FOSSILSFOSSILS

FORMATION OF FORMATION OF FOSSILSFOSSILS

Fossils are preserved remains or Fossils are preserved remains or traces of living things.traces of living things.

PaleontologistPaleontologistPaleontologists are Paleontologists are

scientists who study fossils.scientists who study fossils.

What do fossils tell What do fossils tell us?us?

Fossils tell us :Fossils tell us :1.1. How life has changed over time.How life has changed over time.2.2. How Earth’s surface has How Earth’s surface has

changed over time.changed over time.Ex: Sea organisms found high in Ex: Sea organisms found high in

rocksrocks3.3. What past climates were like.What past climates were like.Ex: Alligators found in cold regionsEx: Alligators found in cold regions

Why study fossils?Why study fossils?

4. Appearance and activities of ancient 4. Appearance and activities of ancient organismsorganisms

Types of fossilsTypes of fossils Petrified fossilPetrified fossil Mold and CastMold and Cast Trace fossilTrace fossil Carbon filmCarbon film Preserved Preserved

remainsremains

Petrified FossilsPetrified Fossils Fossils in which minerals (inorganic Fossils in which minerals (inorganic

materials) replace all or part of an materials) replace all or part of an organism (living thing).organism (living thing).

Example – petrified woodExample – petrified wood

Petrified stump, Florissant Fossil Beds Petrified stump, Florissant Fossil Beds

National Monument. Colorado, USANational Monument. Colorado, USA

Mold and castMold and cast A mold is a hollow area of A mold is a hollow area of

sediment in the shape of the sediment in the shape of the organism.organism.

A cast is a copy of the shape of A cast is a copy of the shape of an organism.an organism.

Trilobite and ShellTrilobite and Shell

Trace FossilTrace Fossil Trace fossils provide evidence of the activities Trace fossils provide evidence of the activities

of ancient organisms (footprints).of ancient organisms (footprints).

ExamplesExamples A footprint provide clues about the size A footprint provide clues about the size

and behavior, the speed, how many legs it and behavior, the speed, how many legs it walked on, lived alone or with others.walked on, lived alone or with others.

A trail or burrow can give clues about the A trail or burrow can give clues about the size and shape of the organism, where it size and shape of the organism, where it lived, and how it obtained food.lived, and how it obtained food.

Fossilized dinosaur footprintFossilized dinosaur footprint

Carbon FilmCarbon Film Carbon film is an extremely thin Carbon film is an extremely thin

coating of carbon on a rock coating of carbon on a rock

(soft organisms).(soft organisms).

Redwood tree leafRedwood tree leaf

Preserved remainsPreserved remains Preservation of remains with little or no change.Preservation of remains with little or no change.

Preservation material includes:Preservation material includes: TarTar AmberAmber IceIce

Insect preserved in amberInsect preserved in amber