Fossils Introduction

What is the definition of a fossil?

• The bones of an ancient creature.

• A unique type of rock.

• The preserved evidence of living things from long ago.

• Organic material that has been turned into rock.

Which process describes how minerals replace organic material to form a fossil?

• Metamorphism

• Permineralization

• Sedimentation

• Erosion

How does a cast fossil form?

• Water seeps into organic material, leaving minerals behind.

• An organism's remains are replaced by rock.

• Sediment fills an impression left by an organism's remains.

• Organic material is destroyed by heat and pressure.

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Why are fossils rarely found in igneous or metamorphic rocks?

• These rocks are too hard to preserve delicate organic material.

• The processes that form these rocks destroy organic materials.

• Fossils are only found in areas with lots of water, which these rocks lack.

• Igneous and metamorphic rocks are too young to contain fossils.

Why are body fossils typically formed from the hard parts of ancient living things?

• Soft parts decay too quickly for fossilization.

• Hard parts are more abundant in ancient organisms.

• Soft parts are usually eaten by predators.

• Hard parts are easier for paleontologists to find.

Which of the following best describes a trace fossil?

• A fossilized part of an ancient living thing's body.

• A fossil that shows the activities of an organism from long ago.

• A complete skeleton of an extinct animal.

• A fossilized plant impression.

What kind of information can fossilized nests provide about ancient creatures?

• Their exact body weight and size.

• How they looked and their skin color.

• Where they lived, how they hid from predators, and how they cared for their young.

• The precise date of their extinction.

Beyond showing us what ancient life looked like, what broader understanding do fossils provide to Earth scientists?

• They help predict future climate changes with certainty.

• They offer a glimpse into our planet's history and how it has changed over time.

• They confirm the exact number of species that have ever existed.

• They are primarily used to determine the age of rocks.