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Fossils
Dana Desonie, Ph.D.
AUTHOR
Dana Desonie, Ph.D.
www.ck12.org
C HAPTER
Of all the organisms that ever lived, only a tiny number became fossils. Still, scientists learn a lot from fossils.
Fossils are our best clues about the history of life on Earth.
Fossil Clues
Fossils give clues about major geological events. Fossils, like the one pictured below ( Figure 1.1), can also give
clues about past climates. Here are just a few examples.
Fossils of ocean animals are found at the top of Mt. Everest. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain on Earth.
These fossils show that the area was once at the bottom of a sea. The seabed was later uplifted to form the
Himalaya mountain range.
Fossils of plants are found in Antarctica. Currently, Antarctica is almost completely covered with ice. The
fossil plants show that Antarctica once had a much warmer climate.
Index Fossils
Fossils are used to determine the ages of rock layers. Index fossils are the most useful for this. Index fossils are of
organisms that lived over a wide area. They lived for a fairly short period of time. An index fossil allows a scientist
to determine the age of the rock it is in.
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FIGURE 1.1
What can we learn from fossil clues like this fish fossil found in the
Wyoming desert?
Trilobite fossils ( Figure 1.2) are common index fossils. Trilobites were widespread marine animals. They lived
between 500 and 600 million years ago. Rock layers containing trilobite fossils must be that age. Different species
of trilobite fossils can be used to narrow the age even more.
FIGURE 1.2
Trilobites are good index fossils. Why are trilobite fossils useful as index
fossils?
Summary
Fossils tell a lot about the environment during the time they were deposited.
Climate is one important thing that can be indicated by fossils. This is because organisms have specific
conditions in which they can live.
An index fossil must be distinctive, widespread, and short-lived. It indicates a specific period of time.
Explore More
MEDIA
Click image to the left or use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/4800
www.ck12.org
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Review
1. How do fossils help geologists learn about the geological history of an area?
2. How is an index fossil used to identify a time period?
3. Why are the fossils of marine organisms sometimes found in rock units at the tops of high mountains? What
does this tell you about the geological history of an area?
References
1. Courtesy of the National Park Service. Fossil of a fish found in the Wyoming desert . Public Domain
2. Daderot. Trilobites are good index fossils . Public Domain