Name ________________________________________________ Hr. ______
_____________________
______________________
(Label each fossil above as either a cast or mold fossil)
________________
___________________
_________________
Write below each picture whether the
fossil is preserved by tar, ice, or amber
Define fossil: _________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Why do most animals not form fossils? (pg. 329)
_______________________________________________________
Name 2 conditions which increase the chances a fossil
will form (pg. 329) ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Define mold (pg. 331): ________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Describe three steps needed to form a mold fossil:
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
Define cast: __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Define trace fossil (pg. 331) ___________________________
________________________________________________________
List 3 examples: _______________________________________
________________________________________________________
Give an example how trace fossils help scientists learn
about animal characteristics/behaviors: _________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Describe what preserved remains fossils are and the
conditions needed to form (pg. 330) __________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Describe how a carbon film fossil forms: _____________
______________________________________________________
Describe what a mineral replacement fossil is: _______
__________________________________________________________
Name________________________________________________________ Hour _______________
Getting into the Fossil Record
Directions: Go to the web site. The link can be found on Schoology in the Fossils and Geologic Time
folder. The address is also listed below. Complete the information below as you work your way
through the interactive site.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/fossil/9to12/Page1.html
Part 1: What is the Fossil Record
1. Today, the word “fossil” refers to: ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Remains must be at least ______________________ years old.
2. All the fossils that exist, whether dug up or still in the ground, provide us with a
_____________________________________________________________________________________
This is called the ___________________________ ________________________________.
3. Give at least one example of a question studying the fossil record can help answer:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Fossils can form from ancient organisms body parts such as _____________, ___________,
or __________________ and can include plant _________________. Click the picture and list
3 examples of body fossils shown in the pictures. ___________________________________.
5. Fossils can also be trace fossils. Click on the picture and list 3 types of trace fossils
shown. _____________________________________________________________________________.
Part 2: Becoming a Fossil
6. Most fossils are formed when organisms or ____________________________ are __________
__________________________________.
7. To become a fossil, sediments carried by __________________, _________________________
or wind, must cover the _____________________________________________ or it’s trace
8. As the layers of sediments accumulate _________________________ rock forms, trapping
the organism or trace inside.
9. ______________ is important to protect the organisms or trace against __________ forces.
Organisms which are buried ___________________ are more likely to form a fossil.
10. Biotic factors which can break down and destroy the remains of an organism include:
____________________________________________________________________________________.
11. Abiotic factors which can break down and destroy the remains of an organism,
preventing it from becoming a fossil include ________________________________________.
12. The quicker a fossil gets _____________ the greater chance __________________ can begin.
13. However, even if an organism gets buried quickly, there is no guarantee it will fossilize.
Macroscopic organisms such as _______________, _______________, ____________, and
_________________ or microscopic organisms such as _______________ and _____________
feed on organic matter and break dead organisms down, preventing fossilization.
14. Click each picture then complete the information below:
A. Molds are ____________________ left from something that was ___________.
B. Casts are formed when ______________ fill a mold and ______________ to make
a _____________ of the original structure.
C. The dinosaur eggs are an example of the process _____________________
where minerals carried in water fill spaces in an organism and become rock.
The picture shown here is an example of a __________ ___________ which
formed this way. A picture of a _______________ is also shown.
D. ________________________ are the prints or marks made when an organism’s
body has been compressed. ______________ are among the most common.
E. Microfossils can be preserved as they are without mineralization.
___________________ is an example of a microfossil.
15. Does an organism always have to be buried in sediment for form a fossil? _________
Explain: _________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name what each picture below is and how each of the organisms were preserved.
A. This is a picture of _____________________________________________________
It became a fossil because it was _____________ in ice very quickly.
The age of this fossil is estimated to be about _______________ years old.
B. This is a picture of __________________________ preserved in _____________.
C. This is a picture of _________________________ preserved in _______________.
16. ____________________ body parts are more likely to fossilize than ________________ parts
because they are less likely to be destroyed by abiotic and biotic factors.
17. Organisms with hard parts made of __________________ material are more likely to
fossilize than hard parts that are mostly _____________________.
18. Where an organism _______________ helps determine whether it is likely to fossilize.
19. The ocean floor is called the ___________ zone and is particularly good for preserving
fossils because ___________________________________________________________________.
20. Organisms that die in or near _____________, rivers, swamps, or _____________ have a
better chance of becoming a fossil because they end up at the ____________________
and _______________________ cover them.
21. The rocky ___________________________ is the area along an ocean shore where waves
crash against rocks. It is ___________________ for organisms to fossilize here because
___________________________________________________________________________________.
22. It is ______________________ for organisms that live in the rain forest to form fossils
because __________________________________________________________________________.
23. The fossil record is not complete because
a. Organisms live and die in _____________________________________________.
b. Only some of the ____________________ of organisms resist ________________.
c. Of those remains that are not immediately destroyed, only a few will
resist destruction long enough to ______________________________________.
24. It is believed __________________________% of all organisms alive today will fossilize.
25. Insects are _________________ likely to fossilize than vertebrates.
Part 3: Staying a Fossil
Describe how fossils are destroyed by each of the following”
26. Crushed: ____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
27. Melted:: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
28. Moved: (Give 5 examples) ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
29. Eroded: (name 3 agents of weathering and erosion mentioned) _______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
30. Fossils are most likely to be found in _______________________________ rocks. The best
place to look for T-Rex fossils in Montana would be in ________________________________.