8th Grade Fossil Study Guide

The flashcards cover the definition, types, and characteristics of fossils, as outlined in the lecture notes.

What are fossils?

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived long ago.

What are the types of original material fossils?

Actual remains of an organism, such as insects in amber or frozen animals.

What is a cast fossil?

A cast fossil forms when minerals fill in a mold and harden into a copy of the original organism.

What is a mold fossil?

A mold fossil is an impression left in rock, creating a cavity in the shape of the organism.

What are trace fossils?

Trace fossils provide evidence of the activity of organisms, like footprints, burrows, or poop (coprolite).

What does mineralization mean in relation to fossils?

Mineralization occurs when minerals replace the original material of bones or wood, such as in petrified wood.

What is carbonization in fossil formation?

Carbonization leaves behind a thin layer of carbon, usually found in plants or soft organisms.