FOSSIL NOTES Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of living things. What role important do fossils play?

Fossils help provide evidence about how life has changed over time and help scientist figure out how the surface of the earth has changed by giving clues about the earths past environment. How do most fossils form? Most fossils form when living things die and are buried by sediments. Over time, the sediments harden into rocks and preserve the shape of the organism. FOSSILS ARE USUALLY FOUND IN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
The soft tissue parts of an organism usually decay (it is rare for soft organism parts to become fossilized) and the hard parts, such as bones, teeth, shells, seeds, and woody stems, form the fossil. Types of fossils:
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Molds and casts Petrified fossils Carbon films Trace fossils Tar, ice, and amber preserves

Lets look at each type.. 1) Molds and Casts This is the most common fossil forma mold is a hollow area in the sediment in the shape of an organism or part of an organism. When a hard part of an organism, like a shell, is buried in sediment, a mold can form. A cast is a solid copy of the shape of an organism, the exact opposite of a mold. Think about a jello jiggler.the jiggler is the cast and pan in which it is formed is the mold 2) Petrified Fossils Petrified actually means, turned into stone. To form a petrified fossil, the organism is covered with sediment and then water rich with dissolved minerals covers that sediment. Over time, the minerals soak into the cells of the organism, then the water evaporates, and the minerals harden into stone, preserving the organism. 3) Carbon Films To form a carbon film, organisms get covered with sediment and all elements but the carbon disappear or evaporate, leaving behind a thin black carbon film. 4) Trace Fossils

The activities of ancient organisms are captured by trace fossils. Trace fossils include footprints, trails, or borrows. What information can trace fossils provide? 5) Preserved Remains These fossils include organisms that have been covered with tar, sap, (amber), or ice, preserving the organism and protecting the body from decay. The fossil record shows that older rocks contain fossils of simpler organisms and younger rocks contain fossils of more complex organisms, leading to the belief that life of earth has changed, or evolved over time. The theory of evolution says that life on earth has gradually changed over long periods of time. Fossil record shows that some organisms have changed, and some have become extinct.