​What does the word fossil mean?

Comes from the word fossilis meaning "dug up."

​What are fossils?

Fossils are remains or traces of organisms that lived over 10,000 years ago that form extremely slowly.

​What are the different kinds of fossils?

• Trace fossils (record the actions of organisms such as burrowing, footprints, slithering, nests, etc.​Mold fossils (impression left behind after organism decayed)

• Cast fossil (forms when minerals fill up molds)

• ​True form (fossils of the actual organism)

• Fossil fuels (fuel formed from the remains of living organisms such as petroleum, oil, gas, coal, )

• ​Original form (some mummies)

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​What factors effect the formation of a fossil?

• ​the nature of its body tissues and structures (hard tissues such as bone and teeth are more likely to fossilize than soft tissues like eyes and heart)

• ​behavior and habitat (cold, dry habitats allow for slower decay)

• ​manner of death and burial (organisms with hard shells or sediment dwelling are more likely to fossilize)

​How do most fossils form?

When a plant or animal dies in a watery environment and is buried in mud and silt.

Soft tissues quickly decompose leaving the hard bones or shells behind.

Over time sediment builds over the top and hardens into rock.

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