Index Fossils Lesson

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

Which fossil makes the best index fossil?

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

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

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 not unique

Of these, which would make the best index fossil?

• trilobite

• bird

• dinosaur

• fish

• plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which fossil would be most useful in determining the relative age for the rocks in these geologic columns?

• Brachiopod
• Trilobite
• Ammonite
• Turritella

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The best index fossils have which two traits?

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

If scientists found this fossil, what could they infer?

• what fish are like today
• that this fish lacked oxygen
• what kind of animal ate this fish
• that water once covered the area

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

If found can be used to know exact date of a rock layer

• half-life

• sequencing rock layers

• index fossil

Fossils of species that existed for short periods and were widespread

• igneous rock

• sedimentary rocks

• index fossils