Fossils

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What is a fossil?

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A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of a living thing from the past.

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How do most fossils form?

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Most fossils form when living things die and are buried by sediment that hardens into rock over time.

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What type of rock do we usually find fossils in?

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Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock.

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What are trace fossils?

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Trace fossils provide evidence of the activities of ancient organisms, like footprints or burrows.

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What is a mold fossil?

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A mold fossil is a hollow impression left in sediment when an organism decays.

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What is a cast fossil?

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

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Why is it important for an organism to be buried quickly after it dies?

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It is important for an organism to be buried quickly to increase its chances of becoming a fossil.

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What can scientists infer from finding a fish fossil?

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Scientists can infer that water once covered the area where the fossil was found.

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What are petrified fossils?

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Petrified fossils are formed when organic material is replaced by minerals, turning it into stone.

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What is sediment?

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Sediment is small particles of rock, soil, and organic material that can accumulate and form sedimentary rock.