Two Main Categories of Fossils

1. Two Main Categories of Fossils

2. Two Main Categories of Fossils Fossilized Body Parts Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils)

3. Two Main Categories of Fossils Fossilized Body Parts parts of the body that have been preserved Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) remains of an organism preserved in rock

4. How Does Fossilization Occur?

5. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. 2. 3. 4.

6. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial 2. 3. 4.

7. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial (protects carcass from biological and environmental disturbances) 2. 3. 4.

8. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial (protects carcass from biological and environmental disturbances) 2. oxygen deprivation 3. 4.

9. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial (protects carcass from biological and environmental disturbances) 2. oxygen deprivation (stops biological decay) 3. 4.

10. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial (protects carcass from biological and environmental disturbances) 2. oxygen deprivation (stops biological decay) 3. continued sediment accumulation 4.

11. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial (protects carcass from biological and environmental disturbances) 2. oxygen deprivation (stops biological decay) 3. continued sediment accumulation (prevents erosion) 4.

12. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial (protects carcass from biological and environmental disturbances) 2. oxygen deprivation (stops biological decay) 3. continued sediment accumulation (prevents erosion) 4. no heat/compaction

13. How Does Fossilization Occur? In order for an organism to be fossilized, it must go through these four factors. 1. rapid and permanent burial (protects carcass from biological and environmental disturbances) 2. oxygen deprivation (stops biological decay) 3. continued sediment accumulation (prevents erosion) 4. no heat/compaction (no heat and compaction preserves fossilization)

14. Where does this occur naturally? 1. rapid and permanent burial 2. oxygen deprivation 3. continued sediment accumulation 4. no heat/compaction

15. Where does this occur naturally? 1. rapid and permanent burial 2. oxygen deprivation 3. continued sediment accumulation 4. no heat/compaction Almost all fossils were made under water.

16. Let’s see how fossilization occurs with a living organism. www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/whatisafossil.htm

17. ORGANISMS NEED HARD PARTS (bones, shells, claws, etc) Soft tissues tend to break-down over time due to microscopic bacteria.

18. Two Main Categories of Fossils Fossilized Body Parts parts of the body that have been preserved Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) remains of an organism preserved in rock There are different kinds of ways body parts can be fossilized.

19. Body Parts Can Be Preserved… preserving in sedimentary rock (the method we just talked about)

20. Body Parts Can Be Preserved… preserving in sedimentary rock (the method we just talked about) petrification

21. Body Parts Can Be Preserved… preserving in sedimentary rock (the method we just talked about) petrification involves trees organic material turns to silica over time silica converts to rock over time

24. Body Parts Can Be Preserved… preserving in sedimentary rock (the method we just talked about) petrification amber

25. Body Parts Can Be Preserved… preserving in sedimentary rock (the method we just talked about) petrification amber insects trapped in tree resin resin turns to a hard plastic over time perfectly preserves insects most were preserved underground

28. Body Parts Can Be Preserved… preserving in sedimentary rock (the method we just talked about) petrification amber freezing/mummification

29. Body Parts Can Be Preserved… preserving in sedimentary rock (the method we just talked about) petrification amber freezing/mummification extremely rare humans and few animals sterile environments (caves, desert) not very old not true fossils

34. What is wrong with this picture?

35. Two Main Categories of Fossils Fossilized Body Parts parts of the body that have been preserved Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) remains of an organism preserved in rock There are different kinds of ways body parts can be fossilized. There are various ways inchnofossils are made.

36. Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) Footprints (tracks)

37. Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) Footprints (tracks) Animal steps in soft material that dries. Material later becomes sedimentary rock.

39. Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) Footprints (tracks) Animal steps in soft material that dries. Material later becomes sedimentary rock. Animal track gets filled in with large amounts of sediment, which hardens and forms a cast.

41. Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) Footprints (tracks) Worm burrows

42. Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) Footprints (tracks) Worm burrows tunnels made by various worms/snakes petrified in sedimentary rock minerals grow in tunnels, forming a cast

44. Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) Footprints (tracks) Worm burrows Corpolite

45. Fossilized Traces (ichnofossils) Footprints (tracks) Worm burrows Corpolite fossilized droppings has to be buried quickly chemical process with sediment

46. corpolite