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Fossils

This category is for questions about the bones, fragments, imprints, and other remainders from a different time. The questions and answer you will find here are history set in stone -- our past, immortalized in solid rock. You will also be able to find questions pertaining to the locations of these fossils, how you might identify them, and how they were formed.

3,454 Questions

What is a Kock pouch also called?

A Kock pouch is also called a continent ileostomy or ileal reservoir. This surgical procedure involves creating a small internal pouch from the end of the small intestine to store waste, allowing for bowel movements to be regulated by catheterization.

What is a example of a adaptation can it be a fossil?

Being a fossil is not an adaptation. Fossilization is quick burial that prevents decay. An example of an adaptation is when an organism becomes attuned to a new habitat or environment by gaining or losing a past trait

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.

What does the lack of a fossil record for some of the earth's history mean to scientists?

The lack of a fossil record for some periods in Earth's history makes it challenging for scientists to understand and reconstruct past environments and biodiversity accurately. It can lead to gaps in the evolutionary timeline and limit our understanding of the organisms that lived during those times. Researchers often rely on other geological clues and indirect evidence to infer what life might have been like during those periods.

Where are the earliest fossils found?

In undisturbed strata, the oldest fossils will be the deepest from the surface.

What certain things that form sediment are considered an indicator species?

Certain types of diatoms and foraminifera are considered indicator species for sediment formation. These organisms have specific environmental requirements that make them good indicators of water quality and sediment conditions. By studying their presence, scientists can learn about past environmental conditions and changes in ecosystems.

How is asphalt fossil formed?

Asphalt is formed from organic material, such as algae and plankton, that is buried and subjected to high temperatures and pressures over millions of years. This process results in the transformation of the organic material into a thick, sticky substance known as asphalt.

Are only sedimentary rocks used for relative age determination?

No, sedimentary rocks are commonly used for relative age determination due to their layering and formation process. However, other types of rocks like volcanic rocks and metamorphic rocks can also be used to determine relative age based on principles of superposition, cross-cutting relationships, and faunal succession.

Why do you think that the first fossils were found in old quarries or at the foot of sea cliffs?

Fossils are often found in old quarries or at the foot of sea cliffs because these locations expose layers of rock that are rich in fossils. Over time, erosion and geological processes can expose these ancient layers, making it easier for scientists and collectors to discover fossils embedded within them.

A rock has alternating layers of dark and light colors the rock has visible quartz crystals and does not contain any fossils where was this rock most likely formed?

This rock is likely a type of metamorphic rock called gneiss. Gneiss forms under high heat and pressure conditions deep within the Earth's crust. The alternating layers of dark and light colors are a result of the rock's minerals recrystallizing into bands.

How do scientists know how old Lyuba the baby mammoth is?

they found out her age at death by comparing her tusk growth to modern baby elephants' tusk growth. they found out how old her remains are by using the carbon-14 method.

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Where was the largest ever dinosaur bone found?

The largest dinosaur bone ever found was a thigh bone, or femur, of a Titanosaur in Patagonia, Argentina. This fossil was uncovered in 2014 and belongs to a species that lived around 100 million years ago.

Why are flowers rare in fossil record?

Flowers are rare in the fossil record because they are delicate structures that are not easily preserved. Fossilization requires specific conditions, and flowers are often damaged or decay before they can be fossilized. Additionally, early plants did not produce flowers, so the appearance of flowering plants in the fossil record coincides with their relatively recent evolutionary history.

Can igneous and sedimentary both form fossils?

In certain cases some igneous rocks can show the impression of a living organism, as in the case of trees being encased in lava flows or pyroclastic flows preserving the shape of a human as in Pompeii. Normally however, fossils are found in sedimentary rocks.

Archaeologists tend to find fossils most often embedded in which type of rock?

Archaeologists tend to find fossils most often embedded in sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms from layers of sediment that accumulate over time, preserving the remains of plants and animals. Sedimentary rock is often found in areas where ancient seas, lakes, or rivers once existed.

Have growth rings been found on fossilized fish scales?

Yes, growth rings have been found on fossilized fish scales. These rings, similar to tree rings, can provide information about the age and growth rate of the fish during its lifetime. Studying these growth rings can help researchers understand the fish's environment and lifecycle.

Marked by significant worldwide changes in the type of fossils present in rock?

Mass extinctions are key events that result in significant shifts in fossil types found in rock layers worldwide. These changes are typically caused by catastrophic events such as asteroid impacts, volcanic eruptions, or major climatic shifts. These mass extinctions are major drivers of evolution, leading to the rise of new species and the decline of others.

How old is the oldest cannabis fossil?

The oldest cannabis fossil dates back to around 28 million years ago, found in the Tibetan plateau. It indicates that cannabis has been around for millions of years.

Is the Sahara where some of the earliest human fossils were found?

Yes, the Sahara is known for containing some of the earliest human fossils, particularly in regions of North Africa such as present-day Morocco, Algeria, and Sudan. These fossils provide important insights into the evolution and migration of early humans.

Does an outcrop containing Jurassic dinosaur fossils overlying Pennsylvanian coal deposits represent uninterrupted deposition?

No, the outcrop does not represent uninterrupted deposition. The presence of Pennsylvanian coal deposits indicates a gap in time between the deposition of the coal and the Jurassic dinosaur fossils, suggesting a period of erosion or non-deposition between the two.

Which type of unconformity is the most difficult to identify by sight in rock strarta?

A nonconformity is the most difficult to identify by sight in rock strata because it occurs between igneous or metamorphic rocks and overlying sedimentary rocks, making the contrast less obvious. This type of unconformity can be challenging to recognize because the contact between the different rock types may not show distinct changes in appearance.

Why are Rainforests and Rivers and Coastal areas not a good place to look for fossils?

Rainforests have dense vegetation that can make fossil discoveries difficult, while rivers can erode fossils or carry them away. Coastal areas are often subject to erosion and shifting sediments, which can damage or bury fossils. These environments may also have high levels of humidity and vegetation growth that can deteriorate or obscure fossil remains.

How could a whole animal become a fossil?

Generally fossils are formed when plants or animals die (or are trapped) and covered with a layer of mud.

This not only protects the dead animal carcass (or plant) from scavengers that may have been lurking nearby, but also retards decomposition. This applies not only to animals, but also fish, moluscs and some insects (where the shells are preserved).

As the layers of sediment (or mud) are layered on top of the dead body the flesh decomposes (in the case of plants the soft tissue).

Over time dissolved minerals in the soil surrounding and above the now skeleton penetrate the bones of the animal and replace the calcium of the bones, this leaves a mineral imprint of the bone, which is now a considered a fossil.

In the case of plants, the imprint of the leaf is left in the surrounding stone.

This process happens over millions of years.