1. Fossil Types

2. A. Petrified Fossils 1. Organism covered by sediments
2. Water with dissolved mineral
seeps between cells
3. Over time, water
evaporates, leaving
hardened minerals

3. Ex. Petrified Wood

4. Ex. Dinosaur Dig

5. Molds 1. Organism covered by sediments 2. Organism dissolves, leaving
hollow area in rock (ex. Jello
mold)

6. Ex. Leaf Mold

7. c. Casts 1. Water deposits minerals and
sediments in mold, leaving a copy
of the organism’s shape

8. Ammonite Shell Cast

9. D. Carbon Films 1. Organism covered by sediments
2. Gases escape, leaving thin film of carbon on rock

10. Ex. Carbon Film of leaf

11. Trace Fossils 1. Instead of organisms shape,
shows activity (ex. Dinosaur
footprints)

12. Ex. Trace Fossil

13. F. Preserved Remains 1. Organism preserved in tar, amber or frozen
2. Does not decay

14. Ex. La Brea Tar Pit Excavation

15. Ex. Insect in Amber

16. Ex. Frozen Woolly Mammoth
Discovered in 1999; preserved for 23,000 years in Siberia

17. Can you identify the fossil type?
Petrified Fossils

18. Preserved Remains

19. Carbon Film

20. Petrified Fossil

21. Trace Fossil

22. Cast (left side)
Mold (right side)