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Fossils are incredibly numerous, particularly for small marine organisms, and plant life. Larger animals are less numerous simply because of predation and because of depositional requirements for preservation.

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Why are the earliest fossils yet found are very few?

The earliest fossils are few because the conditions for fossilization, such as rapid burial and preservation, were not common in the early Earth. Additionally, these ancient organisms were likely small and soft-bodied, making them less likely to be preserved as fossils. The search for early fossils is also challenging due to the rocks from that time period being heavily altered or destroyed over billions of years.


Where are the youngest fossils found?

The youngest fossils are typically found in recent sedimentary rock formations or on the surface of the Earth. These fossils are often from organisms that lived within the past few thousand years, such as the bones of mammoths or ancient human remains.


Why are fossils found in sedimentary rock?

Sedimentary rocks can contain fossils because, unlike most igneous and metamorphic rocks, they form at temperatures and pressures that do not destroy fossil remains. Dead organisms can become sediments which may, under the right conditions, become sedimentary rock. Igneous rock forms from magma; no chance for fossils to form there. Metamorphic rocks are other rock types that are changed by heat and pressure; their transformation and mineral reorganization causes very few fossils to be found there. Sedimentary rock can be formed from the accumulation of sediments and are often formed near ancient shores, basins, and lake beds. If an organism dies and is covered by sediments before being rotted or eaten by predatory organisms, it could eventually become part of the sedimentary layer that becomes rock.


What three features must a fossil have a order to be an index fossil?

* the organism must be common in rocks from most of the world *the organism must have lived for only a geologically short period of time( a few million years to a few hundred million years) *the organism must be easy to identify.(trilobites and ammonites are 2 kinds of organisms that are used as index fossils).


In what type of rock do you find a fossil?

The vast majority of fossils are found in sedimentary rock. Igneous rock forms from magma; no chance for fossils to form there. Metamorphic rocks are other rock types that are changed by heat and pressure; their transformation and mineral reorganization causes very few fossils to be found there. Sedimentary rock can be formed from the accumulation of sediments and are often formed near ancient shores, basins, and lake beds. If an organism dies and is covered by sediments before being rotted or eaten by predatory organisms, it could eventually become part of the sedimentary layer that becomes rock.

Related Questions

Why are the earliest fossils yet found are very few?

The earliest fossils are few because the conditions for fossilization, such as rapid burial and preservation, were not common in the early Earth. Additionally, these ancient organisms were likely small and soft-bodied, making them less likely to be preserved as fossils. The search for early fossils is also challenging due to the rocks from that time period being heavily altered or destroyed over billions of years.


How many fossils are there in emerald?

A few


Do scientists know how long it took for multi celled organisms to develop from the earliest single cell?

They normally say a few millions years. But if you can come up with a better guess they will give you a Phd.


Why are fossils formed in sedimentary rocks but not in igneous rocks?

Because sedimentery rock is formed under the sea, sediment collects at the bottom of the ocean, and so does a few dead sea creatures, then t gets squashed by other sediment, igneous rock is formed by lava cooling, so there is no fossils in it.


Why is there a gap of time between the evolution of algae and trilobites?

There isn't, of course, a gap in time. There are, however, very few fossils intermediate between simple stromatolites (the first more or less multicellular organisms) and the first complex organisms found just before the Cambrian Explosion. This gap most likely exists because while predation already existed (organisms consuming other organisms), no organisms had yet developed an internal or external skeleton that could have been preserved at death. The very few organisms from that era that were preserved despite of this, were preserved in the form of molds and casts.


Why are there few fossils of certain groups of protist?

because they're old


Are there just a few fragments in T-Rex fossils?

no, there were a bunch of teeth


What were some of the earliest cultures?

Some of the A few of the earliest cultures are: Anasazi, Mound Builders, Inca, Maya, Olmec, and the Aztec.


Why have so few dinosaur found in Antarctica?

So few dinosaur fossils have been found in Antarctica because the entire continent is covered in ice, making it hard to dig and/or search for large fossils.


What is the age of fossils?

Fossils have been found with ages from a few tens of thousands of years old to roughly three billion years old.


Why have so few dinosaur been found in Antarctica?

So few dinosaur fossils have been found in Antarctica because the entire continent is covered in ice, making it hard to dig and/or search for large fossils.


Where are the youngest fossils found?

The youngest fossils are typically found in recent sedimentary rock formations or on the surface of the Earth. These fossils are often from organisms that lived within the past few thousand years, such as the bones of mammoths or ancient human remains.