Types of Fossils

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What is a Mold Fossil?

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A Mold Fossil is a type of fossil that shows a negative image of an organism, created when the organism is dissolved away, leaving an impression in the surrounding material.

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What is a Cast Fossil?

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A Cast Fossil is a type of fossil that forms when a mold is filled in with minerals or sediment, creating a solid replica of the original organism.

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What is a Trace Fossil?

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A Trace Fossil is a type of fossil that provides evidence of the activity or behavior of an organism, such as footprints or burrows.

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What is a True Form Fossil?

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A True Form Fossil is a fossil that preserves the actual remains of the organism, such as bones, teeth, or shells.

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How do Mold Fossils form?

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Mold Fossils form when an organism is buried in sediment and then dissolves, leaving an impression of its shape.

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How do Cast Fossils form?

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Cast Fossils form when a mold is filled with minerals or sediment that hardens, creating a replica of the original organism.

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What can Trace Fossils tell us?

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Trace Fossils can tell us about the behavior of ancient organisms, such as how they moved or what they ate.

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Give an example of a Trace Fossil.

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An example of a Trace Fossil is a dinosaur footprint found in ancient mud that hardened into rock.

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What is the difference between a Mold Fossil and a Cast Fossil?

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A Mold Fossil is an impression left by an organism, while a Cast Fossil is a solid replica formed from that impression.

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Why are fossils important to scientists?

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Fossils are important because they provide information about past life, environments, and the history of the Earth.