Explorando fósiles: formación de fósiles

Fossils are rare, especially complete ones, due to decay and predation. For fossilization, rapid burial by sediments is crucial, often occurring in oceans or lakes. Fossils are typically found in sedimentary rocks, and organisms with hard parts like bones or shells have a better chance of preservation. Fossils must remain intact over long periods to be discovered.

Why are complete fossils of entire living things so rare?

• Because they are only found in volcanic rocks

• Because they are always buried too deeply

• Because they are too small to be preserved

• Because they are often destroyed by predators and decay

What happens to a banana peel if left on a shelf for several days?

• It becomes brown and mushy

• It hardens and becomes a rock

• It remains unchanged

• It turns into a fossil

Why is rapid burial by sediments crucial for fossil formation?

• It allows the organism to decompose faster

• It prevents the organism from being eaten

• It exposes the organism to sunlight

• It helps the organism grow

In which type of rocks are fossils most commonly found?

• Igneous rocks

• Sedimentary rocks

• Metamorphic rocks

• Volcanic rocks

What characteristic of living things increases their chances of being fossilized?

• Being very small

• Having soft tissues

• Living in a desert

• Having hard parts like bones or shells