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What kind of rock do you find fossils in?

What kind of rock do you find fossils in?

sedimentary rock
Most fossils “hide out” in sedimentary rock . When tiny bits of rocks and minerals (called sediment) join together over millions of years, they become sedimentary rock. Plants and animals that become sandwiched in this sediment eventually turn into fossils. Two examples of sedimentary rocks are sandstone and shale.

What layer of rock are dinosaur bones found in?

Animal remains are most likely to be fossilized if their hard parts are covered by layers of sediments soon after death. With time and pressure, these sediments, such as sand, plant debris, or ash, become compressed into rock. Therefore, fossils are found in sedimentary rock, like sandstone, shale, limestone and coal.

How do you tell if a rock contains a fossil?

Mostly, however, heavy and lightly colored objects are rocks, like flint. Paleontologists also examine the surfaces of potential fossils. If they are smooth and do not have any real texture, they are probably rocks. Even if it is shaped like a bone, if it does not have the right texture then it is probably a rock.

Which rock is most likely to contain fossils?

Almost all fossils are preserved in sedimentary rock. Organisms that live in topographically low places (such as lakes or ocean basins) have the best chance of being preserved. This is because they are already in locations where sediment is likely to bury them and shelter them from scavengers and decay.

Where are dinosaur fossils found?

Dinosaur fossils have been found on every continent of Earth, including Antarctica but most of the dinosaur fossils and the greatest variety of species have been found high in the deserts and badlands of North America, China and Argentina.

Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils and why?

Sedimentary rock
Explanation: Sedimentary rock has the most fossils. Recall that sedimentary rock is created as layers of sediment pile on one another and are compressed together. Organisms can get caught between the layers when they die and become fossilized.

Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils quizlet?

Sedimentary rock is most likely to contain fossils.

What kind of rock has the most fossils?

Shale, limestone and sandstone, all sedimentary rocks, contain the majority of fossils. Conglomerates and breccias, also sedimentary rocks, sometimes include fossils. Although very rare, fossils have been found in metamorphic and igneous formations.

How are fossils formed in a sedimentary rock?

In certain conditions, and over a very long period of time, sediment becomes compacted and cemented into sedimentary rock. Fossils are more common in some kinds of sedimentary rocks than others. Fossils are also common in shales, which form from muds.

Where are most of the dinosaur fossils found?

Many rock units from the Mesozoic (Age of Dinosaurs) are exposed within Dinosaur National Monument. However, it is the Morrison Formation that has produced the majority of the dinosaur fossils found here. When paleontologist Earl Douglass discovered the quarry in 1909, the Morrison in other areas had already proven to be rich in fossils.

Why are there no fossils in sandstone rocks?

Most sandstones do not contain fossils, for various reasons. Water currents in the environment might have been too strong for animals to survive. Also, sands are very porous, so water seeping through the sand might have dissolved the shells away long before the sand was buried and changed into sandstone.