Vocabulary Flashcard: Fossils

Front

What is a cast fossil?

Back

A fossil that is a copy of an organism's shape, formed when minerals seep into a mold.

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What does the fossils record provide?

Back

Evidence about the history of life and past environments on Earth.

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What is evolution?

Back

The process by which all the different kinds of living things have changed over time.

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What is a trace fossil?

Back

A type of fossil that provides evidence of the activities of ancient organisms.

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What is a petrified fossil?

Back

A fossil in which minerals replace all or part of an organism.

Front

What is a mold fossil?

Back

A fossil that forms when an organism leaves an impression in sediment.

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What is an index fossil?

Back

A fossil that is used to define and identify a particular time period in the geological time scale.

Front

What is the significance of fossils in science?

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Fossils help scientists understand the history of life on Earth and how organisms have evolved.

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What are sedimentary rocks?

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Rocks formed from the accumulation of sediment, often containing fossils.

Front

What is fossilization?

Back

The process by which organic material is turned into a fossil over time.