Fossils

Question 1

What are fossils?

Answer 1

The remains, imprints, or traces of prehistoric organisms that are preserved in rock, They are evidence of not only when and where organisms once live, but also how they lived.

They are preserved remains of a living organism.

Question 2

What can fossils do?

Answer 2

They give us clues about organisms that lived a long time ago.

They provide evidence about how Earth’s surface has changed over time.

They help scientists understand what post environment may have been changed.

Question 3

How are fossils formed?

Answer 3

The dead organism must be protected from scavengers, microorganisms and the process of weathering which means the body needs to be almost immediately covered by sediment.

1. Sediment
   Bones protected from rotting by sediment
2. Layers
   Sediment layers accumulate, silica replace calcium phosphate in bones.
3. Movement
   Tectonic plates lift sediment and push fossils to the surface.
4. Erosion
   Erosion wears away rock layers and preserved remains appear.