Fossils: What Happened Before

Front

What are fossils?

Back

Fossils are the preserved parts or traces of animals and plants that lived in the past.

Front

What do fossils provide evidence for?

Back

Fossils provide evidence about the plants and animals that lived long ago.

Front

What does finding a wooly mammoth tusk in the desert indicate about the past climate?

Back

It indicates that the area was cold millions of years ago.

Front

How quickly must an organism be covered with sediment to form a fossil?

Back

An organism must be covered quickly with sediment after it dies.

Front

What are small pieces of rock called?

Back

Small pieces of rock are called sediment.

Front

What is sediment?

Back

Sediment is small pieces of rock that can accumulate and form layers.

Front

What is the process of fossilization?

Back

Fossilization is the process where organic material is replaced by minerals over time.

Front

What can fossils tell us about Earth's history?

Back

Fossils can tell us about the types of organisms that existed and the environments they lived in.

Front

What is an imprint fossil?

Back

An imprint fossil is a type of fossil that forms when an organism leaves a mark in sediment.

Front

What is the significance of sedimentary rock in fossil formation?

Back

Sedimentary rock is significant because it often contains fossils, preserving the history of life.