Investigation 4 — Fossils

Question 1

Fossils

Answer 1

Remains, imprints, or traces of prehistoric organisms
• can form if organism is quickly buried by sediments
• organisms w/ hard parts more likely to become fossils > organisms w/ soft parts
• can reveal info about past landforms and climate

Question 2

Permineralized Remains

Answer 2

Fossils that have spaces filled w/ minerals from ground water

Question 3

Carbon Film

Answer 3

Results when a thin film or carbon residue forms a silhouette of the original organism. Carbonized plant material becomes coal.

Question 4

Mold

Answer 4

Cavity in rock left when the hard parts of an organism decays. If sediments wash into a mold, they can form a cast of the original organism.

Question 5

Original remains

Answer 5

Actual organism or parts of organism protected from decay

Question 6

Trace fossil

Answer 6

Evidence of an organism’s activities.

Question 7

Types of Preservation

Answer 7

• permineralized remains
• carbon film
• mold
• original remains
• trace fossils

Question 8

Index fossil

Answer 8

Abundant, geographically widespread organisms that existed for relatively short periods of time. It provides how old rocks are.

Question 9

Absolute dating

Answer 9

Method using properties of atoms in rocks and other objects to determine their ages

Question 10

Paleontologists

Answer 10

Scientists who study fossils and reconstruct the appearance of animals.