Fossils and Fossilization

What are the two major categories of fossils?

• Body fossils and trace fossils

• Amber fossils and carbonized fossils

• Frozen fossils and mummified fossils

• Permineralized fossils and coal fossils

Which fossilization method involves trapping organisms in amber?

• Freezing

• Mummification

• Carbonization

• Amberization

What does carbonization transform soft tissues into?

• Stone

• Amber

• Coal

• Tar

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What happens during permineralization?

• Minerals enter the pores of dead plant or animal material

• Organisms are covered in tree sap

• Soft tissues turn into thin black films of carbon

• Organisms are preserved in tar pits

What crucial information can be obtained from permineralized wood?

• Genetic material

• Species identification

• Footprints

• Tree genus identification

What has been extracted and partially sequenced from insects encased in amber?

• Minerals

• Soft tissues

• Genetic material

• Footprints