1. II. Why Do We Study Fossils Found in Rocks?
Studying The Past
What is a Fossil?
A. Definition: The evidence or remains of once-living plants or animals
II. Why Do We Study Fossils Found in Rocks?
To provide evidence of the past existence of life forms
To provide information about past environmental conditions
To provide evidence that populations have undergone change over time due to environmental changes (evolution)

2. III. Types of Fossils Original Preservation
Description: plant or animal remains that have not undergone elemental change since death.
Uncommon because frozen, extremely dry, or oxygen-free environments are required to form these fossils
Examples:
Mummified humans
Frozen organisms (Ice Man)
Mammoths & cats in La Brea Tar Pits
Fossilized insects in tree sap (amber)

3. B. Altered Hard Parts
Description: all organic material has been removed and the hard parts of the organism have been changed
Minerals seep in slowly and replace the original organic tissue, forming a rock-like fossil
The fossil has the same shape as the original object, but is chemically more like a rock!
Examples:
Petrified wood
Recrystallized shells

4. C. Molds and Casts
Description: Fossils that do not contain any shell or bone
A mold is formed when original shell parts are weathered and eroded, leaving an impression of the shell.
This cavity might later become filled with minerals or sediment to create a cast.
Examples:
Common with shellfish

5. D. Trace Fossils
Description: Indirect evidence of plant and animal life
Provide information about how an organism lived, moved or obtained food
Examples:
worm trails
burrows
Footprints

6. IV. Dating Fossils Relative-Age Dating:
Definition: Dating rocks and fossils by placing them in chronological order without exact dates.
Geologic Principles (used in this dating process):
Original Horizontality
Sedimentary rocks are deposited in horizontal layers
The Law of Superposition
in an undisturbed sequence the oldest rocks are at the bottom and each successive layer is younger
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships:
an intrusion or a fault is younger than the rock it cuts across

8. These rock layers were deposited in flat layers, but plate tectonics have folded the layers so they are no longer horizontal.

9. 3. Other Means of Determining Relative Age
Correlation
Used to date rock layers that are far apart from each other
Geologists examine rocks for distinctive fossils (index) and features to help identify and date them
Relative Dating - Applying the Concepts
Which is the oldest rock unit in the outcrop?
Explain why the rock layers on the west side of the outcrop do not match the east side.
3. Which is the younger layer, layer A or layer C?

10. Absolute-Age Dating:
Definition: Dating rocks and fossils by using techniques to determine their actual age.

11. Index Fossils
Description: Remains of unique species that can be used to correlate rock layers or to date a particular rock layer
Must be easily recognized, abundant, and widely distributed geographically
Must have lived during a relatively short time period
Examples:
The dinosaur Coelophysis is found on several continents and lived only in the Late Triassic Period

12. Methods:
Tree Rings and Seasonal Climatic Changes
Each tree ring represents 1 year of growth
Varves are bands of sediment that show a yearly cycle from climate change
Although accurate, neither method can be used to date very far back in time.

13. Methods cont.:
Radioactive Dating: Dating fossils based on the amount of radioactive material remaining in a substance over time
Radioactive substances (unstable atoms) emit protons and neutrons at a constant rate
The original element (parent) is converted to a different element (daughter)
Since the rate of decay is constant, you can measure the parent to daughter ratio to determine the age of the rock
The length of time it takes for one-half of the original amount to decay is called the elements half-life.

14. Absolute Dating - Applying the Concepts
Ex. Uranium-238 will decay into an isotope of lead, Pb - 206

15. 1 half-life 2 half-lives 9 billion years 4.5 billion years 0 years
Example: Uranium-238Lead 206
1 half-life
2 half-lives
9 billion years
25 % U
75 % lead
4.5 billion years
50 % U
50 % lead
0 years
100 % U
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%U left
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