Death and Fossilization Flashcards
What is Taphonomy?
The study of natural processes following death, how it decays and how it is scavenged
What is the Bloat-and-Float phenomenon?
When an organism dies it fills with gas and floats up to the surface of the water to be floated down with the current
What factors can contribute to disarticulation after death?
Scavenging by carnivores, water currents, prolonged exposure to sunlight, erosion, random trampling and roots
What is disarticulation?
when the bones come apart from one another and move seperately
What is Plastic Deformation?
When excessive pressure changes the shape of an object permanently
What is the most common way for bones to be buried?
When sedimentary rock accumulates in running water
What are bones found in rivers and streams called?
Fluvial Deposits
What are lake deposits called?
Lacustrine deposits
What environment relies on wind to cover any bones?
Deserts, aeolian deposits
What are the three basic types of rock?
Sedimentary, Igneous, Metamorphic
What sedimentary rock is made from mud?
Mudstone
What sedimentary rock is made from silt?
Shale
What sedimentary rocks are made from sand?
Sandstone
What is Coal made of?
Compressed carbon remains from plants
Where does limestone originate?
From small shells and exoskeletons in shallow marine environments
