Types of Rocks
What type of rock is formed from cooled magma or lava?
igneous rock
What type of fossil is formed when an organism leaves a trace, such as footprints?
trace fossil
This scientist studies rocks.
petrologist
A fossil is a preserved remains of what?
plant or animal
This type of rock is formed from compacted sediments.
sedimentary rock
This type of fossil is created when an organism is trapped in tree sap.
resin fossil
Who studies fossils and ancient life?
paleontologist
How long does it typically take for a fossil to form?
thousands to millions of years
What type of rock has been changed by heat and pressure?
metamorphic rock
What type of fossil shows the actual remains of a plant or animal?
body fossil
This scientist studies the Earth’s processes and materials.
geologist
Why are fossils important to scientists?
they provide evidence of past life and environments
This rock can often contain fossils.
sedimentary rock
A fossil that forms when an impression of an organism is left in rock is called what?
mold fossil
If you wanted to learn about earthquakes and volcanoes, which scientist would you ask and why?
You would ask a geologist because they study Earth’s layers, including rocks, earthquakes, and volcanoes. They know how the Earth moves and changes.
Name one place where fossils can be found.
sedimentary rock layers
Why do you think some rocks have layers while others don’t? What does this tell us about how they were made?
Rocks with layers are usually sedimentary because they form from bits of sand, mud, and tiny pieces that settle in layers over time.
Rocks without layers, like igneous rocks, form when melted rock cools and hardens. So, layers tell us the rock was made little by little, while no layers mean it formed all at once.
Why do you think trace fossils, like footprints or burrows, are important for scientists? What do they tell us that body fossils might not?
Trace fossils show how animals moved or lived, like where they walked or dug. They tell scientists about an animal’s behavior, not just what it looked like. Body fossils don’t show actions, but trace fossils do!
How do you think a petrologist and a paleontologist might work together to learn about Earth’s history?
A petrologist studies rocks, and a paleontologist studies fossils. They might work together by using rocks to find where fossils are buried and fossils to learn what animals and plants lived when the rocks were formed. Together, they can understand Earth’s past better.
If a paleontologist finds a dinosaur bone in one layer, the seashells in a layer above it. What can we infer?
There were both dry and wetlands during separate periods of time, long ago.