Names_________________________
Fossil Preservation Identification
Fossils are remains or imprints of plants or animals preserved from prehistoric
times by the operation of natural conditions. Fossils are found in sedimentary rock,
asphalt deposits, and coal and sometimes in amber and certain other materials. The
scientific study of fossils is paleontology. Not until around the year 1800 were
fossils generally recognized as the remains of living things of the past and accepted
as an invaluable record of the earth's history.
Conditions conducive to the formation of fossils include quick burial in moist
sediment or other material that tends to prevent weathering and to exclude oxygen
and bacteria, thereby preventing decay. Shells and bones embedded in sediment in
past geologic time, under conditions suitable for preservation, left exact
reproductions of both external and internal structures. Skeletal remains have been
preserved as a result of the engulfment of an animal's body in ancient asphalt pits,
bogs, and quicksand. At Rancho La Brea, near Los Angeles, Calif., asphalt deposits
have yielded a rich variety of skeletons of birds and mammals. Some fossils have
been found buried in volcanic ash; such fossil deposits exist in the Cenozoic rocks of
the W United States.
Learning Target: Be Able to Identify the Types of Fossils
Original Remains  The UNCHANGED remains of a plant or animal.
Replaced Remains soft parts have been removed and replaced by minerals
this is most commonly done as groundwater removes organic
material and replaces it with minerals
Mold  hollow depressions in a rock formed by a shell, bone or plant dissolving
Cast  formed when mineral material fills the mold
Trace Fossils  evidence of past life other than the remains of the living thing.
Usually represents the movement of an animal
Fossil Sample #1
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #2
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #3
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #4
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #5
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #6
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #7
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #8
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #9
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #10
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #11
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #12
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #13
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fossil Sample #14
- What do you think it is? ___________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- How old do you think it is? ________________________________________________________
Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What Type of Fossil is it? __________________________________________________________________
How do you know?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________