Types of Fossils

Front

What are fine particles of sand, dust, or mud that are deposited over time by wind or water?

Back

Sediment

Front

What type of fossil provides evidence of the activities of ancient organisms?

Back

Trace fossil

Front

What is a hollow area in sediment in the shape of an organism or part of an organism called?

Back

Mold fossil

Front

What type of fossil is a solid copy of an organism's shape, formed when minerals seep into a mold?

Back

Cast fossil

Front

What are organisms or parts of organisms preserved in a substance, such as amber, tar, or ice?

Back

Preserved remains

Front

What is the process called when minerals replace the organic material in a fossil?

Back

Petrification

Front

What type of fossil shows the imprint of an organism's body?

Back

Trace fossil

Front

What is the term for fossils that are formed from the remains of plants or animals that have been turned into stone?

Back

Petrified fossils

Front

What type of fossil forms when an organism is buried in sediment and the sediment hardens around it?

Back

Mold fossil

Front

What is the difference between a mold fossil and a cast fossil?

Back

A mold fossil is a hollow impression of an organism, while a cast fossil is a solid copy formed from minerals filling the mold.