Understanding Fossils and Their Importance

Fossils turned to rock, like bones or shells

Species that no longer exist, often found as fossils

Rare preservation in tar pits, wax, or freezing

Indicate past shallow, warm water environments

What preservation conditions do fossils need?

Provide insights into ancient life and ecosystems

This environment is ideal for forming impressions in clay or slit.

Evidence of earlier life preserved in rock are most commonly called...

Fossils from specific time segments for correlation

Uses index fossils to match layers across areas

Thin carbon film outlines of the remains of organisms

What are common materials that become fossilized?

The study of prehistoric life through fossils is called...

Minerals fill pores of remains, preserving shapes. This process is called...

Fossils formed when organisms become buried in sediments

Framework for Earth's history based on fossil evidence is called...