved organism, while a fossil record is the total collection of fossils and their information.