Learn About FossilsQuiz yourself and learn more while you have

fun.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED WHAT A FOSSIL IS IMPORTANCE OF FOSSILS FORMATION OF FOSSILS CONDITIONS FOSSILS FORM IN FOSSIL: COMMON OR RARE MOLDS AND CASTS OLDEST FOSSILBIGGEST FOSSIL

WHAT IS A FOSSIL?

WHAT IS A FOSSIL?Fossils are remains of organisms, animals, or

plants from many years ago. Sometimes they may only be traces of the long ago living specimens.

The word fossil means “having been dug up” in the Latin language.

WHY ARE FOSSILS IMPORTANT?

WHY ARE FOSSILS IMPORTANT?By studying fossils, it is possible to

understand what lived in the very distant past. It also helps us to understand the evolution of today’s plants and animals, as well as help us to predict what may happen to plants or animals in the future.

HOW ARE FOSSILS FORMED?

HOW ARE FOSSILS FORMED? Freezing- the animal is continuously frozen

from the time that it dies until the day that it is found.

Carbonization- the living creature decomposes and leaves behind only carbon. The carbon makes an impression in the rock. This outlines the fossil sometimes so well that there is a lot of detail.

permineralization- minerals fill cellular spaces and crystallize. The shape of the plant, animal, or organism is preserved in rock.

WHAT CONDITIONS ARE GOOD FOR FOSSILS TO FORM IN?

WHAT CONDITIONS ARE GOOD FOSSIL FORMATION CONDITIONS?Quick burial from sediments soon after the

organism dies helps prevent decay. There are usually more fossils of animals

that lived near water than creatures who lived on dry land.

Hard skeletal parts like bones and teeth are good for producing fossils.

Most fossils are found in sedimentary rock, rock made of mud, fine sediments, sand, or once living things.

ARE FOSSILS COMMON?

ARE FOSSILS COMMON?

Fossils are not usually common or easily found. When they are found, it is even more rare to find one that is completely intact.

WHAT IS A MOLD?

WHAT IS A MOLD? Over time, after an organism is dead for a

while, it may decay and leave a space. That space is called a mold.

WHAT IS A CAST?

WHAT IS A CAST? A cast is the fossil that can form in a mold. It

has the same shape and features of the organism that lived many years ago.

WHAT IS THE OLDEST AND BIGGEST FOSSIL KNOWN? The oldest fossil is known as blue-green

algae that lived in South Africa around 3.2 billion years ago.

The biggest fossil known is from a Sauropos Eidon that stood about sixty feet tall and was sixty tons. That is heavier than nine elephants together and taller than a six story building!!!!

FOSSILS How well have you done with the quiz

questions? Fossils are very interesting to learn about

and to research on your own. To find fascinating pictures google

Yahoo! Search results for fossil pictures