Index Fossils

The best index fossils have which two traits?

• widespread geographically, long lifespan
• widespread geographically, short lifespan
• specific place, long lifespan
• specific place, short lifespan

To be considered an index fossil, it had to have lived for a relatively short period of time.

• True
• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which fossil makes the best index fossil?

• Fossil 1
• Fossil 2
• Fossil 3
• None follow all of the rules

What is the best reason that fossil #4 is NOT a good index fossil?

• It is not widespread

• it is not short-lived (in numerous layers)

• It is in half of the outcrops

Which of these laws will NOT help to determine if something is an index fossil?

• Easily recognizable
• Lives only a short period of time
• Should have many of the same fossils in many different layers of same outcrop
• It is widespread

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What can we say about all of the fossil 2s?

• they are all about the same age
• they are all found in the same place

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Of these, which would make the best index fossil?

• trilobite

• bird

• dinosaur

• fish

• plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

If you found an index fossil in a layer of rock in Montana and a similar fossil in a layer of rock in Texas, you would know that:

• the fossils and rock layers are the same age

• the fossils from Montana are older

• the fossils from England are older

• none of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the follow is INCORRECT about an index fossil?

• The fossil must have lived only during a short part of the Earth's history.

• Many fossils of the organism must be found in the rock layers.

• The fossil must be found over a wide area of the Earth and be unique.

• The fossil must only be found in one area.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which fossil could be classified as an index fossil?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3