fossils

Question 1

Fossil def

Answer 1

A fossil is any trace of a past life
may be parts of organisms e.g. teeth or whole organism e.g. body fossils or traces e.g. footprints

Question 2

factors affecting fossilisation

Answer 2

type of sediment- fine and soft = more likely to fossilise

rate of sed/burial- faster = less decay/scavenging

anaerobic conditions- reduce decomp (bacteria cant survive), preserve for longer = fossilisation more likely

presence of hard parts e.g. bone - more likely to survive diagenesis

PH acid/alkaline conditions- alkaline = better as acidic dissolve part parts before they can fossilise

degree of diagenesis- temp and pressure increase less likely fossilisation

energy level- high breaks and erodes
low pres more likely

transport distance shorter distance = less erosion pres more likely

comp of hard parts - some materials/ minerals harder and less susceptible to acid
e.g. bones can be aragonite silica or chitin