Index Fossils & The Fossil Record More Rock Layer Practice!!! Put these in order. Which rocks do you think are igneous?

Almost all fossils are discovered in sedimentary rock. The fossil record provides information about the geologic history of Earth. Scientists can use this information to learn about how environmental changes have affected living organisms.

What periods during the Paleozoic were trilobites first present? What period during the Mesozoic were dinosaur fossils first present? How many years ago was that?

Index Fossils Index fossils can provide the relative age of a rock layer. existed only during specific spans of time occurred in large geographic areas Index fossils include fusulinids and trilobites.

Index Fossils Index fossil - a fossil that is used to establish the age of rock layers because it is distinct, abundant, and widespread and existed for only a short span of geologic time. Ammonites, picture an octopus with a shell, are well known as index fossils

How do scientists determine what fossils are index? a fossil must be present in rocks scattered over a large region it must have features that clearly distinguish it from other fossils. organisms from which the fossil formed must have lived during a short span of geologic time, and the fossil must occur in fairly large numbers within the rock layers.

Index Fossils & Absolute Age Scientists can use index fossils to estimate absolute ages of specific rock layers. Because organisms that formed index fossils lived during short spans of geologic time, the rock layer in which an index fossil was discovered can be dated accurately. Scientists can also use index fossils to date rock layers in separate areas. Index fossils are used to help locate rock layers that are likely to contain oil and natural gas deposits.

Fossil Record Lab Read instructions on worksheet and in groups complete Table 1. Give Fossil Samples sheets back to teacher. Then independently complete the 2nd page involving analysis of what you found. Please hand in for grade.

Discovery Education Activity https://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/e8bc06f7-8c49- 4328-9a84-c5cebfc67d82 Complete the activity until you find all the index fossils. The first stage will give you one! Index Fossil Period