Fossils and Stuffs Flashcards
(26 cards)
When did the Big Bang occur?
12-15 bya
When did Earth form?
4.5-5 bya
What are plate tectonics?
Plate tectonics is the study of plate movements.
What are tectonic plates?
Tectonic plates are huge chunks of earth, on which everything ‘floats’
What are convection currents?
heat rising, cools off, sinks, heats up again and keeps going
What do convection currents do?
Convection currents move the plates
What happened aprox. 350 mya?
Pangea forms and has one giant ocean called Panthalassa that surrounds it.
What happened aprox. 200 mya?
Pangea broke into 2 large pieces:
Laurasia- northern part
Gondwanaland- southern part
sea of Tethys in the middle
What was Laurasia?
Laurasia formed North America, Europe, and Asia.
What was Gondwanaland?
Gondwanaland formed Africa, Australia, Antarctica, South America, and India.
What is the Fossil Record?
The fossil record is a ‘history’ of life on Earth based on the appearance/disappearance of various organisms- based on fossils
What is Paleontology?
Paleontology is the study of fossils.
What is a fossil?
A fossil is the preserved remains of plants and animals.
What are the types of fossils?
Body Fossils and Trace fossils.
What is a body fossil?
Body fossils are the actual remains of the body of the organism (usually hard parts)
What is a trace fossil?
Trace fossils are indirect evidence of animal activity (footprints, tracks, claw marks)
What are the Methods of Preservation?
Amber, Freezing/Mummification, Fossilization/Petrification, Carbonization, and Molds+Casts
How does amber preserve things?
Amber is fossilized tree resin. To form it needs moderate temperatures, to be submerged in salt water, and an airless environment.
What are inclusions?
Inclusions are ‘things’ stuck in amber while it is still resin
What happens when organisms are frozen/mummified?
The organisms are intact, and almost everything is preserved
What happens during fossilization/petrification?
They involve changing an organism to stone.
What is permineralization?
When minerals fill up the space between cells.
What is petrification?
When minerals fill up the cells
What is Carbonization?
known as element C. Sometimes left behind after soft parts decay and gases escape. Often fish or ferns (looks like pencil)
