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The Fossil Record

The Fossil Record. Chapter 8.3. The Fossil Record. Paleontology = study of fossils Fossils are the remains of an organism that lived a long time ago. Fossilization. Fossils most often preserved in sedimentary rock.

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The Fossil Record

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  1. The Fossil Record Chapter 8.3

  2. The Fossil Record • Paleontology = study of fossils • Fossils are the remains of an organism that lived a long time ago.

  3. Fossilization • Fossils most often preserved in sedimentary rock. • Sediments cover the fossils. This slows/stop the process of decay (by bacteria) and prevents dead organisms from being eaten. • Normally only hard parts of organisms become fossils • Ex. Bones, shells, teeth, and wood

  4. How Fossils Form • Mummification • Found in dry places

  5. Amber • Hardened tree sap (amber) traps insects, preserving it when it hardens

  6. Tar Seeps • Occurs when petroleum comes to the surface of the Earth • Organisms get stuck in the sticky tar

  7. Freezing • Low temperatures protect and preserve organisms in ice and frozen soil – no bacteria

  8. Petrification • Mineral solutions (ex. Silica, calcite, and pyrite) replace the organic material, creating a mineral replica of the original organism

  9. Types of Fossils • Imprints – ex. of leaves stems, flowers, and fish • Molds and Casts – either an empty cavity or a replica • Coprolites – fossilized dung/waste material • Gastroliths – stones in dinosaur digestive systems • Trace Fossils – ex. Tracks, footprints, borings, and burrows

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