THE USEFUL OF FOSSIL

Fossil is remnant or trace of ancient life which was formed naturally because there were sediment materials buried on it and has minimum 10.000 years of age. There are factors as the condition for could be being called as fossil, such as it has a resistant body parts, it has minimum 10.000 years of age, it is formed naturally, as soon as possible it is buried by sediment materials, and it isnt eaten by predators when they were already died. Fossil has many functions in geological sciences such as for correlating sedimentary rocks, determining the environmental development, determining relative age of sedimentary rocks, solving the structural geology problems, discovering evolution of life, determining paleoclimate, and as energy resources. How do we use it for correlating sedimentary rocks? First we have to know the individual name of the fossil. Then, if we know it, so easier for us knowing the age of it. Based on it, so we can correlate sedimentary rocks which has the same age. Correlation is one of important roles in every geological projects such as in oil industry, coal industry, geothermal industry, and many others. Then, what will we do to know the evolution of life? May be all of you know about Evolution Theory by Charles Darwin that the living things experience the evolution. For example genus of Globorotalia (T). It has trochospiral test, hasnt keel as its sheel ornament, and has primary aperture interomarginal umbilical extra umbilical. The example species is Globorotalia tumida. It is evolved from Globorotalia plesiotumida and Globorotalia plesiotumida is evolved from Globorotalia merotumida. We can know the evolution by analyzing the development of its chambers. The chambers of Globorotalia tumida is more than Globorotalia plesiotumida and Globorotalia plesiotumida chambers is more than Globorotalia merotumida. This evolution happened because the ancient environment condition keeps on changing, so they would adapt to the condition for surviving their self. Talking about fossil as paleoclimate indicator, we can know the ancient climate by analyzing bodies characteristic of fossil. For example Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropods. It has whorl on its shell , so if the whorl of the shell is dextral (rotating the watch direction) we can indicate the climate of its life is tropic. Then if the whorl of the shell is sinistral (opposite by dextral) the climate is subtropic-pole.

Besides it is very useful for geological science, it is also useful for our life. The energy we are used now like LPG, LNG, coal bricquette are from the ancient life. LNG and LPG are originated from planktonic organisms or algaes, we can call it as kerogen and the coal bricquette is originated mostly from swamp vegetations. Then, how do by determining relative age of sedimentary rocks and solving the structural geology problems? The principle for solving the structural geology problems such as fault and fold is almost to correlate sedimentary rocks. But, determining relative age of sedimentary rocks, we can apply Superposition Law by Steno that The bottom sediment layers is older than upper sediment layers in normal condition. So, by hearing the statement we can know that if th e fossil is in the bottom position layer so it will older than the upper ones. Based on that statement, now we know the Trilobite is the fossil to indicate Cambrian periode approximately 545 million years ago. So, those are the function of fossil. Besides it is useful for geological sciences, it is also useful for our life and our future enegy resources.