archaeologists dig for clues by kate duke

As they rot, the organic parts are replaced by a hard mineral called silica. These living things are trapped, die, and are covered by mineral-rich water. These fossils are replicas of things that were once alive, such as trees or sea creatures. Just like impression fossils, the soil hardens to form rock, preserving a trace of the animal. The animals leave its footprints or scat, which makes an impression in the soft mud, silt, or sand. These types of fossils capture the activities of ancient animals. The mud, silt, or sand hardens into rock, and an impression fossil remains. Over time, it disappears, but the impression remains. The plant or animal lands in mud, silt, or sand and makes an impression. These fossils contain prints, or impressions, of plants or animals from long ago.

Here are the three most common types of fossils: 1.

There are several different kinds of fossils based on how they are formed.

Let’s dig into the three main types of fossils, uncover what they are, and get our hands dirty with an activity! The 3 Types of Fossilsįossils are bits of plants or animals that have been preserved from the past. Although a chunk of amber can contain insects that were trapped in resin long ago, technically it is still categorized as a gemstone. Scientists categorize fossils into three main groups – impression fossils, trace fossils, and replacement fossils.Īmber is also often looked at as a fourth type of fossil. This week’s homeschool science corner is all about the three main types of fossils.

Archaeologists dig for clues by kate duke