Fossil Preservation

Match the Type of Fossil Preservation to the description.

• Carbon Film

• When an organism decays and the hardened rock surrounding it keeps it's shape.

• Mold

• Organism is buried and heat/pressure pushes out all of the liquids and gases.

• Original Remains

• Organism is completely enclosed in some material such as amber, tar, or ice.

Match the Type of Fossil Preservation to the description.

• Casts

• A fossil copy of an organism made when the mold is filled with sediment or minerals.

• Trace Fossils

• A cast of an organism is made when minerals in the ground water fill pores and spaces.

• Mineral Replacement

• Preserved evidence of the activity of an organism. (tracks, footprints, nests, etc.)

(a)   and ​ ​ (b)   are the only two types of fossil preservation that contain mainly material from the original organism.

• Original Remains
• Carbon Films
• Mineral Replacement
• Trace Fossils

Organize which types of Fossil Preservation contain the original organism and which ones do not.

Groups:

(a) Original Organism

,

(b) NO Original Organism

• Original Remains

• Carbon Films

• Trace Fossils

• Mineral Replacement

• Molds/Casts

True or False: All dinosaurs in museums are made of original remains?

• False

• True

What condition has to be met in order for a fossil to be made?

• Must be under water

• The organism must be very large

• The organism must be buried quickly

What is the study of fossils called?

• Archaeology

• Geology

• Paleontology

What is the process of determining the age of fossils called?

• Archaeology

• Geology

• Carbon dating

True or False: Fossils are only found on land?

• False

• True

A ​ (a)   is the impression in a rock left behind by an organism.

• Mold
• Body
• Skeleton