Fossils
What is a fossil?
A fossil is the remains or traces of a plant or animal that lived a long time ago.
What are the three main types of rocks?
The three main types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
What do we call the outer layer of the Earth?
The outer layer of the Earth is called the "crust."
What is a mineral?
A mineral is a solid substance found in nature that has a specific chemical makeup.
What is the starting point of the rock cycle?
The starting point is "magma."
How do fossils form?
Fossils form when plants or animals get buried in mud or sand and then harden over time.
Which type of rock is formed from cooled magma?
Igneous rock is formed from cooled magma.
What is a volcano?
A volcano is an opening in the Earth's surface that can erupt with lava, ash, and gases.
What is the hardest mineral known?
The hardest mineral is "diamond."
What happens to magma when it cools down?
When magma cools down, it becomes "igneous rock."
What kind of fossil is made from the shape of a leaf or shell pressed into stone?
That kind of fossil is called a "trace fossil."
What type of rock is made from layers of sand, mud, or tiny pieces of other rocks?
Sedimentary rock is made from layers of sand, mud, or tiny pieces of other rocks.
What natural force breaks down rocks into smaller pieces?
Weathering is the natural force that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces.
Which mineral is commonly used in pencils?
The mineral used in pencils is "graphite."
What process turns sediment into sedimentary rock?
The process is called "compaction and cementation."
What is the name of a scientist who studies fossils?
A scientist who studies fossils is called a "paleontologist."
What do we call rocks that have changed due to heat and pressure?
Rocks that have changed due to heat and pressure are called metamorphic rocks.
What is the name of the process where soil and rocks are moved by water, wind, or ice?
The process is called "erosion."
What do we call the way light reflects off a mineral's surface?
We call it "luster."
How can sedimentary rock become metamorphic rock?
Sedimentary rock can become metamorphic rock through "heat and pressure."
Name one type of fossil that tells us about how an animal moved.
A footprint fossil can tell us how an animal moved.
What is the rock cycle?
The rock cycle is the process that describes how rocks change from one type to another over time.
What do we call a large body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth?
We call it an "ocean."
What is the most common mineral found in Earth's crust?
The most common mineral is "feldspar."
What is one way that metamorphic rock can be turned back into magma?
Metamorphic rock can melt into magma when it gets very hot.