lab8-fossils (1)

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Georgia State University *

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1121

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Geology

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Apr 3, 2024

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Name: TA: Lab 8: Fossils GEOL 1122 This lab covers fossils, both the processes that make them, what the tell us, and making observations and identifications about them. Please watch the videos on iCollege and use the hand out to complete this lab. You are also welcome to use your textbook. Part One: Fossil Specimens 1) A deer died 500 years ago. Are the remains considered a fossil? Why or why not? (3 pts) The remains needs at least 10,000 years old to become a fossil while this deer died 500 years which is not a lot time. 2) Describe the preservation potential for each specimen. Explain your reasoning. (3 pts each) a. Sea turtle - it is composed of hard parts, which makes it have a high preservation b. Dolphin - it is composed of hard bones and parts, which makes it have a high preservation c. Jellyfish - it is composed of softer parts, which makes it have a low preservation d. Centipede - it is composed of soft parts, which makes it have a low preservation 3) Fossils are common in all three types of rocks. True or false? Explain your reasoning. (3 pts) False, fossils are commonly found in only sedimentary rocks. 4) How does the rate of burial affect the potential for fossilization? (2 pts) When the rate of the burial processes if faster, it will have more potential for fossilization. 5) You find a site filled with fossilized insects, leaves, and hard parts from fish, but you find no worm fossils. Your partner concludes that no worms lived at the site at that time. Explain why the conclusion might be flawed and list other forms of evidence that might indicate that worms did in fact live among these other organisms. (2 pts) There could’ve been worms in the area, however the reason why we don’t see much worm fossils is because worms are gummy crewatures that have smaller bone switch would make the potential for preservation much lower than other insects, hard parts of fishes, or leaves.
6) Environments play a crucial role in an organisms chance of fossilization. Think about the environment each of the below lived in. Then, explain which organisms had a higher or lower chance of fossilization based on the particular habitat. (3 pts each) a. A salamander in a creek vs. woody plants in a swamp A salamander in a creek would have a high change of fossilzation because there are sediments in the bottom of a creek that would rapidly bury the salamander. b. A shark in the Pacific Ocean vs. a deer on top of a cliff The shark in the Pacific ocean will have a higher preservation potential because there will be much more sediments 7) What is the difference between a fossil and artifact? (2 pts) A fossil is the bones of a trace or animal that has been buried and covered by sediments and pressed into a sedimentary rock for at least 10,000 years. An artifact is remains of a human usually from a ancient civilization such as human-made pottery, arrows, pyramids, etc 8) Use the following 3D model to answer the questions: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/heliophyllum-halli-pri-70755- 9ddbca9ef7384ea7b748a7f219cc9156 a. Is this a body or trace fossil? (1 pt) Body b. Are solitary or colonial corals represented? (1 pt) Solitary c. To which phylum does it belong? (1 pt) Cnidaria 9) Use the following 3D model to answer the questions: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/petrified-wood-2-94d1b3f178af47cd92aca365c634da41 a. Is this a fossil or artifact? Why? What is it? (3 pts) A fossil because its preserved of life. b. What is the primary mode of preservation? How do you know? (2 pts) The primary mode of preservation for this petrifcation as thai wood is petrified. 10) Open the 3D models of these two fossils and compare this for this question: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/brachiopod-platystrophia-cypha-pri-76923- 1e28ac9ff111488ea54f581cc286b87e https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/bivalve-mercenaria-mercenaria-pri-76728- 6f5f534f002b4402b2043fa09ed6441a a. Are these body or trace fossils? (1 pt) Body fossil b. Explain the major differences you see between these fossils. (2 pts) The shape of the fossil is the main difference I see between the fossils. One has a more rounder shape while the other one has grooves.
c. To which two phyla do these specimens belong? (2 pts) The first one is Brachiopoda and the second one is the Mohusca. 11) Use this 3D model to answer these questions: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/pal617525-giant-ground-sloth-dung-vcu-3d-4092- fa1a828c79e54f41829b63ff32915530 a. Is this a trace or body fossil? What does it represent? (2 pts) It is a trace, representing a giant sloth. b. What sort of information could be obtained from this particular fossil? (2 pts) That the fossil was once a giant sloth at some point. 12) Use this 3D model to answer these questions: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/cephalopod-baculites-sp-pri-70605- c1a09417fbe546819938e36f5c541c7b a. Describe what you see in this model. (2 pts) A fossil of a baculites b. Is this a nautiloid or ammonoid? (1 pt) Ammonoid c. What is a key characteristic that can be used for identifying this type of cephalopod? (1 pt) It has unique structures and are complex d. Is this type of cephalopod extant (currently living) or extinct? (1 pt) This is extinct 13) Use this 3D model to answer the questions: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/vertebrate- fish-pri-53568-e62fbf61257c462c842ac31354de49a9 a. What type of preservation is this? How can you tell? (2 pts) The preservation type looks like mold was in the rock. So it was able to replicate the fish well. 14) Use this 3D model to answer the questions: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/bivalve- ostrea-coxi-pri-40844-e6938b1c171d48ef8113bfcd9e7e3d9b a. Why do you think the bivalve has a hole in its shell? (1 pt) The hole in its shell was created by a predatory snail. b. What type of mollusk might have made the hole? (1 pt) It mightve been a snail that was more ancient or older. 15) Use this 3D model to answer the questions: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/theropod- footprint-3e4541927c444a2e820c9cde01858ace a. Is this a body or trace fossil? (1 pt) Trace fossil
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