What Are Fossils and How They Form

Flashcards on fossil definitions, examples, necessary preservation conditions, and the initial steps of fossil formation based on lecture slides.

Fossil

Any preserved remain, impression, or trace of a once-living organism that existed in the past.

Coprolites

Fossilized animal droppings.

Fossilization Conditions

Special, favorable conditions under which an organism is preserved; most organisms decay, are eaten by scavengers, or decompose completely before fossilization can occur.

Fossil Formation: Step 1

An organism dies and settles on the ground or at the bottom of a body of water. Exposed remains are usually eaten by scavengers or decompose quickly.

Fossil Formation: Step 2

The remains are rapidly buried by sediments such as layers of mud, sand, or volcanic ash, protecting them from scavengers, weathering, and further decay to increase the chance of fossilization.