Mold and Cast Formation of Fossils

The video explains how fossils are formed when plants or animals are buried by sediments. Two types of fossils, molds and casts, are discussed. Molds are spaces left after the organism decays, while casts form when these spaces are filled with minerals or sediments. The video highlights the significance of casts in paleontology, as they preserve the shape and features of ancient organisms.

What is the term used for the space left behind when an organism decays after being buried by sediments?

• Cast

• Mold

• Imprint

• Sediment

Which of the following is an example of a mold fossil?

• A mineralized tree

• A shell imprint in rock

• A preserved insect in amber

• A dinosaur bone

How is a cast fossil formed?

• By the organism being preserved in ice

• By the organism being replaced by minerals

• By the mold being filled with sediments or minerals

• By the organism being trapped in tar

What is the significance of cast fossils to paleontologists?

• They indicate the diet of the organism

• They show the color of the organism

• They provide the exact DNA of the organism

• They represent the actual shape and features of the organism

Which organism is used as an example of a cast fossil in the video?

• Brachiopod

• Dinosaur

• Fern

• Trilobite