Fossil and Fossilization

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Mohamed Fouad ALYMohamed Fouad ALY


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Historical GeologyHistorical Geology (G 102)(G 102)

Fossils and FossilizationFossils and FossilizationDr. Osama E.A.Dr. Osama E.A. AttiaAttia


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(from Latin fossus, literally "having been dug up")

Remains or traces of any recognizableorganic structure, whether of plants oranimals, preserved in rocks to indicate

extinct life

What conditions promote fossilization?What conditions promote fossilization?1- Rapid Burial 2- Hard Skeleton

3- Suitable Environment 4- Lack of Oxygen

Fossilization: It covers the survival of the

organism's remains after death and its transition into afossil.

What is a Fossil?


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Is It fossil or Not?


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1. Actual Remains of the Organism:

a- Remains of the entireorganism: ex. Mammoth


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a- Remains of the entireorganism:ex. Insect in Amber


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b- Remains of the original hard parts


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2. Altered Remains of the Organism:

a- Carbonization

b- Permineralization


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2. Altered Remains of the Organism:

C- Replacement:ex. Petrified wood


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2. Altered Remains of the Organism:C- Replacement:

ex. Pyritization


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External Moldex. Pelecypod mold

Internal Mold(Steinkern)

ex. Pelecypod steinkerns

Molds Casts

ex. Pelecypod Cast

Imprints

ex. Leaf Imprints

Fish Imprints

Preservation of the Original Form

3. Preservation of the Original form:


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Making Molds and Casts


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a. Molds and Casts


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3. Preservation of the Original form:

b- Imprints: ex. Leaf Imprintsex. Fish Imprint


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4. Preservation of tracks of the organism:a- Foot Prints


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b. Tracks: an impression made by a single foot.

c. Trackway: a number of tracks made during a single trip.

d. Trail: an impression made by an animal without leg.

e. Burrow: a hole or holes an animal dug into loose sediment (like mud).

f. Borings: a hole or holes an animal dug into a hard substrate (like wood

or rock).

4. Preservation of tracks of the organism:


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5. Preservation of Coprolites:

CoprtolitesCoprtolites == korposkorpos meaningmeaningdungdungand ;and ; litholitho meaningmeaningstonestone

P ti lPreservational C diti i M i &Conditions in Marine &


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PreservationalPreservational Conditions in Marine &Conditions in Marine &

TerresterialTerresterial EnvironmentsEnvironments

Marine EnvironmentMarine EnvironmentTerresterialTerresterial EnvironmentEnvironment

Conditions of fossilizationConditions of fossilization

much more favorable.much more favorable.

Deposition more commonDeposition more common

Conditions of fossilizationConditions of fossilization

less favorable.less favorable.

Deposition less commonDeposition less common

Organisms are buriedOrganisms are buriedimmediately after deathimmediately after death

Chances of preservationChances of preservation

very commonvery common

Organisms are not buriedOrganisms are not buriedimmediately after deathimmediately after death

Chances of preservationChances of preservation

poorpoorLarge number of organisms myLarge number of organisms my

covered & preserved in seacovered & preserved in sea

bottom and ocean floorbottom and ocean floor

Few number of organisms myFew number of organisms my

covered & preserved as in :covered & preserved as in :

volcanic ash, dust,volcanic ash, dust, vavesvaves, rivers,, rivers,lakes, etclakes, etc


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Habitat Paleogeography

Evolution Chronology

Correlation Paleoecology

SIGNIFICANCE

OF

FOSSILS


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SIGNIFICANCE

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FOSSILS

SIGNIFICANCE


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SIGNIFICANCE

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FOSSILS


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SIGNIFICANCE

OF

FOSSILS


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SIGNIFICANCE

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FOSSILS


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SIGNIFICANCE

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FOSSILS

Fossil and Fossilization

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